Building Demand for the Arts

Monday, October 7, 9:50am – 10:50am

Organized and moderated by Ben Cameron, Program Director for the Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Presented by Alan Brown, Principal, WolfBrown.

In 2012, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) launched an artist residency program designed to help artists and organizations imagine new ways to build demand for the arts. But what does it mean to build demand? How does one measure demand building? Is it more than “butts in seats”? To think about the dimensions of demand building and its measurement, DDCF engaged Alan Brown, whose consideration of demand building ranged from conventional audience attendance numbers to conversations with psychiatrists about the power of place in affecting behavior. In this session, Brown will present a brief overview of how to think about demand building, measure it, and engage with attendees, and Cameron will discuss what is being learned through the DDCF program.