Statistics on Cultural Industries - International Trade Centre

function as a task force that co-operates with the entire project to promote research and sharingof experience for this area.8.4 Prerequisites for Project ImplementationTo ensure the most effective impact of the first stage of the national project implementation, theparticipating countries should preferably already have demonstrated the will to develop systemsfor data collection and analysis for cultural industries. This will ensure that reasonable human andfinancial resources are available for the activity, and that external funding is needed for the external,research oriented, and co-ordinating activities of the project implementation.Other criteria for the successful implementation of data projects include:1)2)3)The NSO must already conduct regular annual establishment surveys and produce nationaland sub-national data on key business (industrial) statistics.The NSO must have up-to-date computerized data-processing and storage capacity.In order to prepare a register of establishments/enterprises of the target industries, the NSOmust have conducted an industrial/household census in the recent past.If a particular country does not meet these criteria, they must develop such capacity prior to theimplementation of the national cultural industries data project.8.5 ScheduleThe four components outlined in the data framework must be implemented in a phased manner(Phases 1, 2, and 3) with a total duration of approximately five years (see also Table 13, pp. 58-59).In order to provide a more accurate basis for detailed planning and implementation of the projectactivities, the main activity of Phase 1 is the diagnostic survey (Component A) that will compile andanalyse existing data and other information on activities, resources, institutions, and stakeholdersin the cultural industries sector. Based on the findings of this survey, or mapping of the sector, itwill be possible to determine what sectors and classification codes to include in the regular datacollection activities foreseen for phases 2 and 3. Part of the activities of both Phase 1 and Phase 2will therefore be project planning and preparation.The findings of the diagnostic survey will indicate the scale of the issue for policy makers, bothin terms of data requirements and the potential scale of cultural industries contribution to thenational economy, and in terms of an overall assessment of the priorities for the next phases of theproject. Hence, while actual data collection and more sophisticated data analysis pertinent to thecultural industries sector will be the core of the activities of phases 2 and 3, the instruments andmethodology for this kind of analysis will be established during phases 1 and 2. The result of thiswork will be presented in a revised project document for Phase 2 and 3, respectively, completewith a detailed work plan and budget for the planned activities.Most importantly perhaps, the activities of Phase 1 will mobilize and position the human resourcesthat will participate and benefit from the project activities, including statisticians, researchers,and government officials, and thereby contribute to the capacity building that is the core of theproject. Phase 1 is planned with a duration of 12 months. The activities involve a very high degreeof technical assistance (training) and consultation with the national stakeholders as part of thepreparation for phases 2 and 3 activities.53