Audience Development Consultant (contract)

Do you want to work in a dynamic and progressive arts organisation?

We are seeking proposals to contract an Audience Development Consultant who will help us to engage and retain target audiences and increase repeat attendance through data driven strategies. This aligns with our broader objectives of increasing income and diversifying our audience, and our vision to be a vital force in the cultural, social and educational life of Northern Ireland.

The following outputs are required by the end of the project:

• An Audience Development Strategy document, highlighting key findings from consultations and research and including practical and actionable recommendations.
• An updated data sharing agreement with venues.
• A presentation to the Marketing & Digital Board Sub Committee to discuss the strategy and its implementation.

The Audience Development Consultant will provide the UO with an audience development strategy along with a robust and achievable audience development action plan aimed at increasing audiences.

The finalised plan should:

• Include a full data audit across ticketing, a data map and a data dictionary.
• Map and segment current audiences and identify gaps, to provide data analysis of buyer habits including but not limited to:
  • frequency of visits
  • ticket price band
  • ticket type
  • purchase channel
  • travel distance
  • concert type
  • booking habits
• Propose actions to encourage visits from specific target audiences who are under represented in the short, medium and long term with input from external baselines.
• Implement efficient reporting systems and templates as agreed with box office to include analytics and insight to inform future marketing planning.
• Advise on new trends in audience development, identifying opportunities for more targeted and effective communication with our audiences.

We anticipate the contract will commence in May 2026 and the expected delivery is four months with completion of the contract by the end of August 2026.

This role is fully remote, although attendance in Belfast may be required for some in person meetings.

Proposals

Proposals should include:

• A detailed methodology for undertaking the work, addressing the project's aims and objectives in no more than 2 A4 pages.
• A timeline outlining project delivery with key milestones.
• An up to date CV highlighting relevant audience development experience from similar projects, including experience within performing arts sector.
• A breakdown of costs, including day rates, based on 2 days per month over a 4 month period.

Closing Date for Proposals to be Submitted: 30th April 2026

UO welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Within this context we particularly encourage applications from people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, Black, Asian and other global majority backgrounds, and those from backgrounds of social and economic deprivation.