In December 2017, the city of Coventry was awarded the title of UK City of Culture 2021 (UK CoC 2021). Its year ran from May 2021 until May 2022.
Purpose
To support assessment of and learning from UK CoC 2021, an independent monitoring and evaluation team developed a Performance Measurement and Evaluation Strategy and supported a range of research and evaluation activities.
This website brings together outputs and results of these activities, to support insight and lessons learned that can be shared with future cultural mega-events, as well as more local Coventry place-based knowledge exchange and partnership development.
- About describes the UK CoC 2021 monitoring and evaluation team and the associated Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) projects
- Strategy & Progress outlines the performance measurement and evaluation strategy and includes subsequent reports, both written by the monitoring and evaluation team and by commissioned organisations
- Research & Evaluation provides a range of independent reports and papers examining a variety of UK CoC 2021 themes and trends
- Cultural Data highlights the data that are available for stakeholders to understand and use to benefit Coventry
- Events lists the (AHRC funded) activities undertaken to share results from monitoring and evaluation team findings
- Blog includes articles written by team members and partners, either published elsewhere and reproduced or original.
Latest News
Reflections on Evaluating Coventry UK City of Culture
In early 2023, the monitoring and evaluation team identified a series of reflections on its evaluation of UK CoC 2021.
To share these reflections, a script was prepared and members of the team recorded sections. An animated video was created to highlight the messages and make them available for others to consider when monitoring and evaluating large-scale events.
Acknowledgements
This website reflects a variety of UK CoC 2021 activities, funded by different funding bodies. It has been created as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project − City Change Through Culture: Securing the Place Legacy of Coventry City of Culture 2021 (Grant Reference AH/W008769/1).




