The Arts Marketing Association (AMA) has announced that NewcastleGateshead will be the host destination for its 2019 annual conference after bidding against other cities across the UK.
The win is a boost to the destination’s reputation for its strong arts, culture and heritage offering.
Organisers expect 600 delegates from the cultural sector across the country to attend the event, which will take place at Sage Gateshead, 9–11 July 2019.
The conference programme is set to cover the hottest topics in the sector and include a range of social and networking events.
Paul Szomoru, director of business events at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “As a city that punches way above its weight in the art and culture sector, we couldn’t be happier to be welcoming the AMA conference next year.
“NewcastleGateshead is packed with performing arts, music, dance, film and heritage venues, as well as a host of galleries and museums, which are all so easy for delegates to explore thanks to our compact city centre. The venue itself, Sage Gateshead, is a landmark music venue and an international home for music, making it the perfect fit for this high-calibre event.”
Danielle Patrick, head of projects and events at the AMA added: “We were won over by NewcastleGateshead during the bidding process. The city has a huge cultural offering – iconic venues like Sage Gateshead, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Newcastle Castle are prominent among the cityscape and the city’s impressive cultural status is exactly what we’re looking for in a conference destination. We also found the city to be extremely welcoming and friendly.”
The AMA is a not-for-profit membership organisation with approximately 2,000 members across the UK and beyond. It provides professional development and training opportunities for people working in the cultural sector. The AMA was appointed as a Sector Support Organisation by Arts Council England in 2018.
