Shows
CultureTalkCultureTalk: Unlocking Civic Powerhouses on Your Doorstep with Future Arts CentresArts centres are civic powerhouses – rooted in their communities, balancing artistic ambition with social responsibility, and doing it all on tight margins. So why is their potential still underestimated?
In this episode of CultureTalk, we're joined by Annabel Turpin, CEO of Storyhouse in Chester, and Gavin Barlow, former chief executive of the Albany in Deptford. Together they co-lead Future Arts Centres, a network of over 180 art centres across the UK.
Key topics covered:
🏛️ The unique civic role of arts centres in local communities
🤝...
2026-02-1853 min
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun PodcastMartin Gammeltoft is a six timer. We talk about websites and making yours better...My first, or second, sixth timer on the podcast...Martin Gammeltoft. My dude is back to talk about a few new things he is working and some really cool stuff he is doing with Culture Suite. https://www.culturesuite.co I talked to Martin about all kinds of cool stuff including: Radiohead Thinking about websites Developing websites Accessibility in websites Marketing Data And, more... Visit my website at www.DaveWakeman.com Join our Slack Channel Get the 'Talking Tickets' newsletter at https://talkingtickets.substack.com
2026-01-1551 min
CultureTalkCultureTalk: Radical Storytelling Ushers in a New Era of Opera with Calgary Opera’s Sue ElliottHow can one of the world's oldest art forms become urgently relevant to contemporary audiences? Join us for a powerful conversation with Sue Elliott, General Director and CEO of Calgary Opera, who is revolutionising how opera engages with communities by telling stories that matter.
Drawing from nearly two decades of groundbreaking work at Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, and now Calgary Opera, Sue shares how documentary-style approaches to opera programming can transform perceptions, build deep community connections, and make opera feel essential rather than elitist.
From collecting...
2025-11-141h 02
CultureTalkCultureTalk: Why Arts Marketers Must Become Audience Champions featuring Katy Raines from IndigoWhy aren't audiences coming back after their first visit? Join us for a compelling conversation with Katy Raines, Founder and CEO of Indigo, who's been transforming how cultural organisations understand and connect with their audiences for 18 years.
Drawing from groundbreaking research including the Missing Audiences study and Tomorrow's Audience insights, Katy challenges some uncomfortable truths about the sector: Are we only listening to the loudest voices? Is classical music mystifying newcomers with unexplained rituals? And could the structures of power be holding us back more than we realise?
2025-10-0154 minCultureTalkCultureTalk: Breaking Down Digital Accessibility Barriers in Arts & CultureWhy is digital accessibility in the cultural sector such a minefield despite decades of guidelines? Join us for an honest conversation about the real barriers facing arts organisations and practical solutions that actually work.
With roughly 1 in 6 people experiencing some form of disability, cultural venues risk excluding substantial audiences through inaccessible websites. Our guests reveal why the problem isn't just about budget or technical knowledge – it's about systemic issues and the need for better support structures.
Featured Guests:
Pim Teeuwisse - Co-Founder, Accessibility Desk
2025-08-1251 minCultureTalkCultureTalk: Why Digital Projects Fail and How to Set Them Up for Success with Ash MannThis article by Ash talks about the Enable-Engage-Express framework that we reference in the interview as well as his two-axis model for understanding how different digital activities differ in function and focus: https://www.ashmann.co/what-do-we-actually-mean-when-we-say-digital/
Digital strategy consultant Ash Mann brings clear-eyed insights from his research on why digital projects succeed or fail in arts and culture organisations. With 20 years of experience spanning in-house roles, agency leadership, and independent consulting, Ash shares:
🟢 Why digital failures are rarely technical but organisational
🟢 His Enable-Engage-Express framework for understanding digital activity
🟢...
2025-05-091h 20CultureTalkCultureTalk: How Content Strategy Shapes Cultural Engagement with One Further’s Georgina BrookeSenior Content Strategist Georgina Brooke joins us to discuss how cultural organisations can cut through digital noise, build meaningful audience connections, and create sustainable digital strategies. From her experiences at Oxford University, National Museum of Scotland, and the Ashmolean Museum, Georgina shares practical insights on developing effective content approaches that truly resonate with audiences.
