Our 2019 team highlights
2019 has brought its successes and challenges. In this post, MD Tandi Palmer Williams reflects on the highlights and learnings.
2019 is the last year of the decade, and in many ways it has felt like a coming of age. It’s now my fifth year in business, having started freelancing as a research consultant in 2016, and I’m finally beginning to feel settled - though the learnings just keep coming!
As a team, we’ve achieved so much, but there is still so much work to do! Arts and cultural organisations are lagging behind other not-for-profit sectors in terms of capturing data about their impact, and our fundraising is not yet delivering the rates of return seen in other sectors.
But there is a lot to feel good about too - and one of my big lessons is to pause more, express gratitude and reflect on how far we’ve come. Here are some of our team’s highlights of the year that was 2019.
Audience Research Toolkit released
After two years in development, involving a needs analysis, data collection, co-design workshops, and user testing, Creative Victoria’s Audience Research Toolkit was launched.
Designed to help the small-to-medium creative arts sector conduct ‘DIY‘ research in-house, we developed the toolkit’s tools, templates and guidance for surveys, focus groups and data analytics.
I spoke with artsHub about the toolkit and how it can help creative arts organisations develop audiences and build engagement.
Visit the toolkit at www.creative.vic.gov.au/toolkit
GENEXT report published
We were delighted to see our research for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) published as a report, ‘By young people, for young people: A report on the impact of GENEXT at the MCA’.
The research found that by empowering a committee of teenagers to program regular festival-style museum ‘take-overs’, the institution has created a safe space for young people to express themselves. It has also led to audience development: past participants in GENEXT are more likely to attend the MCA, make art themselves, buy works of art and donate to arts organisations.
The research was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald in September.
Speaking about audience development
In August I was thrilled to co-present at Performing Arts Connections in QLD with our client, Rebecca Bennell from The Cube Wodonga. We talked about Actioning Change: converting research to reality in regional venues.
Since working together on an audience development plan in 2017, The Cube has gone on to grow ticket sales, increase membership income and diversify their audience. Rebecca shared what has worked, and what hasn’t, and I spoke about the lessons for audience development.
It’s been a real honour to work in partnership in this way and see what a great team can do with research.
On stage with Rebecca Bennell at PAC
Presenting at Culture 2.0 in St Petersburg
In November I was invited to speak on a panel as a part of the St Petersburg International Cultural Forum. The subject was where the world is heading, and how cultural institutions are innovating in relation to global trends.
It was an honour to be one of the only Australians at the event, but it was challenging too! Speaking to a foreign audience, with live translation in Russian and Chinese, it really put my speaking skills to the test, in a good way!
It also forced me to ‘zoom out’ on our work and put it in the context of global issues. I spoke about how Australian cultural institutions are delivering public value and contributing to topics like climate change, diversity and migration, and youth mental health.
On stage at Culture 2.0 in St Petersburg. Image credit:
Working with a team of legends
One of the highlights of this year, and of my life generally, has been working with a team of super bright, incredibly talented and supportive people.
Our newest team member Bianca Mulet is our rising star, creating sharp insights from all kinds of data. Dr Catherine Davis has brought sociology to our team, which we have all learned so much from, and Jodie Bombardier our Operations Manager connects all the dots behind the scenes to make everything flow!
In 2020, we’re looking forward to having Aurora Nowosad back after her baby break, and farewelling Catherine as she takes on new challenges. It’s such an honour to work with these stars and I’m incredibly grateful for their support and commitment to our vision.
There are many, many more highlights - but I’ll leave it there for this year. The working year is not quite done and there are deadlines to be hit, presents to wrap and sparkling wine to drink!
Over summer, I’ll be sharing some predictions for 2020, and how we can continue working together to grow culture, creativity and community.
See you then!
About the Author
Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director
Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Palmer Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.
Be in the loop
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What had us talking in 2019
In 2019 our MD Tandi Palmer Williams took to LinkedIn to share ideas with you. Here are the top articles that had us talking.
