The Bookseller - News - Independent bookshops' 'impressive' cultural impact revealed in new Arts Council report

New research by the Booksellers Association (BA), commissioned by Arts Council England, has revealed the "range and depth of bookshop contributions to our culture and society", with 92% of indies running activities and events for their local communities, including author events, and 65% supporting local literary and arts festivals.

The Cultural Role and Value of England's Independent Bookshops report was commissioned by Arts Council England in December 2023, and 163 independent bookshops based in England were surveyed in February 2024. A series of in-depth interviews were also conducted with 26 bookshops, and members of a book club were interviewed. A small number of related discussions were conducted with library officials to "gain a closer insight around particular cultural and community collaboration with local bookshops".

The aim of the research was to determine how independent bookshops enrich the cultural and social lives of their communities, as well as identifying enablers and barriers.