Speakers: Lizzie Dunford, Director, Sophie Reynolds, Head of Collections, Interpretation & Events, Rebecca Wood, Museum Officer, Jessica Halmshaw, Marketing and Communications Officer, Jane Austen’s House
In this session we’ll provide tips and advice on hosting a major anniversary from initial ideas & planning to delivery. We’ll explore our successes, from sold out festivals & global media coverage to artist commissions, record visitor numbers & audience engagement. We will also reflect on the challenges we faced & how we dealt with them in our small team.
We’ll discuss our landmark anniversary projects, from a landmark exhibition, a unique publication, a hit podcast, a touring display and five themed festivals. We’ll look at how we utilised press opportunities and partnerships for our big ‘moments’, and how we used our social channels and digital. We’ll look at our metrics for success and invaluable lessons learnt along the way.
We’ll also share our experiences of taking the celebrations off-site – from dealing with unprecedented loans out, including key collection items, to our participation in festivals & events all over the UK and abroad.
Finally, we’ll reflect on how our anniversary celebrations were delivered alongside our usual day to day operation, ensuring our visitor experience remains engaging and genuine as fans visit the most treasured Austen site in the world.
Lizzie Dunford, Director
Sophie Reynolds, Head of Collections, Interpretation & Events
Rebecca Wood, Museum Officer
Jessica Halmshaw, Marketing and communications officer
