What happened?

Wow! The last blog post was in May and since then the world has gone mad. Firstly the Anne Frank (+You} exhibition came during May and was a absolute smash hit with with patrons, media and funders.

Over 8000 visitors from across the island of Ireland came to see the exhibition, which included a replica of Anne Frank's bedroom and various panels looking at religious tolerance, racism in Football and Holocausts around the world. The Alley marketing team arranged both BBC, UTV, BBC Radio, Q Network Radio and various press organisations to come down and cover the launch, which included representatives from the Anne Frank Trust UK, Sammy Wilson MLA MP, Steve Nimmons, Ivor Whitten and Mrs Inge Radford, a Holocaust survivor from Austria.

Over a period of 19 days school children, groups and visitors from afar as Wicklow, Dublin, Belfast and May came to visit the exhibition, which was supported by a team of over 10 dedicated volunteers who acted as tour guides every day of the exhibition. The fantastic thing about the volunteers was they brought so much energy, passion and knowledge to visitors, many of whom had only a small amount of knowledge about the story of Anne Frank and her family. The volunteers included A-level history students awaiting their results, an accounts secretary, even a London taxi driver who was spending 3 months on holiday in Ireland, all of them escorted groups around the exhibition, bringing the message and story of Anne Frank alive.

For more information on the Anne Frank (+You} Exhibition, click here.

After the Anne Frank exhibition and the final few shows of the season, including a fantastic comedy gig by Jason Byrne, the Lyric Theatres "The Miser" and a great community show "Through the Years" by Strabane's St Mary's Boys School, the Alley welcomed Sounds Like Summer 2010.

With over 60 band entries from across the island of Ireland, in particular Derry and Belfast, the SLS committee whittled the list down to the final 16 bands. Strabane was well represented by Catalyst, a great local band who made it through to the final and Strabane Irish rapper Gerard i2, who received fantastic public support.

In the end it was Donegal's Turbulent EDDY who won with a stunning final set, clinching recording time in a top studio, a professional video shoot, CD production, photoshoot and media support from the NWIPP. For more information on Sounds Like Summer click here.

So after several major events, massive media coverage and even the launch of a new exhibition by local arts students, it was time to look at the new events guide...phew! The new season is packed with some great shows including a one night only performance from Kevin Bridges, the hot new stand up who is sweeping up the comedy circuit at the moment on Channel 4's "Stand Up For The Week" and "Michael McIntrye's Comedy Roadshow".

10 new exhibitions have been booked, 45+ shows are planned, a new website launch and a few other surprises thrown in...I hope you can forgive the late blogging from the Alley marketing department.

Remember for the latest info check out the Alley Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thealleytheatre

Another first for the Alley!

For a venue which is not based in a city, the Alley Theatre certainly punches above its weight in terms of quality, style and marketing. This week the Alley once again scooped other Northern Ireland venues with the recording of a podcast in Irish, another first! The podcast was recorded in the Falls Road in a wonderful cultural centre, which is home to Aisling Ghear Theatre group. This groundbreaking theatre group will be performing at the Alley on November 18th as part of our celebration of the life and work of Flann O'Brien, one of Ireland's leading literary figuires and a famous son of Strabane .

The play, "The Poor Mouth" will be perfromed in Irish, and relates to the story of one, Bonaparte O'Coonassa - ‘son of Michealangelo, son of Patrick, son of Owen, son of Sarah, son of Thomas, son of Maire, born in a cabin in a fictitious village called Corkadoragha in Western Ireland. From the front door of this ‘small lime-white house situated in the corner of the Glen’ you could (allegedly) see - Gweedore, Connemara, Galway, the island of Aran and The Great Blaskets!!! Famed as much for its beauty as the abject poverty of its residents, the daily fare consists of potatoes which they shared with a horse called Charlie, a bunch of sheep ‘a slim thighed cow’, a clutch of chickens and Ambrose the pig!! Ambrose has now been immortalized for future generations by the Alley Theatre sculpture, “Where Dreams Go”, the 8 ft bronze pig outside the Alley, which is known lovingly as Ambrose by locals.