The end of the year is a great time for reflection, and a great opportunity to take a look at what’s unfolded this year, what’s worked well and where to improve, before bracing for the next.
Tandi took to LinkedIn this year, to share ideas on audience development, strategic planning and data culture. Here are some highlights:
First-time visitors need more than a map
A visit to the #TateModern had us thinking about how we give first-time attendees the best possible experience.
What constitutes a 'promising program' in the arts?
The Australian Institute of Family Studies has a definition of 'promising' and 'emerging' programs. Would this work in the arts?
Do you know when to act and when to evaluate?
As leaders, we need to judge when to pause and evaluate our work. But no-one wants 'analysis paralysis'. What if there was a decision-tree help guide our evaluation decisions?
Are micro-experiments they key to developing audiences?
Two years after working together, we looked back on a past client and everything they've achieved since. It led to some ideas about how small experiments can add up to big changes.
What if the arts sector was data-rich?
Arts and culture organisations are along the least likely to measure their success - but we chose to see that as an opportunity.
Power moves: How evaluation can help you prepare for multi-year funding applications
For our arts & culture colleagues applying for funding this year, we shared some ideas about how research and evaluation can help you refine your strategic direction and test new ideas.
Header image credit: Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Be in the loop
What got us talking in 2019
In 2019 our MD Tandi Palmer Williams took to LinkedIn to share ideas with you. Here are the top articles that had us talking.
The end of the year is a great time for reflection, and a great opportunity to take a look at what’s unfolded this year, what’s worked well and where to improve, before bracing for the next.
Tandi took to LinkedIn this year, to share ideas on audience development, strategic planning and data culture. Here are some highlights:
First-time visitors need more than a map
A visit to the #TateModern had us thinking about how we give first-time attendees the best possible experience.
What constitutes a 'promising program' in the arts?
The Australian Institute of Family Studies has a definition of 'promising' and 'emerging' programs. Would this work in the arts?
Do you know when to act and when to evaluate?
As leaders, we need to judge when to pause and evaluate our work. But no-one wants 'analysis paralysis'. What if there was a decision-tree help guide our evaluation decisions?
Are micro-experiments they key to developing audiences?
Two years after working together, we looked back on a past client and everything they've achieved since. It led to some ideas about how small experiments can add up to big changes.
What if the arts sector was data-rich?
Arts and culture organisations are along the least likely to measure their success - but we chose to see that as an opportunity.
Power moves: How evaluation can help you prepare for multi-year funding applications
For our arts & culture colleagues applying for funding this year, we shared some ideas about how research and evaluation can help you refine your strategic direction and test new ideas.
Header image credit: Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Be in the loop
2019 team highlights
2019 has brought its successes and challenges. In this post, MD Tandi Palmer Williams reflects on the highlights and learnings.
2019 is the last year of the decade, and in many ways it has felt like a coming of age. It’s now my fifth year in business, having started freelancing as a research consultant in 2016, and I’m finally beginning to feel settled - though the learnings just keep coming!
As a team, we’ve achieved so much, but there is still so much work to do! Arts and cultural organisations are lagging behind other not-for-profit sectors in terms of capturing data about their impact, and our fundraising is not yet delivering the rates of return seen in other sectors.
But there is a lot to feel good about too - and one of my big lessons is to pause more, express gratitude and reflect on how far we’ve come. Here are some of our team’s highlights of the year that was 2019.
Audience Research Toolkit released
After two years in development, involving a needs analysis, data collection, co-design workshops, and user testing, Creative Victoria’s Audience Research Toolkit was launched.
Designed to help the small-to-medium creative arts sector conduct ‘DIY‘ research in-house, we developed the toolkit’s tools, templates and guidance for surveys, focus groups and data analytics.
I spoke with artsHub about the toolkit and how it can help creative arts organisations develop audiences and build engagement.
Visit the toolkit at www.creative.vic.gov.au/toolkit
GENEXT report published
We were delighted to see our research for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) published as a report, ‘By young people, for young people: A report on the impact of GENEXT at the MCA’.
