Amanda Cusimano has over 16 years’ experience in working data, research, evaluation and strategies development within the arts and cultural sector. She is currently working as a freelance consultant providing research, evaluation and planning development services to a variety of
clients including the Art Fund, Bricks, Bedford Creative Arts, The Line and the Working Class Movement Library; the majority of these projects are evaluation of community engagement projects funded by The National Lottery Community Fund with a particular focus on young people.
During her time with BOP Consulting, she has focused on strategy and evaluation projects that supported clients to plan, articulate and report on their social impacts. She has worked with mixed research methods for the development of evaluations methodologies for clients including the Art Fund, the Liverpool Biennial, the BFI, DCMS and the British Council. She has led on a variety of large-scale impact assessments involving a multitude of partners and stakeholders, exploring creative and engaging tools to get the best out of audiences’ groups including young and or vulnerable people.
Previously as Head of Data & Insight Frieze, Amanda led on business intelligence which included developing data tools (new CRM and other data platforms) and processes supporting audience development, evaluation and innovations for major international projects, products and events and commissioned audience and economic impact research to inform decision-
making.
At the Barbican, Amanda was responsible for embedding evaluation across the organisation by improving information and knowledge management and developing an evaluation framework supported by practical tools, and reporting on performance to the Board and funders. Amanda has held different roles at the Arts Council England between 2007 and 2012, working
within the Funding department and eventually managing the Artistic Quality Assessment Programme. She graduated with a master’s degree in Arts Management from London City University with a thesis on the impact of research on cultural policy-making in England.
Amanda is a proud Trustee of Applause, passionate about arts and culture and regularly attends visual arts exhibitions, music, dance and theatre performances. She was also one of the consultants for the Living Legacies: Collaboration, Community and Radicality project.