Theatre Communications Group Holds Audience (R)Evolution Learning Convening in Philadelphia, 2/20-22

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has announced the speakers and programming for the Audience (R)Evolution Learning Convening at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, PA, February 20-22. This multiday convening will bring 200 theatre practitioners and cultural workers together to share research and explore models from the cutting edge of audience engagement and community development.

Plenary speakers include: Gabe Zichermann, founder, Gamification Co; David Steffen, client adviser, Hospitality Quotient; and Rich Mintz, executive vice president, Blue State Digital; with Lisa Mount of Artistic Logistics acting as the Convening's facilitator. The plenary sessions will also feature "(R)Ev-ifestos" from theatre practitioners giving their perspective on audience engagement and community development today, including Michael Rohd, founding artistic director, Sojourn Theatre; Donna Walker-Kuhne, president, Walker International Communications Group; Trish Santini, external relations director, Guthrie Theater; and Anthem Salgado, founder, Art of Hustle.

In addition, the Convening will feature updates from Audience (R)Evolution's research partner, AMS Planning & Research, as well as case studies of successful engagement models from the theatre field and beyond. The Convening will include a reception at the Arden Theatre Company. View the complete agenda here: www.tcg.org/events/ar/agenda.cfm.

The Audience (R)Evolution Learning Convening is part of a larger, multi-year program designed by TCG and funded the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to study, promote and support successful audience engagement models across the country. Building upon the success of TCG's twelve-year New Generations: Future Audiences program, Audience (R)Evolution will include four components unfolding over three years: research and assessment, the Learning Convening, grant-making and widespread dissemination of audience engagement models that work. The Learning Convening is also supported by MailChimp, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and William Penn Foundation.

"TCG has identified audience and community engagement as one of three main areas of focus in our new strategic plan," said Teresa Eyring, executive director of TCG. "The Audience (R)Evolution Learning Convening will be a powerful catalyst to activate our plan, bringing together practitioners who are breaking new ground with those eager to learn the latest engagement models."

All of the plenary sessions will be live-streamed, and conversations will continue on TCG's online community for theatre, Conference 2.0 (http://tcg.pathable.com), and via Twitter @TCG and #audrev. For more information, visit www.tcg.org/events/ar.