Our highlights and top-tips from the Arts Marketing Association’s 2017 conference, titled ‘The Value of Everything’, held in Belfast.
AMA conference 2017
Last week I spent three days with over 600 other communications professionals at the Arts Marketing Association’s annual conference, held in Belfast this year.
This year’s theme, ‘The Value of Everything’, quite literally covered everything.
- Royal Exchange Theatre shared how they worked creatively with audiences to create their audience manifesto.
- Brad Carlin, Managing Director of Fusebox Festival, got us thinking bigger and bolder, and about the power we each had to do those daring ideas. A few ideas that came up included free entry for local residents, fire everyone and get rid of the website (not sure we’re a fan of that last one…).
- Ali Hanan, CEO of Creative Equals, challenged us to look at our conscious and unconscious bias to diversify our teams.
- And the Audience Agency introduced the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what it means for arts organisations.
With such a busy programme over the three days, we’ve been collating and tweeting our favourite takeaways from the conference keynotes and sessions. You can download them all here (or share your favourites below). Do tweet us @cog_design with great insights we may have missed.
I’ve been going to the AMA conference for the past eight years, and for me it creates a space to reflect and conjure new grand plans. Beyond the keynotes and breakout sessions, I love the chance to catch up with old friends and meet new faces. I’m always struck and amazed by the pride and resilience expressed by teams and organisations, particularly this year when talking about funding cuts and issues around relocating spaces. I’m so proud that the arts never feel beaten.
So I’m back in the studio with practical notes, inspirational stories and my big, bold idea.
I already can’t wait for next year’s.
Our favourite tips:
Our first #amaconf tip from this morning’s keynote @Excalibah pic.twitter.com/blTllCaKu3
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf tip 2 from @thewordbaker pic.twitter.com/ldSOII6aQb
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf tip 3 from @TheCogency pic.twitter.com/NNvFkTUOre
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf tip 4 is about those ever decreasing attention spans from @cavalary2015 via @sarahburry pic.twitter.com/lPJofhDzCl
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf tip 5. Arts become more important than ever. @KathrynHavelock pic.twitter.com/ziYVlHMY66
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf tip 6. Don’t discover people, develop people. From @Excalibah pic.twitter.com/Hilgk5YJjO
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
Tip 7 has Brad Carlin from @FuseboxFestival asking what you would dare do if you were ten times bolder? #amaconf pic.twitter.com/ljlVqpQUsq
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
And last #amaconf tip for the night… it’s number 8 featuring Queen Bey… Thanks @timcwood for an excuse to include her pic.twitter.com/uy5hzQRKKK
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 26, 2017
#amaconf Tip number 9 from @Will_Norris Arts organisations need to collaborate rather than compete. pic.twitter.com/dQysVpeA0K
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 10 from keynote speaker @TimArmoo on flicking through your apps as channels pic.twitter.com/c5qf963nq4
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 11 is from @TimArmoo again: pic.twitter.com/smFvicYphk
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 12 is @JamesFleury91 quoting Anais Nin ‘We don’t see things as they are…’ pic.twitter.com/W9h6oOcDhp
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 13 is on the benefits of adding subtitles – from @prettysimple pic.twitter.com/QoP6bzfR1e
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 14. Nikki from @EDCreates via Rachael Welsh @rachaelkwelsh pic.twitter.com/9KErTnoAp5
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 15 from @chiefbreenie regarding analytics pic.twitter.com/O8uMu3iyRX
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 16 from @mhmandrew …are you running the world efficiently or are you changing the world? pic.twitter.com/8I4PQOOAyl
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 17 from Amy Lamé …Mistakes are the best learning tools you could ask for @amylame pic.twitter.com/9P0pwdjGoM
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
#amaconf tip 18: Another one from @amylame Be honest, be creative, take risks. pic.twitter.com/YUe2mX8Abd
— Cog Design (@cog_design) July 27, 2017
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