“The play will be performed in Irish, offering a wonderful opportunity for fluent Irish speakers and those learning the language to immerse themselves in the wit and humour of Strabane’s most favourite literary son” commented Nathan Flatman from the Alley. “For non-Irish speakers like myself, the Alley will be providing Irish translation headsets, allowing the patron to follow the play in English, breaking down language barriers for those interested in seeing a fantastic Flann O’Brien play performed live on stage.”

“To highlight the forthcoming play, Flann’s background and the superb cast, including actors from television’s “The Tudors” and hit Irish film’s, the Alley has produced a free podcast at http://alleytheatre.podbean.com/ in both English and Irish for patrons looking to get the inside scoop.”

The Alley podcast site is now working really well and is not only providing a service to our local patrons, but also web broswers around the world interested in Flann himself. Why not check it out for your self at http://alleytheatre.podbean.com/

Strabane businesses praised at Arts & Business Creative Advantage Breakfast

The Alley Theatre recently took part in a Arts & Business Creative Advantage Breakfast in Derry. The A&B ethos champions the power of innovative partnerships, in which businesses can create a ‘competitive advantage’ through creative innovation, inspired by engagement with arts and cultural organisations. The Alley has benifited wonderfully from developing strong Arts & Business partnerships and we were delighted not only to be taking part, but also to have several special mentions from the guest speakers.

With economists predicting a return to growth for the UK economy mid 2010, local businesses were keen to learn how engaging with the Arts could enhance their competitive edge and lead to future success and sustained economic regeneration.

Social and economic regeneration in Derry and the North West were addressed by Aideen McGinley, Chief Executive, Ilex – the Urban Regeneration Company. Speaking about the future plans for the area and her experiences of working with arts organisations to encourage community buy-in to social regeneration projects, Aideen said: “The importance of culture to Regeneration is fundamental to achieving social physical and economic success, which I understand at first hand and recognise its continuing importance in these challenging times.”
To succeed in the global or local marketplace, businesses need to consider their brand image and review corporate strategy to ensure marketing and communications strategies deliver key objectives.

David Beck, Head of Marketing Communications BT Ireland and sponsor of the Alley's BT Sounds Like Summer music festival focused on the changing face of brand sponsorship, and how BT’s new emphasis on Innovation and grassroots engagement - demonstrated through new partnerships like QFT & most recently the Alley Arts Centre in Strabane - is challenging perceptions about BT the brand; “Sponsorship is becoming a crucial part of the marketing mix as brand’s turn to new categories, Arts sponsorships in particular, add much needed credibility to their brand propositions.”

It was left to Joe Barber, Manager, Linton Robinson, Strabane and another Alley sponsor to showcase the value to local businesses, citing their own successful partnership with The Alley Arts Centre, which has seen increased footfall and increased sales throughout the store, as well as strengthening their customer base and enhancing their reputation, saying "We have remained in business for over 56 years thanks to our reputation for offering quality and value. The In-Store Gallery, curated by The Alley, has been enormously popular and extremely successful. As a local business, we have been able to give our customers a new consumer experience - something that the multiples would find difficult to recreate.”

Facilitating questions from the floor and bringing the event to a close, Mary Trainor, Director Arts & Business NI, said “It’s good to see that businesses have been increasingly using arts partnerships as a brand platform to express or even define who they were as a business. We want to inspire them to engage further to help them deliver successful marketing and corporate social responsibility campaigns that use culture in distinct and powerful ways!”

The Alley staff were delighted with the special recomendatons from the guest speakers and certainly reinforeced the Alleys position as the leading arts organisation in the North West!

Hiding in Plain Sight via You Tube

The Alley Theatre has a wonderful gallery space which has welcomed numerous artists over the last 3 years to display their work in Strabane. Now with a growing reputation, the amount of applications we receive to exhibit at the Alley is growing dramatically on a yearly basis.

From the world famous Felim Egan, glass artist Sean Campbell, the Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association to the local arts Group, the Alley has offered an exceptional space and support for professional and amateur artists alike. The venue offers regular exhibition launches, an art club and regular podcasts with the exhibiting artists, all aimed at raising the profile of the artist and the gallery space.

