What do NI audiences think about coming back to in person cultural events and activities?

This snapshot is the fifth of our Belfast City Council Audience Panel. This month, we've asked our panel about how they’re feeling about getting back to cultural events and activities in person. This snapshot covers audiences' thoughts about vaccines, sitting in bubbles, Covid testing at arts and culture events, and more. We have also added a section about accessibility and inclusion. We need to remember that disabled audiences aren’t homogeneous – people have different types of disabilities, and depending on what they are, will impact on how people feel about returning.

Want to know more about our Audience Panel?

In 2021, we are changing the audience conversation on to the really good stuff that organisations need to hear from their public.

We’ve moved on from long, multiple-pages surveys (for now!) and thought it would be magical to talk with audiences. Yes, actually talk. Directly. With them. Like you would do in the good auld days in your theatre lobby.

We have partnered with Belfast City Council to run a year-long Audience Panel. Participating Belfast organisations helped us to recruit members of their audiences to take part. From now until December 2021, we’ll send these 833 audience members monthly short surveys and invite them to regular focus groups.

The topics of these conversations will be focused on the various elements of relationship building, to understand what makes audiences click and stick.

Although our panel has been recruited from Belfast organisations, their audiences could be from anywhere and overlap with yours. The insights we’ll gather will be as relevant to you as they will be to them.

The 2021 Audience Panel is supported by Belfast City Council.