Record numbers already booked for Family Arts Conference

After the huge success of the first Family Arts Conference in Birmingham in 2013, bookings have already hit a new high for the follow-up event on Friday 13 March. The conference will take place in London and will be split between Cadogan Hall and Royal Court Theatre; a pairing of concert hall and theatre that has been carefully chosen to reflect the cross-artform nature of the Family Arts Campaign, and those organisations engaged with the Campaign to date. Tickets are available at www.familyarts.co.uk.

Over 300 delegates attended the last Family Arts Conference which took place in March 2013 in Birmingham. The event was an overwhelming success, with 85% of attendees saying that they would recommend the conference to a colleague. This year 30 speakers are confirmed for a full day of knowledge sharing, the launch of new research and announcements on the next exciting stage of the Family Arts Campaign.

“There were lots of really interesting points that I will take away from the day … all of the additional things to consider on a practical level that families take into consideration when booking an event.” – Delegate, Family Arts Conference 2013

Family Arts Conference 2015 will build on past successes as well as launch important new research by Baker Richards into event pricing for family audiences and by Staffordshire University into communication of artistic content to families. An afternoon panel session with the Family and Childcare Trust will also unveil the results of a national survey into the family-friendliness of the arts sector itself as an employer.

Delegates will have the chance to experience successful family work for themselves in a screening of the award winning Dragon, an international family show created by Vox Motus, National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin People’s Arts Theatre, as well as a live performance of Z-arts Family Matters monologues at a networking event on the evening preceding the conference.

An extensive case studies session will feature examples of successful activity from last year’s Family Arts Festival and will cover visual and performing arts organisations from across the UK, including the Royal Opera House, Arnolfini, and London Symphony Orchestra. Chaired by professional evaluators Catherine Rose’s Office, this session will uncover new learning as well as introduce important elements of the Campaign such as working in collaboration through a local Family Arts Networks and embedding the Family Arts Standards into working practice.

The day will be chaired by Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, and will also include an important keynote on the funder’s perspective from Laura Dyer, Executive Director of Arts Council England. The afternoon will include breakout sessions where delegates will get the chance to share their views in young person led activity, marketing to families, and arts organisations as employers. Speakers will include The Audience Agency, Spektrix and Minor Entertainment.

As the Family Arts Campaign moves into its fourth year, Campaign Manager Mari O’Neill will close the day by discussing the future of the Family Arts Campaign and how the arts sector and beyond will be able to benefit from engaging with it.

With conference delegates spanning management, marketing, education, outreach, and attracting professionals from arts organisations, museums, libraries and beyond, the conference looks set to be an exciting networking opportunity for any professional involved in organising or supporting arts activities.

Tickets are available at www.familyarts.co.uk