This year the Alley also embarked on establishing a second gallery space within the Linton and Robinsons department store in Strabane, funded by Arts and Business. From a wonderful launch in a newly refurbished 2nd floor area, the North West Artist Gallery, based in Lintons' has became a commercial success!

The superb success of our exhibitions clearly demonstrate how the Alley is leading the creative arts in not only the North West, but across Northern Ireland, pushing the boundaries and getting more people interested in viewing/buying art.

However our new exhibition, "Hiding in Plain Sight" made me stop and think about how we should approach new artists in the future.


Our new exhibition, "Hiding in Plain Sight" is by a Strabane photographer, Raymond McCarron, a highly complex man whose passion for street photography is endless. He has a god given gift to capture that lost or stolen moment on the street which when seen through the lens offers more than a thousand words to the observer. From the gritty streets of Belfast, a Halloween trip in Derry, an old women hunched in a windy high street to an almost "Darwin -ist" portrait of an old man walking the dark narrow back alleys in Edinburgh, Raymond can certainly be hailed as one of Ireland's leading street photographers and is worthy of having his work put into a book format (any publishing houses reading this?)

For his new exhibition, "Hiding in Plain Sight", the Alley has developed press releases, interviews with regional newspapers, twitter updates, designed invitations, web updates, e-news letters, planned an official launch night, a Facebook events page, got David Oliver to play at the launch and completed a hit podcast.

However one piece of marketing gold we missed out in producing was a You Tube presence for the exhibition. We shouldn't have worried, Raymond had already completed one himself without telling us and boy was it good. This stunning exhibition on You Tube, mixed with a killer soundtrack simply took my breath away it was that good.

I have to admit my jaw dropped when I first saw it listed on You Tube, how could I have missed this? What a great way of exhibiting the work to potential journalists and patrons. Why hadn't he told me? More importantly, why hadn't I asked? However my frustration over missing this golden opportunity to further promote his show was very short lived, as I began soak up the music and enjoy the wonderful images which were flowing in front of my eyes.

So this weeks comment from the Alley, when you are planning your campaign, make sure you have a good chat to the performer/artist about what else they have done and maybe you might find a hidden gem! To watch for yourself the wonderful work Raymond has produced on You Tube click here.

I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

BT Sounds Like Summer is set to get Turbulent!

The BT Sounds Like Summer Music Festival is about to hit the Alley Theatre in what should be a far superior competition than last years event. Starting on August 7th, this years final has an abundance of quality entrants, with bands from all over Northern and Southern Ireland applying to be in the final 16 bands. This magical music event is free to attend for people wanting to hear the very best in unsigned talent, thanks to the collaboration with our sponsors BT and NWIPP (thank you!!).

This year we have bands form Derry, Strabane, Fermanagh, Belfast, Donegal, Limavady to name but a few, with all music tastes covered. As I have been marketing the event we have used various tools, from the traditional avenues like our events guide, flyer's and posters, to radio, ticket comps and social network sites like Facebook, Bebo, MySpace, Twitter etc.

One piece of advice I would give any band looking to do well in any festival or within the music industry, make sure you have a good website, nothing too fancy, but something that covers all the bases. From band bio, video clips, free track downloads, press pictures, contact details, gig guide and links, these are the essential items for a band to have available at a moments notice, ready for when the press or music label come calling.

One band which is taking part in the BT Sounds Like Summer Music Festival and ticks all the boxes in being prepared are Turbulent Eddy, whose new website I believe covers all the areas I would be looking for. Check it out by clicking here

Who will win the BT Sounds Like Summer festival and walk off with the top prize of a music video and a CD produced by the Nerve Centre, free broadband for a year and extensive media coverage? Well at the moment I would say all 16 bands are in for a real shout, its that close! For more information on the BT Sounds Like Summer click here.

BT invests in the North West Music Scene

This summer musicians not only from the North West, but across the island of Ireland will benefit from a major arts partnership between telecoms giant BT and the North West’s leading music and arts venue, The Alley Theatre in Strabane.

