DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tessitura Network Inc.— the leading global provider of enterprise software technology, services and community for the arts and cultural sector— welcomed close to 1,000 people to the annual Tessitura Learning & Community Conference (TLCC), held July 17-21 at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando. The theme “Inspire, Imagine, Innovate!” included examples of creative innovations at some of the world’s premiere arts and cultural institutions, such as technological advances in constituent management, connectivity to social media outlets and streamlined access to mission-critical data via new configurable user-defined Tessitura dashboards. The four and a half day event offered over 180 topical presentations and discussions in 14 concurrent tracks, plus informative general sessions, exciting networking events and multiple opportunities to connect with experts in the arts and cultural field.
TLCC allows Tessitura Software users to share their ideas on utilizing the unified platform to manage customer relationships, ticketing, marketing, fundraising, memberships, educational programming, reporting and online transactions. Sessions were coordinated by a planning committee of Tessitura users, and topics in 2011 included such titles as “Trends in Digital, Social and Mobile,” “Going Green,” “Selling the Experience,” “Finding Your Donors,” “Segmentation for Marketing” and “Booking Education Events Online.” Conference attendees represented theatres, performing arts centers, dance companies, orchestras, opera companies, museums, university arts departments and more, and included cross-departmental delegates from over 200 organizations worldwide.
The Tessitura Conference appeals to a wide range of users of the software; some attendees have been using the system for more than 10 years and some are in the process of installation, and attending organizations range in size from less than $1 million annual budget to well over $300 million. Every effort is made to ensure that sessions appeal to this wide spectrum in order to stay relevant for seasoned experts while instructive for first-timers. Chris Cuhel, a Conference attendee from First Stage Children's Theater, said, "As a Tessitura Conference first timer who has been to other conferences, this is by far the best conference I've ever been to." Many of those returning to the Tessitura Conference agreed that the 2011 gathering was the best in the 10-year history, citing this year’s focus on creative innovation and new methods of connecting with arts patrons. Jack Rubin, President of the Tessitura Network commented, “The Tessitura Conference is the only cross-genre, cross-function, cross-size, global conference for arts and cultural organizations. Since part of our mission is to enable the sharing of ideas between peers and organizations we are focused on a knowledge sharing experience and not on selling services or raising revenue. Thus, it was incredibly refreshing to see the open exchange of ideas and the “light bulb moments” between arts and cultural organizations at TLCC2011. We look forward to TLCC2012 in San Diego.”
Tessitura Software is used by over 360 of the world’s premiere arts and cultural organizations, and the annual Conference is the penultimate example of the Network’s unique collaborative community. Said Mara Hazzard-Wallingford of Yale University: “Although we as members share all year round on the forums inside the Tessitura Network website, the Conference solidifies those relationships, helps form new ones, and provides unique insights into how other organizations are tackling the same challenges we face.”
About Tessitura Network Inc.
More than 360 theaters, orchestras, performing arts centers, museums, festivals, dance companies, opera companies, and university arts-affiliated departments and venues in six countries are Members of the Tessitura Network. Tessitura Software, the flagship product of the Tessitura Network, is solution-specific to the arts and cultural sector. The software serves as a living repository of all patron and prospect information, plus processes ticket and admission sales, handles memberships and philanthropic relationships, powers Web transactions, manages customer relationships and creates reports.
Educational events, special events and group bookings are also handled by Tessitura Software. Companion products and services include N-Scan® for access control, TN Express Web® for an expressway to Web integration, T-Stats™ for data mining, RAMP™ for Tessitura deployment via a hosted option, and more.
Tessitura Network’s support services and development programs are guided by a team of highly-qualified industry professionals based in every continent where it has Members. As a non-profit corporation governed by an elected board of Tessitura Software users, the organization is focused on improving how it can best serve its users rather than a profit motive.