National | Environmental | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Music | Museums | Visual Arts
Who it’s for
Marketing and communications professionals
CEOs and organisational leaders
Freelancers and consultants
Sector suppliers
Anyone working to centre audiences within arts, culture, and heritage
Type of support
Professional training and development
Conferences and events
Networking and peer learning
Sector research and insight
Resources and toolkits (including CultureHive)
How to access
Membership options are available for both individuals and organisations, with access to events, resources, and networks.
Where they work
UK-wide, with some international members.
Attitude is Everything is a disability-led charity working with the music and live events industries to improve access for Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people. They bring audiences, artists, venues, and promoters together to create more inclusive live music and events.
National | International | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Music
Who it’s for
Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent audiences
Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists and professionals
Music venues, festivals, and promoters
Live events and cultural industry professionals
Type of support
Access audits and accreditation (Live Events Access Charter)
Training and professional development
Consultancy and guidance
Networks, resources, and sector advocacy
How to access
No formal general membership. Engagement is programme-based, including participation in the Live Events Access Charter and sector development initiatives.
Where they work
UK-wide.
Brass Bands England is the national organisation supporting, promoting, and advocating for brass band music across England and the wider UK. The organisation works to strengthen the brass band movement by supporting bands and participants, developing the art form, and championing the cultural, social, and community value of brass banding.
National | Music | Community & Participation | Ensemble Music | Advocacy | Sector Development | Training & Resources
Brass bands and ensembles
Band members and participants
Band committees and governance leads
Music educators and tutors
Communities engaged in brass band music
Advocacy and representation for the brass band sector
Competitions and national programmes
Training and professional development
Governance and organisational support for bands
Resources, guidance, and toolkits
Sector development and artform promotion
Membership is available for brass bands and individuals, providing access to competitions, resources, training, and sector support.
Primarily England-wide, with UK-wide relevance and engagement for the brass band community.
The Clore Leadership Programme is a national leadership development organisation supporting the cultural and creative sector. It equips current and future leaders with the skills, confidence, and insight needed to lead change, strengthen organisations, and contribute to a more resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking cultural sector.
National | Leadership Development | Sector Development | Cross-arts | Professional Practice | Networks
Mid-career and senior leaders in the cultural and creative sector
Chief executives, directors, and senior managers
Leaders working across arts, culture, and heritage
Individuals with strategic leadership potential
Leadership fellowships and intensive programmes
Professional training and leadership development
Coaching, mentoring, and peer learning
Research and thought leadership on the future of work and leadership
Networks and alumni communities
Strategic insight into leadership, governance, and organisational change
Programmes are accessed through a competitive application process, with different routes available depending on career stage and leadership focus.
UK-wide, supporting cultural leaders across all artforms, disciplines, and regions.
Creative Lives champions community- and volunteer-led creative activity, working to improve opportunities for everyone to be creative. The organisation supports and nurtures local creative groups and individuals, and works with communities, local authorities, funders, and policymakers to strengthen the conditions in which creative participation can thrive. Their mission is to build creative communities by valuing everyday creativity and amateur arts.
National | Community & Participation | Amateur Arts | Everyday Creativity | Advocacy | Place-based Development | Networks
Volunteer-led local creative groups
Community organisations
Creative individuals and participants
Local authorities and place-based partnerships
Anyone involved in community and participatory creativity
Advocacy for community and volunteer-led creativity
Advice, guidance, and information services
Networking and peer connection
Place-based development projects
Seed funding and micro-grants
Profile-raising and celebration, including the Creative Lives Awards
National partnerships, including Creative Lives On Air with BBC Local Radio
There is no formal membership. Organisations and individuals can join a free mailing list to receive updates, opportunities, and information about programmes and support.
UK-wide and across the Republic of Ireland, with a strong focus on place-based and community-led activity.
Local | Regional | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Music | Visual Arts
Who it’s for
Creative sector businesses
Community groups and cultural organisations
Individual artists and creatives
Young people and emerging practitioners
Local partners working across culture, business, and place
Type of support
Advocacy for the creative sector to local, regional, and national bodies
Facilitation of cross-sector collaboration and partnerships
Management of a Creative Hub (The Pump Room)
Convening working groups, including:
Cultural Anchors Group
Festivals & Events Group
CTW Youth Panel
Strategic leadership for place-based creative development
How to access
Open, place-based engagement. Activities and participation routes vary by programme and working group.