For decades BT were seen as little more than the company that supplied your phone line. Since the birth of the internet however, BT has become something of a pioneer in bringing services such as Broadband, wireless, mobile phone internet and business networking to a global market. Today they are a vibrant, appealing brand, right down to slashing their moniker from the old British Telecom, to the cooler and more casual BT. Now this revolutionary company is investing in Strabane and the Alley Theatre’s Sounds Like Summer Music Festival, which is taking place throughout August and is aimed at profiling the very best in unsigned bands.

So how did they shake the image of being the company that supplies the curly cord phone to that of a world-leader in telecommunications in a relatively short space of time?
The answer is simple. Good marketing. BT is the world’s oldest communications company and a direct descendant of the first ever telecommunications service, The Electric Telegraph Company back in 1846. Few could have realised then that 150 years on, they would be responsible for making the emergency 999 number a household device or that they would send the world’s first email in 1981.

For much of its life BT has been regarded as simply a multi-national phone company. But David Beck, Head of BT’s Marketing Communications in Ireland has been quietly working away behind the scenes chipping away at that old image. David and his team have been working at moving the BT brand out of the UK and Ireland’s capital cities and bringing it to an audience in smaller, harder to reach areas. One perfect example of this move is this year’s Sounds Like Summer music festival.

BT have come on board as the festival’s main sponsor and have put up a first prize of the opportunity to record a single in a professional studio to go with the video which will be shot by a top team of producers. Meanwhile, they have agreed to give the winner or winners a year’s free Broadband. The last part of the prize might sound like only a minor addition to what really is a fantastic prize for anyone looking to make their way in the music industry. But again, it is an example of the BT marketing team’s desire to win over the hearts and minds of a younger and fresher demographic. Convincing a name as huge as BT to come on board for what is essentially, a regional music event was a major coup for everyone involved with Sounds Like Summer. But as David explained, it is exactly the kind of vehicle BT in the 21st century are looking for.

“John Kerr, the Alley Theatre Manager, was a massive influence in us coming on board,” David explained. “He approached us some months ago and pitched the idea of Sounds Like Summer to us. So initially we bought into John because he knew what he wanted from the off. But as we learnt more about the actual event, we realised that it very well established and commanded a lot of appeal. What we tend to do is concentrate so much of our efforts in and around the Belfast area so Derry and Strabane are areas we are very keen to raise our profile in. Sounds Like Summer is very much about us supporting our investment in areas outside Belfast,” he said. Does Sounds Like Summer sound good to you? Are you a young upcoming band or musician? Then why not join the race to sign up for this year’s competition. Simply log on to www.connect2yourtunes.com/soundslikesummer for more information.

Arts and Business - Spacey style!

I found this rather interesting debate taking place in the Times recently. Kevin Spacey, the famous Hollywood actor and currently artistic director at the Old Vic, rebuts criticism about the arts not being worthy of support during these tough economic times.

Spacey shows the arts for what they are, not just a investment in our children, inspiring and educating all ages, but a valuable tool for the business community to invest in! The UK and Ireland have a very successful arts industry. which is the envy of the world and has a lot to offer all sections of the community and industry, in particular the business community (read David Adairs comments concerning PWC view on the arts).

The Old Vic and the Alley Theatre would have a lot of similar issues, working in areas of high unemployment, however committed to regenerating the area, promoting the arts and developing a strong education programme for a new generation of actors, artists and musicians.

See the letters below and enjoy Mr Spacey putting his superb argument together!

From The Times
May 9, 2009

I won't apologise for defending the arts
It’s not charity or empty philanthropy. It’s an investment in jobs and our collective soul

by Kevin Spacey

Open any newspaper or turn on the TV and you are confronted with the realities of recession. So it is perhaps inevitable that there will be some who frame the arts and culture as luxury items and accept that they will have to survive on shorter rations. And in the grand scheme of things, what does it matter, they say.

I believe that, far from being luxury items, arts and culture are a necessity in our lives, as individuals and as nations. Culture is the strongest ambassador of the human condition we exchange around the world. Countries may go to war but it is culture that unites us. The arts inspire, uplift, challenge, stimulate our conversations, drive our debates and remain in our memories.

