The Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) team visited Durham University recently to host an Evaluation Grants Sharing Event with colleagues from the heritage sector.
The idea for the event came from an evaluation of 51 Cultural Protection Fund projects funded between 2016 and 2020, which was carried out by Economic Research Services.
This report highlighted the need for longer-term evaluation to assess the impact of CPF projects effectively. In response, the CPF awarded follow-up evaluation grants in 2022 to selected projects, aiming to explore medium-term impacts and diverse evaluation approaches.
The aim of the Evaluation Grants Sharing Event was to showcase various approaches to evaluating heritage projects and to foster discussions on effective evaluation methods. The event also facilitated knowledge sharing among stakeholders, including funders, policy makers, and project leads.
Eight panellists, including representatives from organisations such as the World Monuments Fund, Durham University and the British Institute for the Study of Iraq presented their projects and approaches to evaluation.
Sofya Shahab facilitated the panel discussion, which delved into best practices in evaluation, support from funders and policy makers, and strategies for sharing evaluation findings.
Commenting on the Evaluation Grants Sharing Event, Stephanie Grant, Director, Cultural Protection Fund said:
“The Evaluation Grants are part of the CPF’s ‘What Works’ programme of research, evidence, and learning. The event provided updates on the What Works approach and insights gleaned from CPF's evaluation grants, offering valuable lessons for practitioners and organisations in the cultural heritage sector.
The Evaluation Grants Sharing Event underscores CPF's commitment to fostering collaboration, learning, and innovation in cultural heritage protection, paving the way for more impactful projects and outcomes.”