Where they work
Regional focus: Tunbridge Wells borough and the wider West Kent area.
Arts and cultural organisations working in health and wellbeing
Health and social care professionals and systems
Creative practitioners working in health, care, and community settings
Researchers, policymakers, and funders
Communities and individuals engaging in creative health activity
Advocacy for creative health and wellbeing at national and local levels
Research, evidence development, and policy insight
Training, guidance, and professional development
National and regional networks and communities of practice
Resources and toolkits for creative health delivery
Convening cross-sector partnerships and collaboration
Membership is available to individuals and organisations, with access to networks, resources, events, and shared learning. Some research, resources, and events are also openly accessible.
UK-wide, with national advocacy and regional networks supporting creative health, arts, and wellbeing across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work is a UK-wide advocacy and campaigning network focused on improving conditions for theatre freelancers. They amplify freelance voices, gather evidence on working conditions, and advocate for systemic change across the performing arts sector.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts
Who it’s for
Theatre freelancers and contract artists
Self-employed and portfolio workers in the performing arts
Arts organisations, funders, and policymakers seeking insight on freelance issues
Type of support
Advocacy and campaigning
Research and evidence gathering (including the Big Freelancer Survey)
Resources and guidance for freelancers
Networking and sector-wide conversations on freelance practice
How to access
No formal membership. Free to engage via an open mailing list and public resources.
Where they work
UK-wide.
Future Arts Centres is a national network of more than 180 arts centres, working together to champion the unique role these creative spaces play at the heart of their communities. The organisation connects and supports leaders across the UK to share practice, spark innovation, and influence policy, helping ensure arts centres remain vital, inclusive, and resilient community hubs.
National | Community & Participation | Venues | Multi-arts | Advocacy | Networks | Policy | Place-based Development
Arts centres and cultural centres
Community venues
Leaders and senior teams working in arts centres
Organisations supporting place-based cultural activity
Networking and peer learning across the arts centre sector
Advocacy and policy influence on behalf of arts centres
Support, guidance, and shared resources
Knowledge exchange and sector connection
Membership is available for arts centres and cultural venues, providing access to the network, shared resources, advocacy activity, and peer support.
UK-wide, with national advocacy and regional engagement across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
GEM is a thriving membership network supporting a connected, skilled, and confident community of people who enable learning across museums, heritage, and cultural settings. The organisation works to create inspiring and relevant learning experiences for everyone, promoting equality and inclusion while transforming and enriching lives through museum and heritage education.
National | Museums | Education & Learning | Heritage | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy | Professional Development | Networks
Museum and heritage educators
Education teams within museums and heritage organisations
Freelance learning and engagement professionals
Anyone enabling learning across museum and cultural settings
Professional training and skills development
Conferences and sector events
Peer networks and mentoring programmes
Advocacy for museum learning and education
Publications, research, and sector resources
Practical toolkits and guidance
Membership is available to individuals and organisations working in museum and heritage learning, with access to networks, training, resources, and advocacy.
UK-wide, supporting museum and heritage learning professionals across all regions.
Public library services
Library leaders and senior professionals
Local authority library teams
Organisations and partners working with public libraries
Advocacy and policy representation for public libraries
Sector research, data, and evidence
Leadership development and sector programmes
Resources, guidance, and toolkits
Networking, peer learning, and knowledge exchange
Strategic coordination across the public library sector
Membership is available to public library services, providing access to advocacy, research, development programmes, resources, and sector networks.
UK-wide, supporting public library services across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies
Leaders in children’s public library services
Leaders in schools library services
Children’s and education librarians
Library services and local authorities
Children, young people, and families
National programmes and initiatives
Youth engagement and co-creation models
Strategic guidance and leadership support
Conferences and professional development opportunities
Sector research, reports, and evidence
Toolkits and practical resources
Networks, including the Youth Engagement Network
Membership is available for leaders of children’s public library services and schools library services, with access to networks, events, resources, and strategic support.
UK-wide, with national initiatives and regional engagement.