For those still unconvinced there is an equally powerful economic argument. Our cultural life contributes to the financial health of communities across the nation. Cultural centres create jobs and generate income for the hotels, restaurants and countless other businesses in the areas where they operate. I, for one, do not want to see another regeneration plan that does not have arts and culture at its heart. Without them we are not building rounded communities, but ignoring the fabric and soul of society.

Now I can't see why anyone would begrudge us practitioners the chance to fight for our cause, but in this very paper Richard Morrison criticised the “usual suspects” for spreading “propaganda” by citing that arts and culture are essential and transformative. The creative industries are fortunate to have many vocal cheerleaders, with names famous enough to get column inches. But frankly, it seems an odd slur to accuse Dame Judi Dench, Antony Gormley, Philip Pullman and Nicholas Serota of being biased merely for having spoken out on behalf of their own professions.

This attack left me confused, just as folk are when I try to explain that my own theatrical home, the Old Vic, receives no public subsidy at all. Some things just don't make sense. Who else should stand up and fight for cultural support other than its practitioners? Should public health policy be advanced, not by NHS leaders, but by lorry drivers and dressmakers? Should arguments about environmental issues be advanced by policemen and pilots?

I don't hear anyone demanding special treatment for the arts above other important and vital public services, but it is an important debate. This isn't about showbusiness and it isn't a trivial argument. This recession is claiming many victims and the arts are under threat. That's why so many of us feel the need to shout about the value that cultural programmes bring to millions of people across the UK, as well as the economic impact of the creative industries throughout the world.

I am delighted to take on Mr Morrison when he states that arguments in favour of arts funding are “as essential and transformative as a wet sock”. That most schemes designed to introduce young people to arts and culture are destined to fail. This notion does a huge disservice to the dedicated professionals who create inspiring programmes for young people.

I have watched as young children from the Old Vic's neighborhood have attended workshops, school projects and community productions and seen them totally engaged and enthralled. These are thousands of kids from low-income families, not some middle-class-only playing field. This is true not only of our work at the Old Vic, but of programmes that the National Theatre, the Young Vic and countless other institutions are providing in London and beyond.

Education through the arts enriches the next generation, and not just of artists. Theatre, for example, teaches young people to communicate, to resolve conflicts, to collaborate and to explore emotions. It's not about whether these kids want a career in the arts when they grow up. These programmes can be good for business as they contribute to a wide range of interpersonal skills. So it's not charity or empty philanthropy, it is an investment in the future of our society.

Kevin Spacey is artistic director of the Old Vic

This is an abridged version, for the full article visit the Times Link below

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6251188.ece

And here we have the supporting statement from David Adair from PWC, a man who I would love to introduce to the work of the Alley and demonstrate how well we could develop his CSR strategy in the North West of Ireland.........

From The Times
May 12, 2009

Sir,

I fully endorse Kevin Spacey’s sentiment that support for the arts is about more than “mere charity or empty philanthropy” (Opinion, May 9). Not only do the arts enrich the next generation, but, importantly, they also enrich the business community. Whether people participate as a student or a corporate volunteer, participation in the arts widens and essential skills in the workplace are developed.

Last year we had more than 4,500 volunteers taking part in community-based activities, far away from their day-to-day business responsibilities. That contrast encourages creative thinking, better use of language and improves teamwork and interpersonal skills. All this while enthusing young people with transferable skills and qualities that will ultimately enhance the workplace they will join. Such investment is vital to enable communities and businesses to transcend the chill winds of recession.

David Adair
Head of Community Affairs, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Times Link http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article6268724.ece

New report shows the arts are enjoyed by all in Northern Ireland

Audiences NI have come up with a new report that in my opinion explores some of the myths about theatre attendance in Northern Ireland.

