The European Commission's annual Cuture Forum will this year focus on examples of audience development and European exchange of best practice on audience development strategies by cultural organisations.

The event is organised by the European Commission's Culture Policy and Intercultural dialogue unit which is seeking to promote the future funding programme “Creative Europe”, and foster debate on how to secure long-term audiences for European cultural works. The event is set to take place in Brussels on 16th and 17th October.

The conference will be moderated by Mary McCarthy, Cultural Director/Director of the National Sculpture Factory Cork, Ireland, and will feature debates focussed on four different themes: empowering the audience, engaging the audience, diversifying the audience and hosting the audience.

The day before the conference the Commission will present its proposal for the future of the European Capitals of Culture beyond 2020, with its plans for these to be fully financed by national budgets in the future.

For further information, please click:

http://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/20120711-audiences_en.htm