Business Models for Arts and Cultural Organisations: Research Findings from Creative Lenses

This report looks at the issue of organizational sustainability through the lens of business models. It draws on desk and practical research across Europe during 2015-19 in the Creative Lenses project, funded by Creative Europe, in which UAL was a partner. Every organisation has a business model, even if the majority of practitioners would not describe the way they manage resources using this terminology. Yet, not every organisation does business modelling. Business modelling is a heuristic technique organisations use to identify the range of activities and relationships (internal and external) they undertake where different kinds of value are exchanged. The reflection on the underlying values that the organisation supports is a necessary part of business modelling as the business model should embody those values. This report demonstrates why this process is useful and relevant to the values-orientated and creative nature of arts and cultural organisations.