Audience Development agencies in national merger talks
We’ve just announced embryonic plans to create a new national audience development organisation by merging with All About Audiences in the north and other audience development agencies, operating under the working title Audiences Plus.
Our plan at the moment is to launch it by April 2013. Audiences Plus will maintain a not-for-profit ethos and provide the highest quality services across arts, museums, libraries, film and heritage throughout England.
Ivan Wadeson, Chief Executive of All About Audiences, said: 'Audiences Plus will build on the best practice from individual audience development agencies and Audiences UK to support organisations organisations across the country to deliver excellence in public engagement.’
Anne Torreggiani, Chief Executive of Audiences London, stated: 'Services will be modelled on the most successful ones currently on offer in some regions but adapted to encompass the best elements of others. Importantly, the needs of our clients and users will shape their evolution. It’s good news for organisations in London, as Audiences Plus will ensure the future of ground-breaking initiatives like Snapshot London - that have evolved here, but will also bring the best of other audience development opportunities from across the country.’
It seems timely to announce these early plans given the changes announced this week by Audiences UK. Chief Executive David Brownlee will be stepping down to take up the post of General Manager at the TMA, while Michael Noonan has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board, succeeding Alison Edbury, Chief Executive of &Co, who has been Chair of the organisation for the past five years.
In the context of the complete withdrawal of revenue support to the English Audience Development Agencies, at the same meeting the Board of Audiences UK passed a motion expressing support for the planned establishment of a single new body for England that will deliver high quality national audience development products and services in ways that best suit local needs.
For full details of the changes at Audiences UK please refer to their media release.