"A new report shows that the arts are enjoyed by people from all walks of life in Northern Ireland, exploding the myth that the arts are the preserve of an elite minority. The Audience Audit is based on data drawn from 22 arts organisations across Northern Ireland and looks at who went to the arts in 2008, what they spent and when they attended. Audiences NI has produced the report using the socio-demographic classification system Mosaic NI. This system divides Northern Irish consumers into nine ‘groups’ based on a range of indicators including income and lifestage. The Audience Audit report shows that people who go to the arts are drawn from all nine Mosaic groups, including Farming Communities and Housing Executive Tenants. Additionally the report demonstrates that the arts contribute significantly to the Northern Irish economy, with ticket sales alone generating £13.5 million in 2008. "

The Alley Mosaic Report 2008 showed that our largest groups comes from Farming Communities and Housing Executive Tenants, which is replicated across Northern Ireland in this new report.

Our core aim is to develop the arts and increase arts participation across the whole of the community, and I think this report and our own research shows many critics that arts are not only for the middle class, but for all groups in society.

Whitenoise - what an inspiration!

I'm sorry to say the Alley did not win the recent Dragon's Den competition, however what a 3 days!

The role involved two days work at Whitenoise Creastive design studios, a fantastic company with overflowing talent. Check out their website at http://www.whitenoisestudios.com/

A full "Dragons Report" will be posted shortly.

Events Guide vs Direct Marketing Letter

While surfing the web I came across a very interesting article looking at why theatres should move away from the traditional events guide and develop a more cost effective alternative. This message is not only coming from US arts marketing officers, but also marketing consultants from the UK and Ireland. Make your mind up for yourself? Events guides vs Letter? Yes, NO, Maybe? you decide?

If you want my view, in today's climate where budgets are key and we are all trying to reduce our carbon footprint, can we still justify printing 40 event guides, where a simple letter or email would still have the necessary impact.

Why the Letter Works Better
by Stephen Belth
Consultant and Founder
Source: Arts Marketing Network http://www.artsmarketing.org/node/674


Since the 1970s, the season brochure has been the calling card for performing arts organizations. While this convention continues into the 21st century, rising costs and shrinking direct mail responses has limited its universality. Arts marketers need alternatives. Supplementing, and more typically replacing, the brochure is the very simple but powerful direct mail letter, especially effective in attracting both old and new subscribers at lower acquisition costs.


This brief article expands on ArtsMarketing.org’s observation about the power of letters over brochures as a marketing tool and attempts to put the place of the brochure into perspective.
To understand why well-focused letters prove more efficient than brochures, you must start with the most important sub-segment of your subscription database, your renewing subscribers. Examine the demographics of your most active, long-term, loyal subscribers and you will find that the one characteristic that consistently defines them is their level of higher education. Regardless of age and occupation, the common denominator of an active arts patron is a college or graduate degree. What does that tell you? With education, subscribers share another important commonality: an active and avid interest in reading.

Prove this yourself through an informal survey with the question, “letter or brochure?” You will find overwhelmingly that subscribers prefer to receive clear and concise information about the season. They will tell you to save your money on the colorful graphics and paper quality, especially when they know how hard pressed you are for support. Tell your subscribers what they need to know, as simply as possible, and you will find that they respond.

Here are 5 steps for an effective letter:

1. State the offer right away, and include a call to action:
Renew your subscription by February 23 and keep or upgrade your seats for next season. Plus, save 10% on individual tickets.

2. Lay out the letter like a letter, not a brochure.
Introduce the letter with “Dear Friend:” or “Dear Arts Lover:” and end with “Best wishes.” Don’t right justify the type or it will look like a book. Indent, bold and underline for easier reading.

3. Make the letter conversational and personal, using the words “you” and “your” as much as possible.
You won’t want to miss a single moment of the season. You’ll have your same seats reserved at every performance.

4. Emphasize benefits not features.
When you set your copy points, think in terms of benefits or what’s in it for the responder rather than just giving them interesting facts. Fact: We have great artists and programs this season. Benefit: When you buy your tickets today, you’ll be guaranteed a seat for our sure-to-be sold-out performance!

5. Tell your reader how to respond.
To buy tickets, call 028 7138 4444, visit online at http://www.alley-theatre.com or mail back the attached order form by the deadline of xx/xx/xx.

Despite rising postal costs and increasing use of e-mail, direct mail still offers the most significant returns. Fact: Give the same professional care to your letter as you do to the design of your brochure. Benefit: Your responses will improve and your subscriber base will increase.

