Announcing Communicating the Museum '10 in Vienna

Hello everyone!

Last post considered how to engage audiences and this one will as well, though in a different manner, as audiences are going to be the main Focus of our Communicating the Museum conference this year.

Having initially cancelled the Conference, we received so many messages that we decided our 10th anniversary would definitely be celebrated in the beautiful city of Vienna next 1-2 July.

This years theme is as we previously announced "Audiences: Keeping the Old, Finding the New" and we will greet both museums professionals, as well as cutting-edge experts to discuss how to retain and reach out to new audiences today and tomorrow. New types of audiences are emerging and being singled out but also new ways of dialoguing with them are becoming part of the arts organisations' communication strategy. Is it all about attendance figures? What does this shift mean for the structure of the museums in terms of philosophy and teamwork? 

Here are some of the issues we are going to be working on

>> What attracts audiences, what do they like, what do they want?

>> Segmentation, niche audiences, non visitors, the old and the new : who are they?

>> How to reach audiences : what communication do they use?

>> How do we retain them? What works? What are the efficient tools?

>> What is the future of the relationships with our audiences?

>> How can we work together with our audiences to produce content?

>> How is the role of marketing and communication changing? 

The pink Lady you can see above, fresh as well as a classic, embodies these questions. Maybe she is a symbol of the multiplicity of audiences who enter arts organisations nowadays, or maybe she represents the multiplicity in one single person/visitor, how complex they have become and how crucial they are in the communication process. 

Can you guess who she is?

Our line-up is being finalised at the moment and is looking fantastic. We will keep you posted on the several speakers we will have on this blog.

This year our president Damien Whitmore, head of Public Programmes at the Victoria & Albert Museum will start the conference by delivering an inspiring speech about the fundamentals of developing audiences drawing from his experience as directing the complete rebranding of the Tate including the hugely successful launch of the Tate Modern.

At the V&A, He oversees the museum's exhibition programme and has rebranded the organisation, launched the widely acclaimed V&A magazine and more than doubled attendance figures.   

This will be the starting point for a row of discussions, masterclasses and return on experiences by arts organisations middle-size and big, local and international, mature as well as new. 

The conference takes on a shorter and more dynamic format, but stays true to its style, with great venues, such as the Kunsthistoriches Museum, the Albertina and the Mumok, and remainining a unique occasion for Museum and arts professionals to network.

We also felt that this theme was the unique occasion to discuss how arts organisations can work and come together as teams to achieve a common goal and have set up a special fee for museums curators.

All arts organisations are welcome.

Stay tuned and hope to see you in Vienna this summer!

Visit our website for more information.

Comments

[K. Melzer]

Hi,

I tried to find out more about this conference. Unfortunataly I did not succeed. Could you please post a link which leads to more infos? (website?)

Thanks!

[Claire Solery]

Dear Katja,

You can find all the information available at
www.communicatingthemuseum.com

Our website is being constantly updated at the moment.

All best
Claire

[K. Melzer]

Thanks a lot! Hope to see you in Vienna!

[Claire Solery]

Definitely!

Do you receive our conference emails. If not, contact us.

[Elizaveta]

Hi!

I happened to find about the conference today and I was literally thrilled because museum management is my academic focus and my interest, but later, to my amazement, I found out about the unaffordable prices for students.(((
are there going to be any special prices for students who want to get this knowledge and are not interested in luxurious parties in khm or wherever else?

[Claire Solery]

Dear Elizaveta,

Unfortunately no, as we do have to keep a rather straight policy on this to get even!

We do work with students who can do a job for us during the conference though, so it would be a possibility. For this you would have to contact me.
You find all info here

>>http://www.agendacom.com/us.html

Thx for your interest in the conference
Claire

[Jennie]

Dear Claire,

I am a British student, studying for a PhD at Vienna University focusing on museums and their management and audiences. I know that Elizaveta has already mentioned the high participation fees, but I also wanted to express my disappointment. In a profession that is already so difficult to get into (especially in Austria) and gathering as much experience as possible (be it volunteering, attending conferences or studying for academic qualifications) it's a shame that such interesting conferences and opportunities reflect some of the problems of access and elitism often aimed at museums more generally.

I don't want to sound too bitter or anything, but it's quite frustrating at the moment for recent graduates and people trying to break into the field! On a lighter note, do you know whether there are any plans to podcast any of the sessions or publish results from the discussions?

I've only just discovered the blog, so I'm sorry that my first comment is a complaint of sorts. But the blog is really interesting!

Jennie

[Claire Solery]

Dear Jennie,

First of all thank you for the blog, it is much appreciated.

It took me a while to answer as your comment really gets me thinking on a daily basis.

As a Junior professional working in the cultural field myself, I can only but agree with you that "CTM" is financially out of reach for young professionals whatever motivated and willing to build experience and knowledge meeting top institutions. For the conference to exist and to exist as such, that is remaining exclusive in a positive way,in terms of venues, speakers and offers of all sorts in such a troubled context, Agenda needs to break even financially which is not done against any type of audiences.

I myself volunteered for several conferences, not seeing so much of them but being able to meet people who would give me a chance and I suppose this is pretty much how it goes and I understand this is not ideal either.

We are thinking right now on less costly formats in the future which I think may be of interest and represent a good opportunity for you to develop opportunities.

Also, people like you are the ones we need to volunteer for work at our conference as we have started doing. If you contact me, I am sure we can find ways for you to help us and get a taste of the conference. I have done that and I hope this will strike interest.

there will be of course much tweeting and reporting from the conference anyway!

Lets discuss this!
Claire

[Rosie Clarke]

Dear Claire,

I've sent you an email regarding volunteering at the conference - I would love to come and help out!

Hope to hear from you soon.

All the best,

Rosie