LEADING arts directors and senior managers from venues and festivals across Ireland attended a celebratory event in the Civic Theatre, Tallaght recently.
Participants in the Audience Development Programme, which has been operated by Arts Audiences since 2012, were joined by graduates from the previous two years along with invited guests to celebrate their achievements and reflect on the programme.
Niamh Honer of the Civic Theatre said they had participated in both the Audience Development Programme and the Google mentoring scheme that Arts Audiences runs.
“We saw a 70 per cent increase in unique visitors to our website last year, compared to the same period in 2012,
? she said.
“The know-how we have developed by participating in both initiatives has been invaluable to us as it provides up-to-date skills which are helping us to meet the challenges of this constantly evolving digital landscape.
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The Civic Theatre programme for 2014/2015 includes After Sarah Miles as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in October, Defender of the Faith by Love/Hate writer Stuart Carolan also in October and the revival of award-winning Little Gem by Elaine Murphy, which began its life on the stage of the Civic in 2008.
Witness by Carmel Winters in November, Swan Lake from Ballet Ireland in December, Tenderfoot our Transition Year Theatre programme in January 2015 and The Girl who forgot to sing Badly from Theatre Lovett next March are also included.
The Audience Development Programme was initiated by Arts Audiences and The Arts Council and is facilitated by Irish Times Training and accredited by the University of Ulster.
It enables senior venue and festival managers to develop skills and strategies to deepen their relationships with audiences and increase attendance at arts events.
Graduates of the course receive an Advanced Certificate in Management Practice from the University of Ulster. In all 42 individuals will graduate from the programme.
Orlaith MacBride, Director of the Arts Council said they recognised the strategic importance of audience management.
“Participants in the training have included representatives from venues and festivals from Donegal to Kerry and Dublin to Galway,
? she said.
“We would like to compliment all of those who have graduated from the Audience Development Programme. They are critical to the development of audiences for the arts in Ireland.
“By undertaking this programme they have demonstrated an interest in active engagement with audiences which will be of huge benefit to the venues and festivals they manage.
“Major credit is due to all who have participated in the programme for their hard work and commitment.
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