Boost for Cumbria's artists and galleries

C-Art, Cumbria’s largest visual arts event has joined forces with Manchester based All About Audiences to bring their programme of marketing courses to artists and galleries based across the county.

All About Audiences is the arts, cultural and heritage audience development agency for the North West, working with organisations to better understand and grow their audiences. ‘We are thrilled to be connecting with All About Audiences this year as part of C-Art 2012. Their expertise in audience development and marketing is vital to so many of Cumbria’s cultural businesses large and small, - we are really pleased to be able to offer this great value course to our members.’ comments C-Art Project Coordinator Donna Marris.

C-Art is Cumbria’s largest visual arts event, encompassing open studios, gallery open days and special events across Cumbria each year in September. Supported by Arts Council England and developed in partnership with Cumbria Tourism, C-Art aims to promote visual arts in Cumbria, encourage cultural visitors and increase artwork sales for both galleries and artists.
With over 20 years experience (formerly Arts About Manchester), All About Audiences has an established reputation for pioneering projects, consultancy, research and marketing services. The first in their series of courses, ‘Introduction to Marketing’ is designed for those who are new to marketing and those looking for basic advice to get started. The session will involve hands-on activities and exercises to reinforce the theoretical content and attendees will take away useful tips, templates and best practice guidelines.

“If you’re not sure where to start, lacking resources and juggling multiple priorities it can be easy to shy away from marketing. Marketing is all about good communication; it doesn’t need to be a hard, expensive or time consuming task, you just need to get the basics right.” said Jo Kay from All About Audiences.

All About Audiences are offering reduced rate places on their ‘Introduction to Marketing’ course on March 1 at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick to all C-Art Open Studios 2012 members who sign up before February 29..

C-Art 2012 will run from 1 September – 16 September and is now open for applications from across Cumbria [Deadline 29 February]. The full list of participating galleries and artists can be found on the C-Art website from the beginning of May. Places on the marketing course are limited, so for more details on the course programme and how to sign up to C-Art 2012 visit the C-Art website at www.c-art.org.uk or call Eden Arts on 01768 899444