Join us for an inspiring look inside HPPH's work in audience development and organisational strategy.
We're running a curated member's session with
Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds, exploring how the venue has transformed its spaces, structures and relationships to grow and diversify audiences in a sustainable way.
Whether you're looking to develop a long-term audience strategy or learn more about the role of building and operations in audience development, this is your opportunity to gain practical tips and identify possible solutions for reaching target audiences.
Day itinerary:
10:00
Arrival and welcome
10:30 - 11:00
Introduction and venue tour
11:10 - 12:00
Hyde Park Picture House: Background
Wendy Cook, Ollie Jenkins
Wendy Cook (Head of Cinema) will be joined by Ollie Jenkins (outgoing Marketing and Communications Manager) to reflect on the journey of HPPH within the context of its parent organisation and its evolving place in the cultural landscape. Together they will explore the development of their 2023–2026 audience development plan, sharing how it was shaped, the thinking behind it, and the wider story of organisational growth. The session will also look back at the historic position of HPPH and chart its progress since reopening, mapping key milestones and the expansion of audiences over time.
12:10 - 13:00
Organisational change
Wendy Cook, Robb Barham
Led by Wendy Cook and Robb Barham (Cinema Operations and Programme Manager) this session will focus on how HPPH has been shaped to better serve its audiences, outlining key building adaptations made to support audience development and other hard barriers that had to be addressed. They will also discuss the softer, less visible shifts – from staffing structures to operational processes – that enabled significant audience growth.
13:00 - 14:10
Lunch and networking
14:10 – 15:00
Developing and delivering activity for target audiences
Sylvia Barber, Mosa Mpetha, Robb Barham
Sylvia Barber (Young Audiences Officer) and Mosa Mpetha (Creative Engagement Officer) will explore the organisation’s evolving approach to audience engagement. They will reflect on a range of pilot projects and the role of off-site working in building new relationships and strengthening community connections. The discussion will also highlight the importance of advocacy, both internally across teams and externally with partners and stakeholders, while honestly addressing the challenges encountered along the way and the lessons that have shaped future practice.
15:10 - 16:10
Workshop
This practical workshop invites participants to reflect on the learning from the previous sessions and apply it to their own organisational context. Attendees will identify the changes they want to implement to grow and diversify their audiences, exploring both the hard barriers such as physical space, resources and infrastructure, and the soft barriers, including staffing structures, processes and internal culture. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, they will map possible solutions and share approaches to overcoming common challenges.
16:10 - 16:40
Closing notes: where to go from here
The discussion will address participants' future goals and audiences strategies, setting out long-term vision and priorities for development. It will explore how to balance the tensions that can arise between competing goals, and the importance of maintaining staff wellbeing, energy and organisational resilience so that this work can be sustained over time, ensuring that audience development remains embedded, realistic and achievable.
Thursday 9 April
10:00-17:00, Hyde Park Picture House
There are 10 places available for this event: selection will be based on suitability.
Please register your interest by Friday 13 March 2026 (4pm).
If you have any access requirements or general queries about the event, including if you need financial support to travel to the venue, please get in touch at: info@filmhubnorth.org.uk.
Learn more about Hyde Park Picture House's accessibility, including how to get to the venue, getting around the building and access facilities
here.
Image credit: Jim Stephenson
