At this event, arts and culture researchers, policymakers and practitioners will showcase new research exploring the ways in which people engage with the arts. We’ll also explore approaches to identifying and valuing that engagement.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Ben Walmsley, Associate Professor of Audience Engagement at the University of Leeds. Dr Walmsley lectures on audience engagement, arts management, arts marketing, cultural policy and cultural value. Prior to his academic career, Dr Walmsley managed a small touring theatre company before working as Producer at the National Theatre of Scotland.

Other speakers will include Molly Goyer Gorman, and former and current postgraduate students from Queen’s University Belfast.

There will also be a Q&A panel facilitated by Dan Hull, Senior Researcher for the NI Assembly.

The event will be followed by a light reception allowing guests, students, researchers, practitioners and policymakers to mingle with one another.