Making Music
Making Music (the National Federation of Music Societies) is the UK membership organisation for leisure-time, amateur, and community music groups, supporting people to make music together and sustain thriving local music activity.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Music
Choirs, bands, and community orchestras
Amateur and leisure-time music groups
Volunteer-led and promoter-led music organisations
Community music makers across the UK
Advice, guidance, and practical resources for music groups
Collective advocacy for community and amateur music
Training and professional development
Insurance, legal, and governance support
Promotion, networking, and sector representation
Membership organisation for music and social music groups.
Groups join Making Music to access support, resources, and advocacy.
UK-wide.
The National Cultural Data Observatory (NCDO) is an ambitious, long-term, sector-wide collaboration aimed at building a shared, intelligent data ecosystem for the arts, culture and heritage sectors. Through better data integration, it will connect people, policy, and practice, representing the collective intelligence of policymakers, funders, sector bodies, practitioners and communities that form our cultural and creative ecosystem.
National | Data & Evidence | Sector Development | Policy & Strategy | Research | Digital Infrastructure | Cross-arts
Cultural organisations across arts, culture, and heritage
Sector support organisations and networks
Funders, policymakers, and public bodies
Researchers and data specialists
Practitioners and leaders seeking evidence-informed decision-making
Sector-wide data collaboration and infrastructure development
Research, insight, and evidence generation
Data integration, standards, and interoperability
Strategic intelligence to inform policy and funding decisions
Convening partners across the cultural ecosystem
Advocacy for better use of cultural data
Engagement is primarily through sector partnerships, collaborative projects, research initiatives, and shared data programmes. Outputs and insights are made available to the wider sector through publications and open resources.
UK-wide, with national reach across the arts, culture, and heritage sectors, and relevance to international data practice and policy conversations.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts
Who it’s for
Rural touring schemes and promoters
Artists creating work for rural settings
Venues, village halls, and community spaces
Producers and festivals working in rural touring
Cultural organisations supporting rural participation
Type of support
Advice and sector development support
National networks and peer learning
Advocacy for rural touring and rural culture
Funding schemes and programme delivery
Research and insight into rural touring practice
How to access
Membership-based, with options for rural touring schemes, artists, venues, promoters, producers, and festivals.
Where they work
UK-wide, with a focus on rural communities and places.
Dancers and choreographers
Dance teachers and educators
Producers, managers, and leaders working in dance
Schools and educational establishments
Dance companies and organisations
Freelancers working across the dance sector
Sector advocacy and representation for dance
Professional development, training, and guidance
Wellbeing support and resources for dance professionals
Networks and peer connection across the dance sector
Information, advice, and sector insight
Membership benefits, including access to a wellbeing package
Membership is available to individuals and organisations across the dance sector, providing access to support, resources, networks, and wellbeing benefits.
UK-wide, supporting dance professionals, organisations, and education providers across all regions.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts
Who it’s for
Outdoor and site-specific artists
Producers and programmers
Event organisers and festivals
Local authorities and place-based partners
Type of support
Sector advocacy and representation
Professional networks and peer learning
Advice and guidance for outdoor arts practice
Resources for artists and organisers working in public space
How to access
Membership-based, with access to networks, resources, and sector advocacy.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts
Who it’s for
Parents and carers working in the performing arts
Artists, freelancers, and creative practitioners
Performing arts employers and organisations
Sector leaders seeking inclusive best practice
Type of support
Campaigning and sector advocacy
Employer partnership and membership programme
Practical tools, resources, and guidance
One-to-one support for organisations
Research and best-practice development
How to access
Employers can become members to access tools, resources, and tailored support. Campaigns and resources are also available to individuals across the sector.
Where they work
UK-wide.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Museums | Visual Arts
Who it’s for
Museums and galleries
Exhibition producers and organisers
Curators and exhibition professionals
Artists working in exhibition contexts
Organisations developing temporary and touring exhibitions
Type of support
Professional networks and community of practice
Research and sector insight
Advocacy for exhibitions practice
Learning and events programme
Annual conference
Online resources and guidance
Exhibitions directory
Continuing professional development (CPD)
How to access
Membership-based, with access to research, events, resources, and professional networks.
Where they work
UK-wide, with international reach.
