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.