The research found that by empowering a committee of teenagers to program regular festival-style museum ‘take-overs’, the institution has created a safe space for young people to express themselves. It has also led to audience development: past participants in GENEXT are more likely to attend the MCA, make art themselves, buy works of art and donate to arts organisations.
The research was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald in September.
Speaking about audience development
In August I was thrilled to co-present at Performing Arts Connections in QLD with our client, Rebecca Bennell from The Cube Wodonga. We talked about Actioning Change: converting research to reality in regional venues.
Since working together on an audience development plan in 2017, The Cube has gone on to grow ticket sales, increase membership income and diversify their audience. Rebecca shared what has worked, and what hasn’t, and I spoke about the lessons for audience development.
It’s been a real honour to work in partnership in this way and see what a great team can do with research.
On stage with Rebecca Bennell at PAC
Presenting at Culture 2.0 in St Petersburg
In November I was invited to speak on a panel as a part of the St Petersburg International Cultural Forum. The subject was where the world is heading, and how cultural institutions are innovating in relation to global trends.
It was an honour to be one of the only Australians at the event, but it was challenging too! Speaking to a foreign audience, with live translation in Russian and Chinese, it really put my speaking skills to the test, in a good way!
It also forced me to ‘zoom out’ on our work and put it in the context of global issues. I spoke about how Australian cultural institutions are delivering public value and contributing to topics like climate change, diversity and migration, and youth mental health.
On stage at Culture 2.0 in St Petersburg. Image credit:
Working with a team of legends
One of the highlights of this year, and of my life generally, has been working with a team of super bright, incredibly talented and supportive people.
Our newest team member Bianca Mulet is our rising star, creating sharp insights from all kinds of data. Dr Catherine Davis has brought sociology to our team, which we have all learned so much from, and Jodie Bombardier our Operations Manager connects all the dots behind the scenes to make everything flow!
In 2020, we’re looking forward to having Aurora Nowosad back after her baby break, and farewelling Catherine as she takes on new challenges. It’s such an honour to work with these stars and I’m incredibly grateful for their support and commitment to our vision.
There are many, many more highlights - but I’ll leave it there for this year. The working year is not quite done and there are deadlines to be hit, presents to wrap and sparkling wine to drink!
Over summer, I’ll be sharing some predictions for 2020, and how we can continue working together to grow culture, creativity and community.
See you then!
About the Author
Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director
Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Palmer Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.
Categories
- 2016 5
- 2017 8
- 2018 12
- 2019 11
- 2020 3
- 2021 7
- 2022 23
- 2023 21
- 2024 1
- About Patternmakers 35
- Accessibility 4
- Arts 73
- Audience development 79
- Beyond the Bio 8
- COVID-19 70
- Capacity building 3
- Career Advice 9
- Case Studies 2
- Coronavirus 2
- Culture 72
- Culture Panel 1
- Dance 3
- Data art 2
- Data culture 69
- Digital art 4
- Education 2
- Evaluation 75
- First Nations 3
- Indigenous 2
- Innovation 78
- Interviews 3
- Manifesto 1
- Opportunities 4
- Our services 4
- Performing Arts 5
- Postcode Analysis 1
- Privacy 6
- Project updates 25
- Publications 1
- Research 99
- Resources 6
- Strategic Planning 5
- Tandi Palmer Williams 7
- Theory of Creativity Podcast 1
- Thought leadership 16
- Tips & Tricks 13
- Toolkit 5
- Top 5 2
- Touring 3
- Trends 3
Be in the loop
2018: a great big Patternmaking year
When Tandi decided to spend a few months freelancing as a culture researcher in 2016, I had very little idea of the learning curve ahead. In this post, our MD Tandi Palmer Williams shares the rewards and challenges of our biggest, best year yet.
When I decided to spend a few months freelancing as a research consultant in 2016, I could never have predicted the rollercoaster ride that lay ahead.
