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All press enquires should be directed to sara.gunn@audiencesni.com

AMA Training Event

"Know Your Audience" - Developing an Audience Information Strategy with Beth Aplin.

23 June 2010, 10am - 5pm, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast.


Audiences NI 10/11 training programme continues with a masterclass aimed at providing you with the tools to skills and knowledge you need to put together an audience information strategy for your organisation.

Free to members of Audiences NI
AMA Member Rate: £133 + VAT
Non-member Rate: £193 +VAT

Email Emma@a-m-a.co.uk to book your place.

NB: This event was rescheduled from early May.

Digital Skills Training Survey

Culture Northern Ireland will be launching a new Digital Skills Training Programme later this year to assist organisations within the arts and cultural sectors in marketing their events and products.

It is important that they identify and respond to current training needs in this area, so are inviting anyone working within these sectors to complete a short survey. All input is appreciated. Click here to access the survey.

AMA Networking Event

If you’re thinking about redesigning your current website or building a new site now or in the future, this session is a must. Victoria Hutchinson, from Tibus, will join Alice Lewis to discuss project managing the process: from creating the perfect brief to launching and beyond.  We promise to keep it plain English and informal and there’ll be plenty of time to ask lots of questions and share your own experiences.

This is an AMA Networking Meeting, hosted by Member Rep Alice Lewis. It is open to AMA members and non-members and is a chance to meet other arts professionals and develop your network.

27 May, 3pm, Grand Opera House, Belfast.
£5 cash on door

To reserve your place, email Sara

Photoshop Training

Ever wondered how to manipulate an image or design your own e-cards and newsletters using Photoshop?

As more and more emphasis is placed on e-marketing and having an online presence, it is important to know how to create your own engaging marketing material to promote shows, events and promotions.

This practical workshop will show you how to get started.

Photoshop for Beginners
with Joy Backora
25 May 2010, 10am-4pm, Nerve Centre, Derry.
Free to Audiences NI Band 1-3 members.
£75 for Band 4 and Associate Members.

Contact Sara to book your place.

The Audience Tracker report for 2008 is now available to download from our website. Find out how often audiences are attending and whether they’re likely to attend multiple venues or multiple artforms during the year.

One of two annual reports that Audiences NI produce, the Audience Tracker is based on box office data drawn from 17 arts organisations across Northern Ireland to analyse crossover between both organisations and genre.

To read the results of the report, download here.

Were You There?

This year's annual conference focussed on putting the audience in the picture by exploring artistic programming as audience development and the many benefits of bringing marketing and programming together to increase audiences across the arts.

The speakers Fergus Linehan, Richard Slaney, Sandie Fisher, Louise Miles-Crust and Tabitha Milne provided practical examples of inspirational audience development approaches.

Richard Watson was our official photographer for the day and you can visit the online gallery here:

Annual Conference on YouTube

The Culture Northern Ireland team were on hand to record feedback and highlights from the annual conference.

With extracts from the dance performance and interviews with attenders, this short video gives a flavour of the event and the perhaps the chance to see yourself on camera!

Click here to watch the video

Test Drive the Arts Update

Since launching in February, Test Drive the Arts NI has seen over 850 new people attending arts events in venues in Belfast, Derry and regional venues across NI. Over 35 arts organisations have signed up to provide tickets for the project and the feedback from the attendees has been very positive.

“It is an excellent opportunity to try out aspects of the arts which I had never thoght to do before. The ease of use really facilitated this. (The people who went had a great time).”

”Applying for the tickets was easy. We had a really enjoyable time at the Millennium Forum and our seats were great. Thank you for the experience.”

”I think this is a really great scheme and have spread the news far and wide.”

Visit the Test Drive the Arts NI site now and see for yourself the wealth of events on offer.

Andrew McIntyre Presentation

Audiences NI, in partnership with the Arts Marketing Association, hosted a masterclass in audience development which was delivered by Andrew McIntyre from Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, a prestigious UK consultation company on arts marketing and audience development.

Andrew discussed the many ways in which audience behaviour has changed throughout the years and what can be done to increase audiences through different methods and projects such as Test Drive the Arts.

Download his presentation here.

News from Prime Cut

Prime Cut are predominantly known for their theatre productions including Woman And Scarecrow , Antigone and (now in rehearsal) Scarborough.

During their 18 year existence they have honed a reputation for producing work that engages the audience promoting thought and discussion – exactly what art should do!

Read more about their new production Scarborough, and Theatre Lab 2010 for actors and dancers here.

The Heart of the Ulster Hall

Built by William Hill in 1862 at a cost of nearly £4,000, the Mulholland Grand Organ is recognised as one of the finest examples of classical organ building and is returning to its home in the Ulster Hall.

Tim Husbands, Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Managing Director, commented: The Mulholland Grand Organ has been the heart beat of the Ulster Hall for around 150 years. We`ve missed it in much the same way as an orchestra or concert band misses its absent star performer. I`m delighted the organ’s back and ready for the rigours and challenges of the 21st century."

To read more click here