Devise and implement an audience development strategy for a creative or cultural organisation

​This standard is about devising and implementing an audience development strategy for a creative or cultural organisation. This could involve reviewing the organisation's current audience development strategy and updating it as appropriate or writing a new strategy.

It includes reviewing the objectives and benefits, establishing robust and impartial information about audiences and their current and future requirements, setting parameters for audience research, agreeing inclusive strategies and their implementation with appropriate people and evaluating success of strategies and their implementation.

This standard is for anyone who is responsible for devising and implementing an audience development strategy for a creative or cultural organisation.

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1. ​review the objectives and benefits of audience development strategies and why, when, and how you want to engage different audiences
2. identify and establish the validity of current information about audiences and their requirements
3. set parameters for robust and impartial evidence gathering about audiences and strategies, deciding whether this should be done internally or externally
4. explore ideas for new audience experiences, researching similar organisations' strategies and activities as well as current thinking in the wider sector
5. carry out an informed assessment of the potential benefits of different strategies to different audiences
6. identify the requirements of current and potential audiences in line with relevant organisational policies
7. ensure audience development strategies are inclusive and appropriate to intended audience and all user needs
8. identify the physical, intellectual, and economic obstacles to, and opportunities for, meeting audience requirements
9. assess the current and potential use of available resources and their implications for audience development
10. agree the strategy for audience development with all relevant people
11. identify realistic timescales for the implementation of strategies and agree them with all those involved
12. identify the effect of the implementation of strategies on other activities and people, and take appropriate steps to co-ordinate activities
13. work with appropriate staff to market audience development opportunities
14. evaluate the success of audience development strategies before, during and after their implementation, using findings to inform future strategies and activities

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1. ​the organisation's current strategy for audience development and the policies and objectives that impact audience development
2. how the cultural and political context can affect the audience strategies
3. the needs of current and potential audiences
4. how to identify different audience groups, and target markets for your organisation
5. how to assess the robustness and impartiality of information about current and potential audiences and their requirements
6. the potential challenges encountered by visitors with mobility, hearing and sight impairment and neurodivergent conditions and the different strategies available to ensure inclusive access
7. how to generate new ideas and research audience development activities across the sector
8. how to access new and current concepts and resources in audience development
9. the benefits, uses and disadvantages of technology in community engagement, including alternative approaches for those who don't have access to it
10. who the relevant people are that need to be consulted on strategies and their implementation
11. how to identify current use and potential resources and people to deliver strategies
12. the types of risks and benefits that need to be assessed
13. how to consult with stakeholders about audience development strategies
14. how to present information on strategies to different users
15. what other activities and people will be affected by the implementation of strategies
16. how to evaluate the success of strategies and implementation activities

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2

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30 Mar 2026

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Current

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Original

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Creative and Cultural Skills

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CCSCCS78

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Archaeology and Archaeological Sciences, Artistic and Literary Occupations, Arts, Media and Publishing, Conservation Associate Professionals, Crafts, Creative Arts and Design, Customer Service Occupations, Direct Learning Support, Education and Training, Functional Managers, General, Leisure and Travel Service Occupations, Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Media and Communication, Performing Arts, Publishing and Information Services, Quality and Customer Care Managers

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2452

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audience development; visitor; customer; audience; interpretation; learning; cultural heritage; strategy; research; creative organisation,;cultural heritage;

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