Three and a half years later, research agency Patternmakers is a thriving team of five. We’ve conducted research in five Australian States and Territories, the UK and in several Asian countries, helping culture professionals use evidence to grow their audiences, secure funding and amplify their impact.
Our monthly Culture Insight & Innovation Update, which started as an informal bulletin for a small network of colleagues, is now read by hundreds of culture professionals around the world each month.
Over the same timeframe, my team has delivered four new babies into the world! Needless to say, we are learning a lot about balance, prioritisation and perspective.
As 2018 draws to a finish, I thought I'd reflect on the successes and challenges of the year.
January: leadership program
In January I completed the final residency of the Arts Leaders Program, and returned to working four days a week after my baby break in 2017. It was an honour to participate in the program from 2015-2017 and learn from some of Australia's most exciting artists and arts managers. Particularly during a time when I was faced with a lot of choices to make about my career, family and lifestyle.
If you're considering applying to the program (or taking on any career challenge) while raising a family, I wholeheartedly encourage you to go for it! Do get in touch if I can help you in any way.
Arts Leaders Program participants in Hobart, January 2018
February: touring review
In February, Patternmakers was appointed by the Victorian Government to conduct a Review of Touring and Engagement, in partnership with Professor Peter Matthews. Travelling across Victoria throughout March, we held six open forums, conducted interviews and visited cultural sites - and saw with our own eyes the importance (and further potential) of a strong touring environment. A great chance to enjoy Victoria in all its autumnal magnificence!
The complexity of touring made this project enormously challenging, but it goes without saying that the chance to contribute to its future is rewarding. Having delivered our report, we are continuing to work with Creative Victoria to refine the recommendations and operational considerations ahead of further announcements in 2019.
April: impact partnership
In April we were appointed Impact Partner to BlakDance, and will be working alongside the organisation over the next three years to 'catch' and 'keep' stories about First Nations dance. I'm grateful for the opportunity to refine our practices with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, I know we’ll learn a lot.
I’m really excited that it’s not just a one-off project, but a three year relationship. We'll be sharing our insights with you as this work unfolds.
May: presenting at Vivid Ideas
Vivid Sydney arrived in May 2018 and we were delighted to present a sold out discussion event, Data after Dark at the 107 rooftop in Redfern. It was a spectacular evening of wine, cheese and statistics (a match made in heaven!). Based on the success of the evening we will be expanding the event into a discussion series that will be touring Australia in 2019. Please get in touch if you think this sounds like something you need in your life!
Research Manager Brooke Boyce presenting at Data after Dark: Vivid Sydney
June: toolkit testing
Since mid-2017 we have been working with Creative Victoria to develop an Audience Research Toolkit for creative arts organisations. Based on interviews and a sector survey, the toolkit will provide practical guidance and tools to support research practices in small to medium creative arts organisations.
In June 2018 we piloted the tools with a number arts and culture organisations in Victoria, and it was fascinating to see how the tools measured up in practice! The finalised resources are due for launch by Creative Victoria in early 2019.
The team visiting Moyhu, Victoria as a part of the Review of Touring and Engagement
July: restructure
In July 2018 we restructured the business as a company, and welcomed ‘Patternmakers Pty Limited’ to the world. With this change came a new constitution, new accounting software, bank accounts and new employee agreements. Embedding new systems is always challenging (am I wrong?) but I'm confident this new structure is the right move for everyone. Thanks for your support throughout the transition!
August: regional roadtrip
In winter we travelled to Horsham, Colac and Castlemaine as a part of three Full House projects to develop evidence based audience development plans for regional arts facilities. In each location, we conducted interviews and focus groups with business leaders, artists, service providers and residents - exploring what is working well, and where there are opportunities to improve.
Regional work is demanding logistically - but we are addicted to getting out of our city lives and hearing about different ideas, lifestyles and values. We're really excited to see this evidence being applied to programming, marketing and venue management in each location - and following the journey of these communities over the next 3-5 years.
September: young people and the arts
In Spring we were delighted to explore results of two projects concerning young people. Firstly, working with the Museum of Contemporary Art, we surveyed 800 people under the age of 32 about their experiences of visual arts and the MCA GENEXT program. Stay tuned for the published report in early 2019.
