Historic Houses share their thoughts regarding the MERITA Project

News | August 3, 2024

“The quartet and the trainer presented themselves very well. The concert had many innovative aspects and the audience was delighted”

“The local community was really excited about the project that happened in their town”

“Concert helps connecting with a broader and different demographic than our normal touristic activities”

These are some of the feedbacks from the historic houses that hosted the artistic residencies and the test concerts within the MERITA Project. The feedbacks are part of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) strategy conducted in the framework of the project activities. Monitoring and evaluation are pivotal to the successful management of the MERITA project and their objectives include detecting successes and problems, informing decision-making, ensuring accountability and assessing impact, by evaluating the project’s effectiveness, impact, relevance, and sustainability.

Historic houses serve as unique venues for the project’s activities, hosting concerts and artistic residencies that bring new life to these cultural landmarks. The Historic Houses Survey provided valuable insights into the experiences of these venues.
The evaluation of the residency and concert events is highly positive, reflecting strong satisfaction across various categories. The residency was particularly well-received, with the availability and politeness of the musicians scoring an impressive 4.89. Participants also appreciated the respect for the rooms used, which garnered a score of 4.74, and the musical program itself was well-received with an average score of 4.82. For the concert, the adequacy of the venue, considering the number of participants, scored a high 4.85. This suggests that the venue was well-suited for the audience size.
The willingness of the historic houses to continue similar activities in the future is overwhelmingly positive. A striking 96% expressed a desire to continue, with only 4% indicating otherwise. This strong inclination towards continuation underscores the project’s success and acceptance among participants.

Regarding the implementation of activities, most participants did not face significant challenges. A substantial 92% reported no difficulties, while a small 8% did encounter some issues (such as space limitations, language barriers, and organizational-timing issues).
The overall project assessment reflects a very successful initiative from the perspective of the historic houses. The MERITA project received a high average score of 4.91, highlighting its overall effectiveness. The project significantly allowed the houses to improve contacts and relations, with an average score of 4.84. Additionally, it enhanced management and entrepreneurial capacity, which was rated at 4.34. All respondents confirmed that the historic house gained strengths and added value from the project activities.
In summary, the evaluation showcases the project’s high satisfaction levels, minimal difficulties in implementation, and strong potential for future continuation. The residency and concert events were well-received, and the overall project was deemed highly beneficial for the involved historic houses, indicating a successful and impactful initiative.

Author: Diletta Paoletti, responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation (EuAbout Lab)