Crossing borders

A conference about developing theatre audiences

A 2017 European Commission study on audience development found a decline in the attendance of theatre and cultural events, in particular, people younger than 26 only attend theatre on a whim. In the time of the rapid decrease of values and the expansion of intolerance and ignorance, theatres are important bearers of the key democratic messages about difference and diversity, inclusion and responsibility, empathy and essential criticism. 

The conference aims to encourage activities for audience development in repertory theatres in the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states, more precisely: programme planning, marketing, sales, audience research. The objective of this activity is to increase attendance, and the strategies are oriented towards sustainable inclusion and contemporary communication within the framework of artistic and other theatre contents. 

The conference will present the results about the situation in audience development, the changes in recent years, the possibilities for developing and attracting new audiences, and some good practice case studies from festivals and agencies to expert centres and international projects. The conference will conclude with a workshop in which each participant will prepare a concrete and applicative plan. Additionally, it will also include a presentation of the financial mechanisms of support for the implementation of audience development projects as a part Creative Europe programmes. 

The conference programme will also provide an exchange of experience, reflection and networking, also through attending Festival events.

Schedule

Monday, 14 October

• 10.00 / SNT Maribor Mezzanine / Registration
• 10.30 / Small Stage SNT Maribor / Luisella Carnelli (Fondazione Fitzcarraldo, IT) Audience Development Strategies introduction
• 12.00 / Old Stage / The Right to Be a Human performance and discussion / Puppet Theatre Ljubljana (SI)
• 14.30 / Lunch
• 16.00 / SNT Maribor Mezzanine / The Right to Theatre Short Symposium on Contemporary Performing Arts for Young Audiences in collaboration with First Stage, Drama SNT Maribor, and Gleda(l)išče, Slovenian Theatre Institute (SI)
• 18.00 / Small Stage / Toni Attard (Culture Venture, MT) Theatre Ecosystem lecture
• 19.15 / Dinner
• 20.30 / Art Gallery Maribor / The Space Within the Space: Scenography in Slovenia before 1991 guided tour / Slovenian Theatre Institute – Theatre Museum in collaboration with National Gallery, MTF with Art Gallery Maribor (SI)
• 22.00 / KGB Club / The Castle is Burning! concert 

Tuesday, 16 October

• 10.00 / Maribor Town Centre / A Coolturally Cure-ious Walking Tour playful urban expedition with Rajzefiber Maribor (SI)
• 12.00 / Puppet Theatre Maribor / Mankind performance and discussion / De Stilte (NL)
• 14.00 / Lunch
• 16.00 / Alma mater Europaea / Architecture of Relationships presentation of good practices / The Audience Agency (GB): Audience Segmentation System in European Theatres (ASSET); Fondazione Fitzcarraldo (IT): Be SpectACTive!; Belgrade Theatre Festival BITEF (RS): Programming with audience in mind; European Theatre Convention: Young Europe III; Culture Venture (MT): Culture policies, festivals and young audiences; Kinder- und Jugendtheaterzentrum in der BRD (DE): Augenblick mal!; Drama SNT Maribor (SI): First Stage ‒ Artistic residency
• 18.30 / Dinner
• 20.00 / Grand Hall SNT Maribor / After Hannah Arendt Eichmann in Jerusalem performance / Zagreb Youth Theatre ZKM (HR)

Wednesday, 16 October

• 9.00 / Alma mater Europaea / Jonathan Goodacre (The Audience Agency, GB) Step by Step workshop on planning the audience-development activities 
• 11.00 / Old Stage SNT Maribor / Jack London, Tomáš Jarkovský, Jakub Vašíček White Fang performance and discussion / DRAK Theatre (CZ)
• 13.00 / Lunch
• 14.30 / Alma mater Europaea / Creative Europe (Still) Searches for Audience presentation of EU opportunities for culture and creativity / Zavod Motovila, Creative Europe Desk in Slovenia (SI)
• 16.00 / Alma mater Europaea / Let’s Cross the Borders! active platform for conference participants
• 18.00 / Dinner
• 19.30 / Small Stage SNT Maribor / Nassim Soleimanpour (IR) White Rabbit Red Rabbit performance and discussion / Maribor Theatre Festival (SI) and Aurora Nova (DE) in collaboration with UL AGRFT (SI)

The conference will be held in English.
Supported by the Central European Initiative CEI.