The University of Sheffield
Management School

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About the conference

The Arts Economy: New directions in an age of austerity, organised on behalf of the Research Committee for the Sociology of the Arts of the International Sociological Association (RC 37), will be held on the 9th and 10th of September 2013 at The University of Sheffield, UK.

This conference aims to critically examine the social, economic, ideological, and political forces that have shaped and transformed how arts and cultural organisations and activities have been financed and resourced.

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More about the conference

The arts sector is undergoing a period of unprecedented financial shortages not only in the UK, but also in the rest of Europe, and further afield; Canada, Australia and the US. Funding cuts from governments and an added pressure to finance the arts with income from the private and corporate sectors means that institutions and practitioners are facing new challenges to adapt and survive in such challenging working conditions.

Seeking to bring together an international audience of academics, practitioners, independent researchers and policy makers, the conference aims to debate how the arts sector can move forward in the midst of austerity measures.

The conference which will be formally opened by Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sheffield in September 2013.

Firth Court

Conference programme

Over the two days there will be a diverse and international programme of plenary speakers and parallel sessions and a gala evening dinner at Millennium Gallery Museums, Sheffield.

The gala dinner will feature guest speaker Martyn Ware, founding member of the pop group The Human League; founder of 5D - the future of immersive design; and owner of illustrious, a bespoke composition company.

Conference programme coming soon.

Call for papers

Proposals for paper presentations are now invited. Please send a title and short abstract of 250 words maximum by 15 May 2013.

Keynote speakers

We are delighted to confirm the following speakers at this year's Arts Economy Conference:

  • Professor Michael Hutter, Director at the Social Science Research Center Berlin, WZB and Professor at Technische Universität Berlin;
  • Professor Susanne Janssen from Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands;
  • Professor Angela McRobbie, Goldsmiths University of London, and;
  • Professor Andy Pratt, King's College, London.

For further information:

Dr Marta Herrero
President of the Sociology of the Arts Research Committee, International Sociological Association

The University of Sheffield Management School

Phone: +44 (0)114 222 3463 | Fax:+44 (0)114 222 3348  | Email: theartseconomy@sheffield.ac.uk