The Audience Agency
The Audience Agency helps arts and cultural organisations understand, grow, and diversify their audiences through data, insight, and evidence-led practice. They support the sector to make informed decisions that improve engagement, relevance, inclusion, and long-term sustainability, placing audiences at the heart of cultural strategy and investment.
National | Data & Insight | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Research & Evaluation | Advocacy | Training & Development | Audience Development | Performing Arts | Museums | Visual Arts | Heritage
Arts and cultural organisations of all sizes
Sector support and development organisations
Funders and policymakers
Freelancers and consultants working in audience development, evaluation, and research
Anyone seeking to better understand cultural participation and audience behaviour
Audience data analysis and insight (including national data sets)
Research, evaluation, and impact measurement
Strategic audience development support
Tools, dashboards, and data platforms
Training, events, and knowledge-sharing programmes
Sector advocacy around audiences, participation, and cultural equity
Support is available through funded national programmes, partnerships, research projects, events, and commissioned work. Some tools and resources are open-access, while others are available through specific initiatives or collaborations.
UK-wide, with international knowledge exchange and research partnerships.
Theatre Green Book
Theatre Green Book is a sector-led initiative providing a shared language, framework, networks, and training to help the theatre and performing arts sector reduce its environmental impact and move towards a more sustainable future.
National | Environmental | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts
Theatre and performing arts organisations
Producers, venues, and touring companies
Freelancers and creative practitioners
Sector support organisations working on sustainability
Sustainability framework for productions, buildings, and operations
Practical guidance, toolkits, and resources
Training sessions, webinars, and events
Peer networks and international knowledge exchange
Sector advocacy around environmental responsibility
Free sign-up to access resources, guidance, newsletters, and events.
Open to organisations and individuals across the sector.
UK-wide, with growing international reach through adapted and localised
Theatre Green Book frameworks.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Music
Who it’s for
Music education organisations and music services
Music education hubs
National youth music organisations
Schools, universities, and conservatoires
Teachers, instrumental and vocal tutors
Music students
Type of support
Training and continuing professional development (CPD)
Peer support and professional networks
Research and sector insight
Resources, advice, and guidance
National advocacy and policy influence
How to access
Membership-based, with access to training, resources, networks, and advocacy support.
Where they work
UK-wide.
National | International | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Music
Who it’s for
Fringe festivals and festival organisers
Artists and producers working in fringe contexts
Venues and programmers presenting fringe work
Cultural organisations and partners engaging with the fringe sector
Type of support
National networking and connection across fringe festivals
Sector collaboration and knowledge sharing
Advocacy for the fringe ecosystem
Information sharing across theatre, comedy, music, dance, spoken word, and live performance
How to access
Network-based engagement. Details of formal membership or participation routes are in development.
Where they work
UK-wide, across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Music
Who it’s for
Opera companies and producing organisations
Freelancers working in opera and music theatre
Venues and festivals presenting opera
Conservatoires and training institutions
Sector partners and stakeholders
Type of support
National advocacy for opera and music theatre
Sector development and increased collaboration
Commissioning and analysis of sector-wide data
Knowledge-sharing and strategic leadership
Public-facing representation of the artform
How to access
Membership and participation routes are in development, with formal structures expected to launch in early 2026.
Where they work
UK-wide.
National | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion | Advocacy & Research | Training & development | Network | Performing Arts | Museums | Visual Arts
Who it’s for
Blind and visually impaired audiences
Theatre companies and arts venues
Museums and heritage organisations
Producers, curators, and programmers
Audio describers and access practitioners
Type of support
Audio description services
Access consultation and advisory support
Training and professional development
Advocacy for access and inclusion
Networks, audience development, and community engagement
How to access
No membership model. Organisations and individuals engage through services, training, projects, and partnerships.
Where they work
UK-wide, with international activity.
Cultural organisations across all artforms
Senior leaders and decision-makers
Freelancers and independent practitioners
Policymakers, funders, and researchers
Anyone engaged in strategic thinking about the future of culture
Sector research and insight
Events, roundtables, and assemblies
Strategic and futures thinking
Policy discussion and sector advocacy
Networking and cross-sector connection
Resources and thought leadership on cultural change
Membership is open to individuals and organisations, providing access to events, research, networks, and shared strategic conversations.
UK-wide, with national networks, regional activity, and engagement across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.