We are delighted to welcome David Brownlee to the company as Managing Director.
David brings three decades of experience in the cultural sector, including leadership roles at Arts Council England, Audiences UK, UK Theatre, the Family Arts Campaign and in Local Government.
As a researcher and data analyst he has co-written two editions of the British Theatre Repertoire Report, authored the National Campaign for the Arts’ Arts Index for the last decade and in 2020 published ‘Adaptation’, a major study on the increasing impact of 13 of England’s major producing theatres.
David Brownlee commented “I am delighted to be joining Purple Seven at such a crucial time for the industry. Almost two decades ago Purple Seven revolutionised how we aggregated and analysed data from box office systems. It fuelled the UK’s global position as the leader in understanding, growing and broadening audiences for the arts. In 2021 we will need to work swiftly and smartly if the sector is to recover in the UK and internationally. As well as being data driven in our decision making, we need to rebuild better, ensuring that the arts is truly reflective of and owned by our diverse 21st Century society. Purple Seven will do all it can to support the sector in providing the tools it needs to flourish in the years ahead.”
Purple Seven founder Stuart Nicolle welcomed Brownlee’s appointment: “David brings to Purple Seven a unique blend of leadership skills and experience along with a practical understanding of the power and potential of data to inform business and policy decisions for organisations of all scales, from local arts venues to national governments. I think his appointment will increase the value our rapidly evolving tools and resources can bring to not only to individual arts organisations but also trade associations, funders and policy makers in the UK and around the world.”
