10 Years of Cultural Investment (2016–2026): Headline Measures, Methodology and Data Sources

Purpose of this note: 

This technical note explains how the Greater London Authority (GLA) has calculated headline investment figures around the Mayor’s decade-long support for culture and the creative industries. The technical note includes the methodology, scope, data sources and limitations behind the figures presented. 

It is intended to support transparency and consistent interpretation of the data by external audiences, including media, Assembly Members and researchers. 

Headline measures covered:  

This note covers the following headline measures: 

• direct Mayoral investment in culture since 2016  
• funding leveraged from public and private sources  
• total GVA and sales generated by Mayor’s investment 
• square metres of new, improved or protected cultural and creative space supported through Mayoral programmes and projects  

These figures should not be interpreted as a measure of the total economic value of London’s creative economy or wider Gross Value Added (GVA).