Dan Bates (CEO, Sheffield Theatres) shares the learning and opportunities developed through Audience Influencers programme and why digital is the next big challenge for the arts and culture sector.

1. Journeys with Audiences
Dan Bates
Sheffield Theatres
@danbates @crucibletheatre @sheffieldlyceum
online: #wddo

2.
THE PARTNERS
•Hull Truck Theatre Company, Hull
•Sheffield Theatres
•Phoenix Dance Theatre, Leeds
•Northern Ballet, Leeds
•The Civic, Barnsley
•Eureka!, Halifax
•Kala Sangam, Bradford
•&Co The cultural marketing house (Lead Partner)

3.
AIMS
•Establish a cohort of exemplary ‘audience focused’
leaders
•Realise the market potential for audience engagement
for new cultural facilities
•Develop this cohort into successful ‘change agents’ for
audience engagement
•Achieve a self-sustaining and diverse community of
practice.

4.
Six key leadership challenges were:
•Programme Diversity & Audience Engagement
•Stakeholder Engagement
•Brand Perceptions
•Building Operation and Management
•Governance
•Financial Models

5.
TEN TOP TIPS
•Do it before the move ....
•Talk to your audience
•Be patient
•Get the right people and the right knowledge ...
•Board Members are NOT the ones working in the new
building.