People come to sam-culture when they need:

To show that they’re making a positive difference to people, well-being, places, communities, culture, and the creative economy
Insightful evaluation, summative and formative, that shows if they’ve achieved what they intended; what’s worked, what might need to change, what has been the impact on audiences, communities and on the organisation itself
To capture different voices, experiences and perspectives and understand impacts on audiences, participants, volunteers, co-creators, and partners
To learn from what they do and uncover possibilities: new models of working, new attitudes and behaviours, new skills - through embedding reflection and evaluation
Robust evidence that creates confidence for advocacy and influencing stakeholder’s policy and strategy
To understand and prove how they create value and capital – social, economic, environmental, and cultural

We do this through:

Expertise in evaluation techniques
By making the complex simple, focusing on achieveable outcomes
Detailed planning and effective project delivery
Empathy, enthusiasm, enquiring minds and experience

'News' above has full details of all our recent projects

Current clients include:

Clore Leadership Programme: Creation of Evaluation Framework
Lankelly Chase: Stakeholder Insight Research
Clothworkers' Foundation: NYT Organisational Development
A-M-A: Evaluations of NLHF Digital Heritage Lab, Breakthrough & CultureHive programmes
Nutkhut: Girmit NLHF Evaluation and Advocacy document
Victoria Park, Portsmouth: Evaluation of NLHF Restoration
Victoria Park, Tunbridge Wells
Willesden Jewish Cemetery
National Trust: Runnymede Explored and Runnymede Voices for NHLF
Heritage Centre Stage: Brighton Dome and Festival
Changing Chalk: Impact of Covid-19 on the Sussex Downs
Rock'n'Roll with me: Geoff MacCormack & David Bowie. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
National Lottery Heritage Fund: Review of Strategic Framework 4
Croydon Council: Whats Your Croydon? Community co-creation project. Evaluations of Pride & Mela
City of London Corporation: Kenley Revival Project
Tower of London: response of diverse communities to core story and interpretation
Layers of London: Institute of Historical Research, University of London
National Museum of the Royal Navy: HMS Victory New Gallery and HMS Warrior
National Trust: Sheffield Park
National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich Endeavour Project
Croydon Council: Cultural Strategy & London Borough of Culture 2023 bid outcomes framework
Brighton & Hove City Council: Stanmer Park
St Albans Museum + Gallery
Garden Museum
Whitehall Historic House: Restoration
Fulham Palace
London Borough of Bexleyheath: Performing Places; DCLG
Peabody Trust
AIM: Museums Association, ACE: Open Up publication - diversifying museum visitors

Current Projects

Lankelly Chase: Stakeholder Insight Research

sam-culture, Mel Larsen and Julie Aldridge are undertaking Stakeholder Insight Research for Lankelly Chase. This independent Foundation aims to change the systems that perpetuate disadvantage by sponsoring projects, interventions and campaigns. Our research tests perceptions of Lankelly Chase and the impacts of their interventions with their stakeholders. Recommendations from this research will inform external communications, internal processes and better reflect the needs of the communities Lankelly Chase work in and are a part of.

Clore Leadership Programme: Creation of Evaluation Framework

The Clore Fellowship has been life-changing in many ways. It has changed my pace, addressed my frustrations and given me both confidence and a sense of value. My leadership is now focused, determined and strategic.

Clore Leadership has an outstanding reputation for its insight-led, effective leadership development that enables cultural leaders to have a positive impact on our sector and society.

Clore has commissioned Pam Jarvis, Julie Aldridge and Mel Larsen to review existing practice in evaluation, trial and test evaluation tools and processes and make them work to meet the organisation’s needs. Outcomes from this important evaluation will inform a new framework to evidence and articulate the impact of Clore’s work in a consistent and holistic way.

National Youth Theatre: organisational development

Evaluation of the Proactive Grants Programme Dramatic Arts II Initiative.

Clothworkers’ Foundation has confirmed support for National Youth Theatre for a further three years. This grant will support the organisational development of NYT to deliver on its intention to innovate young people’s participation in the performing arts.

NYT believe now is a vital time to help a broad cohort of young people gain the skills and experience needed to work in the performing arts and to support their creative, physical and mental wellbeing allowing their voices to be heard. sam-culture will provide support and evaluation services throughout the project.

People come to sam-culture when they need:

To show that they’re making a positive difference to people, well-being, places, communities, culture, and the creative economy

Insightful evaluation, summative and formative, that shows if they’ve achieved what they intended; what’s worked, what might need to change, what has been the impact on audiences, communities and on the organisation itself

To capture different voices, experiences and perspectives and understand impacts on audiences, participants, volunteers, co-creators, and partners

To learn from what they do and uncover possibilities: new models of working, new attitudes and behaviours, new skills - through embedding reflection and evaluation

Robust evidence that creates confidence for advocacy and influencing stakeholder’s policy and strategy

To understand and prove how they create value and capital – social, economic, environmental, and cultural

We do this through:

Expertise in evaluation techniques

By making the complex simple, focusing on achieveable outcomes