Who consumes culture and why?

Join Dr Steven Hadley in conversation with Professor Ben Walmsley as they discuss the question of who consumes culture and why in relation to Steven’s latest book.

This free event is presented by the Centre for Cultural Policy in association with the International Network for Audience Research in the Performing Arts, University of Leeds, so please join us if you work in the arts, cultural or heritage sectors or have an interest in understanding how our relationships with audiences have been, and could be, constructed.

Within the book, Audience Development and Cultural Policy, Steven maintains that the work of audience development has been profoundly misunderstood within the field of arts management and – drawing from a rich range of interviews with key individuals within the audience development field – argues for the re-conceptualisation of audience development as an ideological function of cultural policy.

“I was nearly afraid to read Steven Hadley’s book because I knew it would turn my world upside down, and it has... In this text I see the groundwork in logic for better approaches to institutional planning and evaluation, as well as new and better arguments for alternative structures of cultural production. Those brave enough to read it will be richly rewarded.” (Alan S. Brown, Principal, WolfBrown)

“Steven Hadley has taken audience development out of the marketing suite and put it back on the high street of cultural democracy where it belongs. Rather than a genuflection to a neo-liberal orthodoxy, audience development is repositioned at the intersection of some of the most pressing debates for our culture and our democracy.” (Justin O’Connor, Professor of Creative Economy, University of South Australia)

This event will take place online. Details will be sent to attendees in advance.

Book your free place here