Audience research in an age of austerity: Ensuring continued support for the visitor voice
Visitor Studies Group AGM 2011 and Conference
Weston Theatre, Museum of London
Friday the 4th of February
10.10 am - 4.30pm
With news of Government cuts becoming clearer is Audience Research a legitimate cut? In the face of severe cuts for the cultural sector difficult decisions have to be made about funding priorities, including core collections, opening hours and front-line staff. However, if the burden of the financial shrinkage falls too heavily on learning and research, is the quality of the visiting experience itself at risk? What does this mean for funding bids which increasingly demand evidence of impact and demonstrations of lessons learnt from previous projects and audience consultations? If insight into visitor expectations and experiences is cut, how can we effectively engage people with our collections and stories?
This one day conference will provide examples of how major projects have been turned around on small budgets, how audience research can be strategically embedded in the aims of an organisation and how smaller organisations keep audience research alive. We will hear first hand from DCMS what some of the issues facing us are.
Keynote speaker from the USA:
Following the success of John Falk’s visit last year, VSG is bringing in another leader in the field of audience research from the United States. Alan Friedman is the former Executive Director of the New York Hall of Science. Alan’s dynamism and tenacity in building an organisation from something very small into one of the world’s top institutions for informal learning during some difficult times will provide us with inspiration and valuable insight into how to cope with our own age of austerity.
Other speakers include David Fleming, Director - National Museums Liverpool, Adam Cooper, Head of Research - DCMS, Liz Neathy, Curator - Havering Museum and Jean Franczyk, Director of Learning - Science Museum. For a full programme of speakers please email your interest.
Whether an experienced evaluator or new to the field, the discussion of some of these topical issues, and examples of how they are being addressed, should help you cope with the challenges you and your organisation are now facing.
Prices held from 2010!
Registration costs
VSG Members - £70
VSG Members' Concession* - £40
Non-members - £90
Non-members' Concession* - £50
Registration fee includes lunch and tea/coffee
*The concessionary rate is available to individuals who are Full-time Students, Unwaged or Retired.
How to book
To book online go to: http://visitors.org.uk/node/412
Or request a registration form below and return your completed form with a cheque made payable to 'Visitor Studies Group' to:
Mary Phelps,
VSG Administration,
22 Church Avenue,
London,
SW14 8NN.
You can also pay by BACS transfer. Please see registration form for details.
Venue
The Conference is held at the Museum of London. Where the spectacular £20 million Galleries of Modern London opened earlier this year. The Museum is open until 6pm so there is plenty of time to see the new galleries.
I hope to see you there.
Best wishes,
Melissa Bentley
Museum Development Officer-Networks and Training
London Museums Hub
Museum of London Docklands
No 1 Warehouse
West India Quay
London E14 4AL
Email: mbentley@museumoflondon.org.uk
Mobile: 07947 296522
TIMETABLE
Visitor Studies Group one day conference and AGM
4th February 2011
10.10 – 10.30am Registration, coffee and networking
10.30 – 11.30am Keynote speaker: Alan Friedman, former Executive Director – New York Hall of Science [‘Visitor Studies in Ages of Anxiety: What can we learn?’]
11.30am -12.00pm David Fleming, Director - National Museums Liverpool [‘Audiences: Knowing them, loving them’]
12.00 – 12.15pm Q andA with Alan Friedman and David Fleming
12.15 – 12.35pm Bursary feedback
12.35 – 12.45pm AGM
12.45 – 1.45pm LUNCH
1.45 – 2.15pm Adam Cooper, Head of Research – DCMS [‘Making audience research add up: The value of CASE’]
2.15 – 2.45pm Liz Neathy, Curator; Ellen Owen, Front of House Team Leader - Havering Museum [‘From A Dream to Reality: Engaging audiences at the Havering Museum’]
2.45 – 3.15pm COFFEE BREAK
3.15 – 3.45pm Jean Franczyk, Director of Learning - Science Museum [‘Moving Beyond Expert Assumptions: How Audience Research and Advocacy Changed our Approach to Climate Science’]
3.45 – 4.30pm Panel Discussion
4.30pm Close
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