More than bums on seats - who would of thought!

So another month but finally shaking off the haze of summer. How do I know, well? The Australia Council launched a new research report today, nicely called...'More than bums on seats: Australian participation in the Arts' and a few favourite commentators have picked up on it....today I'm going with Ben Eltham who points out some of the study's limitations.

As an arts marketer working in an organisation heavily funded by Ozco can I say the dream is 'more than' bums on seats. Idealistically we toil everyday for those snippets of success when it is more than the transactional relationship. For those moments when an audiences' heart and mind is touched by something. A half forgotten memory just recalled, sheer pleasure and amazement, a chill down the spine, a moment out of the mind when an attendee just connects far beyond the exchange of cash for the 'service' of entertainment.

So what insights do Ozco have for us?

Young people are highly engaged with the arts.

Ok....er...

Oh, now this is getting interesting...Groups who were less engaged with the arts:

Those born overseas in a non-English speaking country have significantly lower levels of both creative and receptive participation compared to the total Australian population

Those for whom the main language spoken at home is not English are less likely to attend arts events.

People with a serious illness or disability experience significant difficulties accessing the various services offered by the arts and consequently had much lower levels of arts participation.

Regional areas have significantly lower levels of attendance at music events than inner metropolitan areas.

Rural residents are more likely than inner and outer metropolitan residents to have had a below average year of receptive participation in the arts compared to the year before.

Ok, there's a market or two and some cool segmentation names: The Lovers (heavy participation), The Flirters (influenced by friends to attend), the Unattached (can't see the relevance) and The Outsiders (keep me away from the pretentious art snobs). Kudos on the segmentation names to whom ever came up with those...they gave me a laugh.

And to top if off it's full of buzz words like 'building engagement', one of my favourites! I'm off to read the report in depth but again I have the feeling it will be more of the same, great stats and thoughts...but somehow, lacking the oomph and the final answer to assist us searching for that holy grail of 'more than bums on seats'.

Social Media policies...another database

Another listing of social media policies, a veritable feast for anyone seeking to set up a social media strategy, although this one has an oh la la subtitle of 'empowerment with accountability'...sexy yes?

[insert rant here] How come no one ever seems to get the message....we don't need to recreate the wheel. Social media is vital. No I can't prove it with a flick of my magic wrist that it will make us ticket sales instantly. Yes everybody else is doing it. Yep you will be left behind if you don't. *whoosh there goes another audience development chance out the window*

A date with Clover and her vision

I'm not really a fan of Clover Moore, a product of living, working and voting in her two constituencies and being on the receiving end of more City of Sydney propaganda via mailbox than really even I care to have...and I love junk mail! But as I'm a firm believer in not bagging out things entirely before you at least give them a go, I conned two others to accompanying me to see our beloved Lord Mayor speak on Sustainability and the Arts at a recent SAMAG (Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group) special event.

Now I must admit I haven't read the whole Sustainable Sydney 2030 policy...it's even a bit long for me...but I did flip through the policy in regards to arts very quickly a few weeks before this rescheduled talk where I found it hidden between all the nice city of villages rhetoric. So, what was I wanting from this experience? Well to be inspired I guess...and the verdict?

• She admits the policy document is 'a bit cheeky' aka. they don't have the power to enforce it, or budget to make it happen
• There seemed to be some consultation with arts industry leaders an 'art and design advisory panel' was mentioned as was a 'cultural round table'...note to self, have a look who is on that?
• Clover spoke about the need to sell the 'intrinsic value of the arts'....if she knows how to do that, there's some of us who would love to here that!
• She believes the wider community does engagement with the arts when given a chance and sites the large festival events as examples...but as audience members asked...is that sustainable?
• She commented that the role of the arts is to 'reflect back to us who we are' and that it 'lifts people's spirits', her belief is that arts events should make people feel good about being in the city...

But where does that leave us? Sadly the event didn't really hit the mark by engaging with the arts workers in the room and providing the tools for us to go back to our respective institutions and rally others into this 'cheeky' plan...all in all...I'm sorry Clover I would of rather had one of your pamphlets shoved in the letterbox.

But here's a big thumbs up for SAMAG, the crowd was a smattering of familiar industry faces and even my uni supervisor...I must be onto something!