For many organisations, working more collaboratively with audiences has become a desired approach.  The prize for doing this is high-stakes – helping to create more relevant programmes embedded within communities.  This can be hugely professionally rewarding and help us to build a deep understanding of target audiences.

However, moving from traditional engagement approaches to more resource-intensive and time-consuming place-based co-creation model is not a simple swap.  Significant shifts in time, resource, flexibility and skills are needed, not to mention the ethical considerations of how sustainable this work is.  Teams are finding themselves needing to quickly develop their collaborative practice and partnership working, whilst navigating systems in their organisations which are lagging behind and advocating for change internally.

This collaborative Masterclass is a safe-space to share experiences, and frankly discuss what works and what doesn’t – and to share frustrations and tips.

Designed for anyone planning to work in a collaborative way with audiences, or already doing so; this is an invaluable opportunity to:

• Be refreshed by sharing practice with others doing the same
• Hear from real projects and pick-up essential tips for collaborating and co-creating with audiences
• Share our own challenges and opportunities in working in this way, and hear from others
• Bag effective ideas, tools and background reading for planning, undertaking and advocating for co-created projects
• Consider how organisations need to adapt their evaluation approach to better suit this inclusive, iterative and somewhat organic way of working with audiences.

This is a crowd-sourced Masterclass so we are very grateful to be joined by Sarah Staunton-Lamb from Earthwatch to share experiences of their Naturehood approach and latest community organising project and Navjot Mangat from the Horniman Museum and Gardens to reflect on the co-production and curation approach used in the 茶, चाय, Tea exhibition and programme.

Kate Measures from Heritage Insider will also be sharing a case study of a co-curation approach to evaluating a collaborative community programme, and leading a discussion on how our evaluation approach needs to adapt to respond to these new ways of working.

We will also draw from examples and lessons learnt from a range of other inspiring projects, programmes and evaluations.

9.30am-1pm on Zoom