About the project
The Hidden Cost is an independent study of the invisible labour that keeps digital running: the unplanned, unrecognised work that never appears on a job plan. It looks to measure the scale and impact of what usually goes uncounted.
Who took part in the research?
187 respondents
across five continents
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 nobody counts is work that nobody funds. This research starts the counting.”
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.”
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.