Secondly, working with Barking Gecko Theatre Company, we explored the impact of its Ensembles Program and discovered very promising results for this emerging program, which is active in remote parts of the country like Karrutha, WA.
Working with young people makes me feel old, but fills me with such hope for the future that I know it will be an area we continue to investigate in years to come.
November: team changes
The team continues to grow with talented new researchers joining us, like sociologist Dr Catherine Davis. In November we farewelled Research Manager Brooke Boyce, as she prepares to welcome a new baby this month. It’s always hard farewelling close colleagues, but new people breathe new life into the team as well!
I should mention that we also officially welcomed Bianca Mulet to the team, after a three-month internship with Patternmakers. As a part of her capstone subject Social Inquiry at UTS, she investigated the role of evaluation for arts and culture organisations in Australia. I’m really proud of Bianca’s journey with us, and we'll shortly be releasing her report, which (of course) received a high distinction!
THANK YOU
Thank you to all our friends, colleagues, partners and clients for a wonderfully rich and rewarding year. We'll be taking some time out to reflect and recharge - and hope you too enjoy the break.
For any questions about the above projects, or to share your own news, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at info@thepatternmakers.com.au
About the Author
Tandi Palmer Williams
Managing Director
Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Palmer Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.
Categories
- 2016 5
- 2017 8
- 2018 12
- 2019 11
- 2020 3
- 2021 7
- 2022 23
- 2023 21
- 2024 1
- About Patternmakers 35
- Accessibility 4
- Arts 73
- Audience development 79
- Beyond the Bio 8
- COVID-19 70
- Capacity building 3
- Career Advice 9
- Case Studies 2
- Coronavirus 2
- Culture 72
- Culture Panel 1
- Dance 3
- Data art 2
- Data culture 69
- Digital art 4
- Education 2
- Evaluation 75
- First Nations 3
- Indigenous 2
- Innovation 78
- Interviews 3
- Manifesto 1
- Opportunities 4
- Our services 4
- Performing Arts 5
- Postcode Analysis 1
- Privacy 6
- Project updates 25
- Publications 1
- Research 99
- Resources 6
- Strategic Planning 5
- Tandi Palmer Williams 7
- Theory of Creativity Podcast 1
- Thought leadership 16
- Tips & Tricks 13
- Toolkit 5
- Top 5 2
- Touring 3
- Trends 3
Be in the loop
10 things you didn't know about Christmas
Have you ever wondered what really goes on at Christmas?
This year, we decided to check our facts. Here we present (in no particular order) ten things we discovered about the holiday season...
Have you ever wondered what really goes on at Christmas?
This year, we decided to check our facts. Here we present (in no particular order) ten things we discovered about the holiday season.
Fact #1: Santa Makes 1 in 4 parents uncomfortable
One out of four (27%) Australian parents who have young children are “uncomfortable” with the discussions they have with their children affirming Santa Claus, according to research by McCrindle. I wonder how many will give the game away on Christmas Eve this year...
Fact #2: A lot of us have mixed emotions about gifts
In a 2014 survey in the US, majorities said buying and receiving gifts makes them feel joyful (83%) and generous (78%), but considerable minorities also said it makes them feel stretched thin financially (46%), stressed out (36%), or wasteful (23%).
Fact #3: 7 in 10 KIDS want an iPad for Christmas
"It's all about brands and electronics this Christmas, kids want the best of the best and will settle for nothing less", says Australian Retailers Association's Russell Zimmerman in response to Roy Morgan's Young Australian Survey. Out of 3,000 surveyed kids, Apple products top the 'cool list' with 69% of children voting the iPad as the best gift this Christmas. Just over half of children believe the iPhone would also make a nice stocking surprise. No comment.
