Learning Unlimited is passionate about audiences and keen to support organisations to meet audience needs and exceed audience expectations.
With an in-depth knowledge base developed through nearly 20 years experience of listening to visitors and potential visitors, we are able to asses current provision, help develop best practice, research markets, consult audiences and advise on cost effective ways of becoming more visitor friendly.
Audience development is often part of sustainable organisational development. Our understanding of national agendas and Local Authority priorities ensures that forward planning maximises the opportunities for collaborative working, positive social outcomes and workforce development.
audience development projects
Islington Heritage Service – Audience Development Plan
Jo worked with Islington Heritage Service in 2010 to create the Service’s first Audience Development Plan. The ADP reflected the integrated way that Islington Heritage Service works within its Council; aligning their projects, partnerships and direction of travel with Local Authority priorities. The ADP served as an effective internal advocacy document as well as a forward plan. In 2015 Jo has been working with the team again to create a new ADP, building on the first. The new Plan creates a framework for improving the well-being of local people through engaging with heritage.
2010 and 2014-5
Heritage Lottery Fund - Associate Monitor for Great Dixter
Jo is Associate Monitor for learning and audiences for Stage 2 of this project. She is also an Expert Advisor for audiences and learning for the HLF and on the HLF register as a mentor.
2009-2010
Gilbert White House Museum - Family Strategy
Gilbert White House and Oates Museum is a small independent historic house with museums, gardens, Study Centre and parkland. Developing their family audience is a key plank of their sustainable business planning. Jo worked with the team to carry out a Family Friendly Audit covering the facilities and learning environment and highlighting the activity potential within their themes and displays. The Family Strategy established a set of best practice principles and a strategic framework, with the recommendations from the audit providing the basis of the action plan.
2010
National Portrait Gallery - Family Strategy
The National Portrait Gallery wanted to take their audience development work to a new level of detail, focusing on just one priority audience: families. Jo supported the team to develop a framework for planning and assessing high quality family provision, a structure for a family strategy and a set of practical ideas to action.
2009
West Berkshire Museum - Audience Development Plan
Jo worked with Nicky Boyd to write this ADP in preparation for an HLF submission. Key stakeholder consultation across the Local Authority ensured that the plan was embedded in local priorities. Consultation with potential partners provided promising avenues for collaborative working.
2008-2009
Royal Navy Submarine Museum – audience development planning
Supporting the Museum team to develop a learning and audiences plan for a successful Stage 1 HLF submission. Based on the new approach to activity planning introduced by the HLF, the work planned for best practice and kick-started successful partnership working around engaging young people and working with fathers.
"The Museum was really grateful for the help on Audience Development planning and the Consultation training from Jo. We are sure it made a real contribution to our successful Round 1 pass for our Heritage Lottery Funding application."
"The Museum was really grateful for the help on Audience Development planning and the Consultation training from Jo. We are sure it made a real contribution to our successful Round 1 pass for our Heritage Lottery Funding application."
Learning Officer
2008
Kingston Museum Service – Audience Development Plan
The focus of this plan was to build audiences systematically through community engagement. Community consultation formed the foundation of the Plan, highlighting immediate interest in partnerships across Local Authority and third sector organisations in this culturally diverse borough.
2005