behalf of the Research Committee for the Sociology of the Arts of the International Sociological Association (RC 37), will be held on the 9th and 10th of September 2013 at The University of Sheffield, UK.

This conference aims to critically examine the social, economic, ideological, and political forces that have shaped and transformed how arts and cultural organisations and activities have been financed and resourced.
 Useful links
•About the conference
•Registration and accommodation fees (the online store will be open soon to book your place)
•Travelling to and around Sheffield
•About Sheffield
 
The arts sector is undergoing a period of unprecedented financial shortages not only in the UK, but also in the rest of Europe, and further afield, Canada, Australia and the US. Funding cuts from governments and an added pressure to finance the arts with income from the private and corporate sectors means that institutions and practitioners are facing new challenges to adapt, and survive in such challenging working conditions.

The conference aims to bring together an international audience of academics, practitioners, independent researchers and policy makers to debate how the arts sector can move forward in the midst of austerity measures.

Professor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield will formally open the conference.