Alistair Hardaker | Image: Natural History Museum by Diliff (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Research into ‘non-use value’ is part of wider Culture and Heritage Capital programme led by DCMS with Arm’s Length Bodies.
Research commissioned by DCMS has found that people who had not visited the Natural History Museum in London in the past three years were still willing to pay an average of £11.95 as an indefinite annual donation to preserve the museum.
The results are part of research into the application of ‘non-use value’ in the context of UK culture and heritage.
“Non use value” is the value individuals attribute to culture and heritage even if they do not directly consume it themselves.
The report found that 781 participants who had not visited the NHM in the past three years would be willing to pay an average indefinite annual donation of £11.95.
The museum said the predominant reason respondents were willing to pay is to ensure the museum was preserved for current and future generations.
The most common reason given by those who were not willing to pay was due to not being able to afford it.
The research is part of a wider programme of work called \Culture and Heritage Capital (CHC)’, which DCMS is leading in partnership with its Arm’s Length Bodies and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
The aim of the programme is to ensure that the economic, social and cultural value of creative, cultural and heritage sectors are included in appraisals and evaluation, following best practice guidance set out by HM Treasury’s Green Book.
Natural History Museum Director Dr Doug Gurr said “…it’s striking to see how deeply valued the Museum is even by those who haven’t been recently. As we approach our 150th anniversary and undertake the NHM150 transformation of our iconic South Kensington building, it’s heartening to know that preserving the Museum for future generations truly matters.”
Alma Economics conducted the research (available in full here) using survey-based experiments followed by focus groups, used to understand the motivations and drivers of non-use value.
This research is part of a wider programme of work called Culture and Heritage Capital (CHC), which DCMS is leading in partnership with its Arm’s Length Bodies and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
The aim of the CHC programme is to ensure that the economic, social and cultural value of creative, cultural and heritage sectors are included in appraisals and evaluation, following best practice guidance set out by HM Treasury’s Green Book.
