Arts & Culture

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Aug 2026

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The podcast for the Cultural Sector - brought you by the Association for Cultural Enterprises. The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Presented by Tom Dawson from the Association for Cultural Enterprises.

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35 recent

August 7, 202626 min

Brontë Parsonage Museum

The Brontë sisters have a huge profile around the world... and when a Hollywood film version of 'Wuthering Heights' gets released, that's an opportunity to boost visitor numbers for a venue like the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Director Rebecca Yorke talks about the strategies they used to make the most of this natural rise in Brontë awareness, to get more visitors. Rebecca also describes how a small museum with a small team can have big ambitions by using leverage in many forms. Whether its smart use of social media trends (using a unique staffing structure) or harnessing contacts and previous experience to make the most of a one-off opportunity to expand into new buildings. This is an episode full of useful advice, insights and creative theory that can be applied at all levels of the cultural sector. The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

July 3, 202632 min

Commercial & Programming

Bringing together data and insights from more than 260 cultural and heritage sites, A Seat at the Table: Embedding Commercial Thinking in the Cultural Sector is a new report from the Association for Cultural Enterprises looking at the factors driving financial resilience across the sector. A crucial insight within the report is that having commercial teams involved in programming decisions increases financial resilience. In this episode, host Tom stress tests this insight with an expert panel of guests from venues and organisations around the UK. What have been their experiences of getting Commercial and Programming to work closer together? What are the challenges and opportunities? Expert panel: Holly T Burrows - Commercial Manager at The Cartoon Museum Sara Ley - Head of Trading at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art Claire Lane - Director of Commercial at The Ashmolean Museum The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

June 5, 202627 min

A Seat at the Table

Bringing together data and insights from more than 260 sites, A Seat at the Table: Embedding Commercial Thinking in the Cultural Sector is a new report - from the Association for Cultural Enterprises - looking at the factors driving financial resilience across the sector. It has generated a very positive response. This episode builds on the themes of the report. Host Tom gathers an expert panel to further explore how more involvement from commercial teams can improve performance within the cultural sector. Expert panel: Emma Gossage - Interim Enterprise Manager, Liverpool Cathedral Caroline Reid - Director of Commercial Enterprises, National Trust for Scotland. Jon Young - Audience Research Director, Decision House The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

May 1, 202626 min

Weather App Campaign

How much does the weather really impact cultural attractions, and how much of that is down to perception? In this episode of The Arts & Culture Podcast, host Tom Dawson explores the growing influence of weather on visitor behaviour, and the increasing role that weather apps play in shaping decision-making across the cultural sector. Tom is joined by: Rob Comley, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Chester Zoo Rebecca Foy, Director of Public Engagement at Bletchley Park Olly Reed, Marketing Director at Navigate. Together, they discuss the campaign calling for changes in how forecasts are presented. A must-listen for anyone navigating performance, audience behaviour, and commercial strategy in today’s cultural landscape. Find out more about the campaign on Chester Zoo's website here The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

April 2, 202631 min

V&A East - Tim Reeve CBE

The V&A is a stellar brand in the UK cultural sector. So when it opens two new sites in a matter of months in a new part of the capital city, it's a big deal. V&A Storehouse launched last year. On April 18th V&A East Museum will welcome its first visitors. So, what can those first visitors expect? And what major innovations - that have worked well in the first few months of V&A Storehouse - might help other venues of all sizes all around the UK? In this fascinating interview, Tim Reeve CBE (Deputy Director & COO, V&A) gives host Tom the inside track including... What they can (and can't) do with the David Bowie archive How the design of V&A East Museum is intended to make the building itself an exhibit in its own right A totally unique approach to front-of-house and security that boosts visitor experience and reduces operational costs How V&A Storehouse has exponentially increased public access to the V&A's collection Why "local first" has been a consistent strategy for all of V&A's new activity in East London The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

March 6, 202628 min

Judith Owens MBE - Chief Exec, Titanic Belfast

Judith Owens MBE is Chief Executive of TBL International and one of UK’s the most experienced and established cultural sector professionals. In this special interview recorded at The Cultural Enterprises Conference, she talks to host Tom Dawson about both her personal career story and how she has led Titanic Belfast to become one of of the world's most famous, successful and loved cultural attractions. This insightful discussion includes: The origin story of Titanic Belfast and the difference it has made to the city Why this iconic building and experience keeps winning award after award How an innovative approach has helped manage and motivate a huge multi-cultural staff that spans 5 generations What decision that Judith made still leaves her in cold sweats The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

February 6, 202628 min

Tony Butler OBE - Exec Director, Derby Museums

Tony Butler OBE is Executive Director of Derby Museums and a leading figure in the UK museums sector. In this wide-ranging interview he shares valuable insights on the topics such as:The recent DCMS funding announcement and the opportunities (and questions) it raisesHis verdict on the Hodge reportHow civic museums have had to adapt business models and what the future might holdThe draw of locally known artists and cultural figuresThe difference between entrepreneurialism and "magic thinking"A useful and enlightening listen for anyone involved in the sector, particularly those looking to balance purpose and community-delivery with the ever-changing financial context. The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

January 9, 202630 min

Sarah McLeod OBE - CEO, Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse is a vast heritage site in South Yorkshire. It requires restoration that could cost hundreds of millions of pounds and take decades. Located in an economically challenged part of the UK, it receives no public funding... and yet manages to survive and thrive.CEO Sarah McLeod - who grew up in a low income household and firmly believes arts and culture are for everyone - skilfully combines her passion, values and commercial nous to bring stability, progress and success. From investing in re-training heritage crafts, to creating revenue from recycling non-reusable materials from the restoration project itself... this is an organisation that grafts and innovates to stay afloat. And it always stays connected to its local community.In this insightful and inspirational chat with host Tom Dawson, there are vital lessons for anyone in the sector on getting purpose and profitability to work hand in hand to make cultural heritage accessible to all. The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

December 5, 202540 min

Cultural Retail

Expert Panel:Catherine Pinkerton, Group Retail Manager, Amgueddfa Cymru | Museums WalesSonia Solicari, Director & CEO, Museum of the HomeErin Thompson, Retail Manager, V&A Dundee The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

November 7, 202538 min

The Crooked House

Couple Alex and Oli fell in love with a 600 year old (and famously wonky) house in Lavenham, Suffolk. They bought it, they live in it... and they've transformed this former tea-room into a commercially-successful and ground-breaking heritage venue harnessing the power of story-telling and immersive experiences.In this episode, host Tom Dawson speaks to Alex and Oli about their story, the lessons they have learned and the unique strategies they use to leave visitors delighted and revenues healthy and growing.Alex and Oli will be guest speakers at the upcoming Cultural Enterprises Conference at ICC Birmingham 9-11 February 2026. Find out more and book your tickets here.To find out more about The Crooked House visit crookedhouselavenham.com The podcast for the Cultural Sector.The Arts & Culture podcast delivers best-in-class thought leadership, with industry heavy hitters and crucial sector-defining topics, going behind the scenes at the UK's museums, galleries and heritage sites. Host Tom Dawson is COO for the Association for Cultural Enterprises.https://culturalenterprises.org.uk/

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