Druids make the best arts marketing officer

In 2007 , I attended the first Northern Ireland Druidstone marketing course, one of the best courses I have ever attended.

The Theatrical Management Association (TMA) London, in conjunction with Audiences NI, delivered the Druidstone residential arts marketing course for the first time in Northern Ireland during April of 2007.

The course was a massie investment and involved a seven-day residential course, designed to provide those working in arts marketing with intensive professional development in the essential skills of arts marketing. The Druidstone course has run for over 23 years in Wales and has achieved international recognition as a unique training opportunity, this was a unique chance for theatres in Northern Ireland to rise to the challenge.

A total of 13 staff involved in Arts Marketing from across Northern Ireland attended the course which ran from 20-27 April in Rubane House, Kircubbin, County Down. The participants took part in a series of lectures and tutorials, covering marketing planning and principles as well as practical marketing 'tools' such as copywriting, e-marketing and press and public relations.

Click on the title of this blog story and check out the attached website for images and course feeback.

The Alley scoops the Allianz Arts and Business Award NI 2009

The Alley has won numerous awards since we opened, however one of the most thrilling results was winning the Allianz Arts and Business Award for 2009. Read below for the full story.

Representatives from the Alley Theatre and their sponsors, RE/MAX, Linton and Robinsons and CRAFT Recruitment and Training attended a stunning awards ceremony at the Reform Club in Belfast on January 16th 2009, with the Alley scooping the top award for "Excellence in arts management of the business relationship" in front of a pack audience of theatres, festival organisers, musical groups and their business partners from across Northern Ireland.

The Allianz awards night recognised the important role the arts have to play in the development of a successful business and in building communities. Seven awards were presented on the night, with RE/MAX, Linton's and CRAFT Recruitment all nominated for top awards. The three Strabane based businesses narrowly missed out in their hotly contested groups, however RE/MAX received a "Highly Commended" for their project which involved photography classes for staff and the local community, culminating in an exhibition in the Alley gallery space.
However the Alley Theatre was delighted to accept the final prize on the night for "Excellence in arts management of the business relationship" and was awarded a prize of £2000 to recognise their achievements.

Speaking after the awards, John Kerr, Alley Theatre manager stated "Receiving this award is a tremendous achievement for the Alley staff, our sponsors, Strabane District Council and all of the patrons who have worked on our various Arts and Business Projects. We are delighted to accept this award from Arts and Business, supported by Allianz and we look forward to working on even more creative projects in 2009/2010."

For further information visit http://www.alley-theatre.com/about-us/latest-news/

Key marketing partnerships produce major results for the Alley and our Sponsors

One of the most innovative marketing partnerships the Alley Theatre runs is our corporate friends scheme, which includes Oysters Restaurant, one of the best known and loved restaurants in the North West.

The partnership between The Alley Arts & Conference Centre and Oysters, via funding from Arts and Business NI Reach Project, has enabled the restaurant to increase its profile within Strabane and much further afield. As a key feature of Strabane nightlife they wanted to take their connection with the arts one step further. A Reach investment enabled The Alley to work with Oysters to develop a series of live performances at the restaurant, showcasing new and emerging musical talent.

Oysters received a certifictate in recognition for their investment in the arts by "Arts and Business", providers of the REACH project. Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said “As the major public funder of Arts & Business, the Arts Council congratulates the businesses that have been recognised for their investment in the arts. Commercial and private businesses in Northern Ireland are increasingly realising the benefits of working with arts organisations and exploring creative solutions, particularly within the current economic climate. The Arts Council is keen to encourage growth in this area and is pleased to support events like this, as they acknowledge excellent examples of creative partnerships between the corporate world and the arts.”

The Alley Theatre explores Facebook

With over 83% of 16-24 year olds now visiting social network sites, the Alley Theatre, Strabane, is keen to explore all avenues in reaching new markets for our shows.

Therefore the Alley Marketing Department has established a Facebook page, aimed at informing patrons of upcoming shows, ticket offers, looking for show feedback, suggestions to the events programme and to build a Alley online community.

Although still a new Facebook page, the site is gaining new members from across Ireland and the UK. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=16714089077