About the project
The Hidden Cost is an independent study of the invisible labour that keeps digital running: the unrecognised work that never appears in a plan. It looks to measure the scale and impact of what usually goes uncounted.
Who participated
187 voices from
around the globe
An in-depth survey of digital professionals in museums, galleries, theatres, archives and cultural support bodies.
Where respondents work
Hover or tap a country
- United Kingdom100 · 53%
- United States26 · 14%
- Netherlands17 · 9%
- Sweden12 · 6%
- New Zealand6 · 3%
- Australia4 · 2%
- Canada4 · 2%
- Belgium3 · 2%
One respondent each
Fig 1.1. Fifteen countries across Europe, North America, Oceania, Asia and beyond. Eight of the 187 respondents did not give a location.
Ash Mann
Ash is a strategist, advisor and facilitator who helps cultural organisations with strategy, change, technology, teams and audiences.
Over the past two decades he has held a range of in-house digital roles and led a specialist digital agency for almost ten years. He hosts the Digital Works Podcast, writes a weekly newsletter, and has served on the boards of cultural organisations in the UK.
Project partners
This project is supported by
“Work that is unseen is work that feels heavier, which hampers digital innovation and with it, digital transformation. This research brings the hidden to the surface. Now cultural organisations can work on making space for this digital labour to support the creative organisations they aim to be, embracing the chances digital work brings to increase resilience and become future-proof.”
DEN Kennisinstituut, Netherlands
Dutch knowledge centre for digital transformation in culture
“To innovate and remain resilient, cultural organisations must understand the ‘hidden’ digital work that keeps services running. At manifesto, we are proud to support this research because we are passionate about helping the cultural sector move from “doing digital” to truly “being digital” and this research will help provide the baseline for what is needed to help the people and processes behind the screens thrive and respond to the shifting digital landscape.”
Manifesto agency, United Kingdom
Digital transformation agency for purpose-led organisations
Inside the report
Dive into the report
Each chapter is built around a question cultural leaders keep asking, and the evidence to answer it.