Alma Economics was commissioned by Towards a National Collection (TaNC) to estimate the Total Economic Value (TEV) of a future unified digital collection of cultural heritage assets in the UK. This project aimed to provide robust evidence to support the business case for funding a UK digital collections infrastructure. We employed contingent valuation surveys to determine respondents' willingness to pay for a hypothetical unified digital collection. The surveys targeted three distinct groups to assess varying valuations:

• General Population: Individuals with varying levels of interest in cultural heritage.

• Academics and Researchers: Professionals who might utilise the collection for research, including those in cultural heritage and related fields.

• Special Interest Individuals: People with a keen interest in cultural heritage, identified through cultural heritage organisations.

These valuations provide critical evidence to support the business case for a UK digital collections infrastructure. The project highlights the value placed on cultural heritage by different societal groups and underscores the importance of preserving and providing access to these assets.

➥ Read the report here.