Key topics covered:
🖋️ Why content strategy matters in an overcrowded digital landscape
👩👩👦👦 Building digital fandoms that generate sustainable revenue
📱 Navigating the volatility of social media platforms
🖥️ Why digital should be viewed as a product in its own right
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2025-04-161h 00CultureTalkCultureTalk: Putting People First in Digital Strategy for Cultural Organisations with Steve PlummerAs digital evolution reshapes the cultural sector, how can arts organisations develop sustainable technology strategies? Join us for a refreshing conversation with Steve Plummer from One Pebble Consulting, who challenges traditional thinking about digital transformation. With 25+ years of experience and nearly 50 digital roadmaps delivered, Steve brings practical wisdom to technological change in arts and cultural organisations.
Discover why "digital evolution" trumps "transformation" and learn about the "Three Ps" methodology that prioritises People before Process and Platforms. Steve shares insights from his work with venues of all sizes—from three-person theatre companies to major na...
2025-03-1754 minCultureTalkCultureTalk: Playful Innovation and AI’s Role in Culture with Jocelyn BurnhamAs artificial intelligence reshapes the cultural sector, how can arts organisations find a balanced path forward? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Jocelyn Burnham from AI for Culture, who brings a refreshingly nuanced perspective to this complex landscape.
Drawing from over a decade of experience and work with organisations like Arts Council England and Tate Modern, Jocelyn advocates for a more playful, experimental approach to AI adoption. Learn why "learning about AI is not the same as loving AI" and how venues can maintain their cultural values while navigating this technological evolution.
2025-02-2046 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 8: Embracing Digital Transformation and the Power of Culture with Queens TheatreQueens Theatre's Director of Operations Jay Rogers discusses digital transformation, pandemic recovery, and making theatre accessible in NYC's most diverse borough. Learn how this historic World's Fair venue balances tradition with innovation.
https://www.culturesuite.co/
2025-01-2443 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 7: Uncovering the Hidden Environmental Cost of Digital Technology with GoCodeGreenExplore how cultural organisations can balance digital engagement with environmental responsibility. GoCodeGreen's Gareth Edwards highlights the carbon impact of streaming, AI, and digital infrastructure.
2025-01-2443 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 6: Making Sense of Audience Data with Insights from The Audience AgencyJoin Oliver Mantell from The Audience Agency as he explores how venues can leverage audience insights, embrace AI, and implement practical data strategies – all while keeping the human element at the heart of arts marketing.
2025-01-2434 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 5: How Different Breed is Reshaping the Way We Solve Ticketing and AccessibilityFrom personal struggles to industry-changing solutions: Craig Pryde discusses Different Breed's [https://differentbreed.events/] mission to make events accessible for all. Learn more about the more overlooked aspects of event accessibility and ticketing.
2025-01-2434 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 4: Revitalising Communities through Culture with Paul CallaghanIn this fascinating edition of CultureTalk, Paul Callaghan, Chair of The Board of Trustees for MAC Sunderland, shared his insights on using culture to revitalise communities, the challenges of arts funding, and the future of the cultural sector in the UK. Discover how grassroots initiatives can transform regions and lives.
2025-01-2445 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 3: Navigating the Ticketing Landscape with Andrew ThomasJourney through the evolution of ticketing with Andrew Thomas, Director of Ticketing Professionals Conference. From shoeboxes to smartphones, discover how digital technology has transformed the arts and culture sector, and learn why accessible professional development is crucial for the industry's future.
2025-01-2433 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 2: Transforming Access in the Entertainment IndustryJoin us in this episode of CultureTalk as we speak with Martin Austin, Founder and Managing Director of Nimbus Disability, about how the pioneering Access Card is transforming accessibility in arts, culture, and entertainment venues. Discover Martin's personal experiences, the impact of accessibility, and Nimbus' future ambitions.
2024-07-1012 minCultureTalkCultureTalk Episode 1: Unlocking the Power of Data with KulturdataJoin us in an insightful conversation with Frederik Fabricius, founder of Kulturdata, as we discuss how data and digitalisation are revolutionising audience engagement and development in the arts and culture sector. Discover innovative strategies and practical tips for leveraging data to enhance your cultural organisation's outreach and impact.
2024-06-1215 min