Fact #4: 8 out of 10 Australians believe that shops jump the gun at Christmas
Research also suggests that shopping is the least fun part of Christmas, and 81% of Australians believe that the shops set up for Christmas much earlier than necessary. McCrindle's research also showed revealed 3 in 4 (74%) are most annoyed by over-crowded shopping centres. Most of us (69%) also rate commercialism as a top three Christmas gripe.
Fact #5: 140,000 Brits are petitioning for an end to the Boxing Day sales
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has refused calls to force all shops to close on Boxing Day, saying it is not the Government’s job to tell businesses how they should run their shows.
British MPs will hold a Westminster Hall debate on a petition with more than 140,000 signatures calling for a ban on all retail premises opening the day after Christmas, on the basis that it exploits low paid workers.
Fact #6: 1 in 3 plan to spend less than last year
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment survey points to lower Christmas spending across Australia this year. It found that 34% plan to spend less, 52% the same, and 14% said plan to spend more. But – this isn’t anything new. The authors point out, ‘Over the entire 42-year history of the survey, the sentiment lead-in to Christmas 2016 is in the middle of the pack’. So there you go.
Fact #7: Australians spend more on food than presents at Christmas
Notwithstanding the previous point, Australian shoppers will spend more than $48.1 billion in retail stores over the Christmas trading period this year, including more than $19 billion on food alone. On presents, Australians are expected to spend $8.8 billion, more than half of which will be spent on credit or store cards, according to a survey by peer-to-peer lender Society One.
Fact #8: US residents say alcohol is officially the worst present to give
In a Consumer Reports survey of 1,300 US residents, alcohol received the highest number of votes for ‘worst gift’ and 20% listed it as the gift they would least want to receive. Flowers came in next at 14%, anything ‘clearly re-gifted’ came in at 12%, while home decor items such as picture frames and candles received 11% of the votes. In total, 80% said they’d prefer to receive a ‘practical present’. Hope it’s not too late!
Fact #9: Not everyone feels merry at Christmas
One‑third of people responding to a Relationships Australia survey last year reported that their family relationships were highly negatively affected due to financial worries at Christmas. A similar proportion of the 1,900 survey respondents indicated that their family relationships were negatively affected at Christmas due to work-life balance factors.
Fact #10: 1 in 4 regret something they did at a Christmas party
A British survey conducted for Drinkaware by Opinion Matters, asked more than 2,000 people aged 25 to 55 to dish the dirt on their previous office parties. More than a quarter (26%) of us have regretted something we did at a work Christmas party in the past, and unsurprisingly, most of us think drinking too much alcohol was to blame for our questionable behaviour.
The most common regret suffered by Brits each year is kissing a colleague, or worse, trying to kiss a colleague and finding yourself rejected. Cringe.
The take-home lessons?
Ease up on the alcohol, skip the shops, and opt for quality time with the family - that is, if you can distract the kids from their new iPads.
About the Author
Tandi Williams
Managing Director
Patternmakers’ Founder and Managing Director Tandi Williams is an experienced consultant and arts and culture research specialist.
Be in the loop
Categories
- 2016 5
- 2017 8
- 2018 12
- 2019 11
- 2020 3
- 2021 7
- 2022 23
- 2023 21
- 2024 1
- About Patternmakers 35
- Accessibility 4
- Arts 73
- Audience development 79
- Beyond the Bio 8
- COVID-19 70
- Capacity building 3
- Career Advice 9
- Case Studies 2
- Coronavirus 2
- Culture 72
- Culture Panel 1
- Dance 3
- Data art 2
- Data culture 69
- Digital art 4
- Education 2
- Evaluation 75
- First Nations 3
- Indigenous 2
- Innovation 78
- Interviews 3
- Manifesto 1
- Opportunities 4
- Our services 4
- Performing Arts 5
- Postcode Analysis 1
- Privacy 6
- Project updates 25
- Publications 1
- Research 99
- Resources 6
- Strategic Planning 5
- Tandi Palmer Williams 7
- Theory of Creativity Podcast 1
- Thought leadership 16
- Tips & Tricks 13
- Toolkit 5
- Top 5 2
- Touring 3
- Trends 3