Culture Business

Mark your calendars for November 19-20, 2024, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Culture Business in the iconic Luna Park Sydney. This year, we've invited 30+ world-class speakers, including fundraising experts, philanthropists, donors and directors from top institutions to offer you unparalleled opportunities to network, exchange ideas, and get inspired by industry leaders.

During two full days, inspiring keynotes, case studies and interactive workshops will offer you the chance to learn from the best strategies at the intersection of arts, education and business.  The program will allow you to discover successful campaigns for securing funding, building impactful partnerships, integrating social and economic impact, inventing new business models and diving into data analysis.

Designed for Development Managers, Heads of Partnerships, Data Analysts, Major Gift Officers, Strategy Planners, Impact Researchers, Board Members, and Membership Managers, Culture Business attracts professionals eager to stay at the forefront of industry innovations and connect with peers globally. Two hundred fundraising professionals working in performing arts, visual arts, libraries, heritage, and education, eager to engage with their peers from all over the world, and keen to stay updated on the latest industry innovations, will meet at Luna Park.

Delegates will gain valuable insights from presentations on capital campaigns, public funding strategies, data analysis, brand marketing, and leadership soft skills. Our program is divided into five categories:

CONTENT PROGRAM

Audience Engagement: Diversity as a Driver for Growth
Discover why cultivating diversity is essential to reflect the changing, increasingly sophisticated audience base. Explore how diverse representation among board and staff members can attract corporate partnerships and drive sustainable growth. Learn why sponsors value diversity and how to demonstrate its impact effectively.

Strategic Partnerships: Building Meaningful Collaborations
Dive into the dynamics of strategic partnerships within the arts sector. Understand sponsors' expectations, create mutually beneficial relationships, and explore key decision-making factors for sponsors. Discuss the ethical concerns surrounding sponsorships, the impact of negative publicity, and the long-term consequences of ethical partnerships on smaller festivals and cultural organizations.  Securing public funding is vital for the long-term success of arts organizations. Explore strategies for maximizing public funding through capital campaigns, cultural partnerships, and social impact initiatives, while learning how to navigate the application process, balance public and private support, and leverage best practices for success.

Soft Skills Needed to Navigate Fundraising and Gen Z expectations
Gain insights into training the next generation of fundraisers. Explore the essential skills, values, and lifestyle expectations of Gen Z in cultural organizations. Learn scientific solutions to understand rapidly changing human behavior, effective communication tactics for fundraising, and how to use data smartly to build successful sponsorship proposals.

Philanthropy: Cultivating Long-Term Relationships and Impact
Learn strategies to measure donor satisfaction and understand philanthropists' profiles, especially high-net-worth individuals in Australia and Southeast Asia. Discover impactful social media tools and membership formats to engage donors and communities. This topic delves into data-driven fundraising campaigns, impact measurement, and building stronger relationships with the new generation of philanthropists.

Business Transformation for Survival and Growth
Explore the new private economy of culture, micro-funding, and crowdfunding strategies. Learn how to adapt business models to new practices and commercial approaches while maintaining cultural integrity. Discover how creative industries and AI technology can drive long-term social and financial impact, and strategies to measure local and global impact. Discuss resilience in the face of funding cuts and how to motivate arts employees to think creatively.

If you wish to make a presentation, drop us an e-mail to confirm your interest at matthieu@communicatingthearts.org.   We will send you back the call for paper.

Culture Business Sydney 2024 is designed to spark meaningful discussions, ask critical questions, and foster collaborations. Whether you're looking to meet new partners, kickstart projects, gain professional expertise or simply expand your professional network, Culture Business is the place to be. You’ll even have the opportunity to network with emerging leaders and new talents of Gen Z, as well as both the mentors and mentees of our esteemed 30UNDER30 program.

At Culture Business, everyone is an expert. We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for exchanging ideas with a diverse range of delegates. These sessions include a World Café, a matchmaking event, interactive workshops, and a knowledge mixer. 

Social events are essential to the success of the conference and provide unique opportunities to connect and unwind.  Over two days, we offer 10 unique events to mingle, including the permanent market place, the French breakfast, two networking lunches with directors, the foyer for tea breaks, a Welcome Reception at Coney Island, Luna Park, amidst the thrilling rides and attractions, an invitation to watch the 'Dream Circus' magic show, hailed as the best immersive experience in Australia, backstage visits of Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and the Farewell Drinks on November 20th to conclude your Culture Business experience with an unforgettable night at Sydney’s iconic Luna Park.

Our conferences are held in iconic cultural cities around the world, including Paris, Singapore, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Sydney. This year, Luna Park Sydney offers an unforgettable setting, easily accessible by train and ferry.