About this Event
Schedule for the day
Arrival & Welcome (9:30–10:00)
Set the tone for a practical, people-first day
Start the day by meeting fellow creatives from across North Devon in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Over tea and coffee, you’ll connect informally with peers before hearing a short introduction to the day’s aims and themes. Beckie and Edd will outline how the sessions fit together and what you’ll leave with — so you know exactly what to expect and how to make the most of the day.
Perfect for: easing into the day, making early connections, and feeling confident about what’s ahead.
Session 1: Understanding North Devon’s Audiences (10:00–10:45)
Who are you really making work for — and who could you reach next?
This lively, interactive session explores who lives in North Devon, how people currently engage with arts, heritage, and culture, and what motivates them to go deeper. You’ll look beyond “the general public” to understand audiences, partners, businesses, and funders — and how each group connects with creative work differently.
Through simple mapping exercises and group discussion, you’ll build clear, realistic audience profiles you can use straight away.
You’ll leave with:
- Clearer audience segments
- Better understanding of local engagement patterns
- Strong foundations for marketing and fundraising decisions
Session 2: Impact and Storytelling – Defining What You Do and Why It Matters (10:45–11:45)
If you can’t explain your impact clearly, neither can your audience or funders
This session helps you articulate what you do, why it matters, and the difference it makes. Using practical templates and examples, you’ll define your impact in plain language — without jargon or fluff.
You’ll be guided step-by-step to create a simple theory of change or impact model that can be used across funding applications, marketing, and conversations with partners.
You’ll leave with:
- A clear, confident impact statement
- A practical framework for talking about your work
- Stronger storytelling for marketing and funding
Break (11:45–12:00)
A short pause to recharge, reflect, and chat before the next session.
Session 3: What Is Audience Development? (12:00–12:45)
Turn one-off audiences into lasting relationships
Building on the morning’s audience insights, this session introduces the principles of audience development — focusing on how people discover, experience, and stay connected to creative work over time.
Through a collaborative mapping exercise, you’ll explore real audience journeys and identify simple, achievable ways to deepen engagement.
You’ll leave with:
- Audience journey maps tailored to your work
- Practical ideas to build longer-term relationships
- A clearer sense of where to focus your energy
Lunch & Networking (12:45–1:30)
Refuel, connect, and learn from peers
Enjoy your own lunch while networking with other creatives. This is a chance to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, and learn from people working in similar contexts.
Session 4: Diversifying Income Channels (1:30–2:30)
Move beyond one funding source — without burning out
This practical session explores realistic income options for creatives, from grants and sponsorship to ticket sales, memberships, partnerships, and commissions. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, you’ll focus on what makes sense for your work.
Through group brainstorming and peer exchange, you’ll uncover new income ideas and test them against your capacity and goals.
You’ll leave with:
- A personalised list of potential income streams
- Greater confidence talking about money and value
- Clearer next steps for financial sustainability
Session 5: Marketing Plans to Reach Different Audiences (2:30–3:45)
Bring everything together into a clear, doable plan
In this co-facilitated workshop, you’ll connect audience insight, impact, marketing, and income into one simple campaign plan. You’ll explore how to speak differently to audiences, supporters, and funders — without creating extra work for yourself.
Using practical templates, you’ll plan a real campaign you can take away and use.
You’ll leave with:
- A clear, actionable marketing campaign plan
- Messaging tailored to different audiences
- A stronger link between marketing and fundraising
Reflection & Next Steps (3:45–4:15)
Turn learning into action
This reflective session helps you consolidate what you’ve learned and decide what happens next. You’ll identify three concrete actions to take forward — making sure the day leads to real change, not just good intentions.
Closing Remarks & Informal Networking (4:15–4:30)
End the day with final reflections, feedback, and informal conversations over tea and coffee — leaving with new tools, new ideas, and new connections.
Speaker Biographies
Beckie Smith
Director and Founder of Flying Geese, a consultancy service for the Arts, Heritage and Culture Sector, Beckie is a nationally connected, senior strategic arts consultant with specific expertise in audience development and passionate about bringing cultural organisations closer to their audiences. She specialises in working with small and medium sized organisations where income is tight and targets can be tough, but where relationship building with audiences and communities provides genuine excitement.
With 15 years experience in arts centres across the South West, she founded Flying Geese Marketing and Development Consultancy in 2017, which in 2021 was named the ‘Best Marketing Consultancy in the Southwest’ in the Southern Enterprise Awards. Together with one of her clients, Gloucester History Trust, she has also won the Pandemic Pivot Award in the National Museums and Heritage Awards 2021.
Flying Geese now works nationally specialising in creative consultation, co-designed strategies and meaningful evaluation. Recent projects include developing the Culture Strategy for Barnsley Metropolitan Brough Council, Activity Planning for Broomfield Park and Evaluation for Chatsworth House.
Beckie is an experience trainer and mentor, is a Regional Ambassador for the Arts Marketing Association, and a graduate of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Edd Smith
Edd Smith is an experienced fundraising and income development specialist with a background spanning arts, heritage and culture, alongside health and social impact charities. He specialises in supporting small to medium-sized organisations and independent creatives to build sustainable income models that reflect their values, capacity, and ambition.
Edd works at the intersection of impact, storytelling, marketing and income generation, helping organisations clearly articulate why their work matters and how that translates into funding and support. His approach focuses on practical systems, realistic income streams, and confident communication, rather than one-off funding bids.
A strategic, big-picture thinker, Edd supports organisations to test new ideas, diversify income, and take calculated risks that lead to long-term growth. He is particularly passionate about connecting audience development, marketing and fundraising into joined-up, workable approaches that creatives can use day-to-day.
Edd is the Co-Director of Flying Geese. His recent projects include developing the income strategy for Poole Museum, Consultancy services for Dance Umbrella and campaign management for Sinfonia Viva.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
St Anne's Arts and Community Centre, Paternoster Row, Barnstaple, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
