GCDN is pleased to present AEA Consulting’s 2023 Cultural Infrastructure Index (CII), a measure of major investments in capital projects in the cultural sector with budgets of US$10 million or more, that were either announced or completed in 2023.

Now in its eighth year, the CII provides a long-term view on trends in the field. An analysis of projects that were completed or publicly announced in 2023 shows relative stabilization following a post-pandemic boom: the number of projects completed increased in both volume and value when compared to 2022, while the value as well as the number of projects announced fell from a record high in 2022. However, if we look back to 2016, when AEA began tracking the CII, we see a more complex picture, as we find the volume of new projects – both announced and completed – increasing, while we see the value of investment decreasing, reflecting the current economic uncertainty affecting both the public and private sectors.

In addition to value and volume of new projects, the Index tracks trends on the number, type, location, and budgets of cultural infrastructure projects announced and completed every year, demonstrating activity across project types as well as uses, geographical spread and year-on-year changes.

Explore more of AEA’s findings in the 2023 Cultural Infrastructure Index.