PICA’s No Numb Bums campaign is channelling bad reviews into fundraising success. Image: No Numb Bums campaign (video still), featuring Grace Chow and Jeffrey Jay Fowler, 2022. Video: Edwin Sitt.
Unhappy customers can be a cause of genuine grief for individual practitioners and companies in the arts industry.
After numerous complaints from frustrated patrons forced to watch exciting new art on back-breaking seating, PICA is now turning its worst-ever reviews into fundraising gold.
‘Essentially, we’re solving the problem with our audiences’ involvement and we are doing that in a fun and open way.’
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
