ARTS COUNCIL SUMMIT ATTRACTS A NATIONAL CROWD

05/04/2007

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) -- Nearly 200 arts professionals from around the United States came to the Next Audiences Summit in Indianapolis over April 27 and 28 to learn more about attracting "next generation" consumers and patrons.

Held by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, the Summit featured keynote speakers Donna Walker-Kuhne (author and arts professional), Steve Hyink (author and "customer attachment" specialist), Steve Seto (director, Brand Strategy and Global Insights, Starbucks Coffee, Inc.) and Rebecca Ryan (author, futurist, researcher).

Workshop and shared learning experiences were hosted by Patron Technology, Red {an orchestra} and Free Night of Theater. Participants also attended AMP (Art, Music and People) at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Stutz Artists Studio Open House. The Summit was created in part to extend "new audience" research and recommendations undertaken by the Arts Council of Indianapolis in partnership with Next Generation Consulting (led by Rebecca Ryan).

The Summit marked the fourth phase in the research imitative created by the Arts Council of Indianapolis in partnership with Next Generation Consulting.

To date the research project has included:

• Designing the research and training a team of local researchers
• Gathering the art consumption habits/characteristics from hundreds of “users” who are 20- 40 years old
• Evaluating research, results and implementing recommendations (such as ticketing, technology, etc.)
• Sharing best practices in audience development via professionals from within the arts community on a local, regional and national basis during the Next Audiences Summit.

The research initiative was made possible in part through the support of Lilly Endowment, Inc.