A busy and edifying month – November 2024

It’s been a month of connecting, re-connecting, expanding horizons and creating opportunities. Our Communications and Business Development teams have been particularly busy.

As we’ve done for many years, we lent corporate support to Theatre Craft, the only free jobs fair for young adults considering a career in theatre #BeyondTheStage. The Royal Opera House and the West End were buzzing with curious and enthusiastic attendees learning about career paths in the sector, from tech and lighting to marketing and costumes (and much more)! There were a series of fascinating talks, workshops and demonstrations on offer. We delivered vibrant banners, fun selfie boards, A-frames and, of course, the #TheatreCraft24 programme. It was great to see so many of our customers with their exhibits, securing the next generation of offstage theatre professionals.

The Royal Armouries Museum was an amazing setting for #Museums2024. We’re a proud Museums Association Commercial Member, so our Group Communications Manager attended the conference in Leeds to meet fellow members and learn about the sector’s challenges and aspirations. It was fascinating to understand which aspects are similar to the performing arts and which considerations are unique to museums and galleries. Most importantly, it was agreed that museums are beacons of the community and serve as spaces for education and storytelling. Being environmentally conscious was high on the agenda for museums; we’re confident we can contribute and support the sector in that regard, given our considerable carbon footprint reducing efforts.

History and cultural patrimony matter to us. Our Business Development Manager was joined by his Direct Publicity colleague and counterpart at London’s QE II centre for The Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event, exhibiting along with over 70 suppliers to the sector. As a Historic Houses Corporate Member, it was rewarding to introduce our array of products and services to stately homes. Much like theatres and museums, print plays a vital role in enticing visitors to heritage venues. Unsurprisingly, sustainable options were once again topical!

Arts festivals are a natural extension of the performing arts customer base. We headed to the Bristol Beacon for the British Arts Festivals Association #BAFA2024, exhibiting alongside insurance, software and ticketing suppliers. Like the organisation, the conference is small but mighty, not least thanks to the presentation of the comprehensive ‘Festivals Forward’ research report. The two days were spent sharing ideas, provocations, concerns and endeavours by classical, jazz, literature and opera festivals. Hyperlocality was frequently mentioned and synergies with the Arts Council and green organisations like Julie’s Bicycle were explored in depth. We were thrilled to finally meet some of our customers in person and demonstrate to fellow members that we and Direct Publicity are supportive suppliers, keen to become trusted partners.

In between these various excellent conferences and events, we also met up with Arts Marketing Association colleagues in London for a social media workshop (to Bluesky, or not to Bluesky – that is the question!) and UK Theatre’s Revenue Generation Forum, where novel approaches to programme sales were shared.

Phew, that’s a wrap… and on to panto season!