Arts practitioners, academics and policy workers (including IFACCA's research analyst Chris Madden) spoke at a forum last week on measuring the cultural, social and economic impacts of arts activities. A bibliography (covering major research in Australia and a short selection of international references) was prepared for the forum and provides a good introduction to the subject. IFACCA is working on a longer list of international references, which we expect to release later this year. The one day forum, developed by Regional Arts New South Wales in collaboration with the Australia Council for the Arts and the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre, gathered experts from Australia and beyond to showcase and discuss current research and thinking on the impacts of the arts. The presentations and debates were lively and informative, but could touch only briefly on the many complex issues surrounding arts impacts. The event aims to generate ongoing network activity to further share information and resource, including updating the bibliography of Australian research. Chris has also been invited to participate as a expert panellist for the fuel4arts online forum on research and measuring the impact of the arts for ten days from September 20, 2004.