General

1. What is Test Drive the Arts NI?

   Test Drive the Arts NI is an audience development initiative, funded by Belfast City Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and managed by Audiences NI. Similar initiatives have run across the UK and further afield, including Sweden and Australia. The initiative borrows the concept of taking a car for a test drive and applies it to the arts. The idea is that once someone experiences live arts, they'll want to go back.

2. Who is eligible for Test Drive the Arts NI?

   Test Drive the Arts NI is open to all Northern Irish residents who are over 18 years of age and have not bought a ticket from the organisation they want to Test Drive in the last three years. Please note that exceptions may be made for ROI residents living in within the catchment area of Northern Irish venues. This is at the discretion of the participating organisations.

3. How Does Test Drive the Arts NI work?

   The Test Drive the Arts NI website lists the wide range of shows and arts organisations available for test driving. You simply select the performance you are interested in and complete the registration form to request tickets. You will also need to agree to the Terms and Conditions.

   If your request is successful, your tickets will be posted to you prior to the performance date. The day after the performance you will be asked to complete a quick online survey to provide feedback about the initiative and your experience. You will also be surveyed around a year later.

4. What venues and companies have shows in Test Drive?

   A wide range of Northern Ireland's leading performing arts organisations and venues are offering tickets through Test Drive the Arts NI, with performances ranging from music, opera and theatre to literature events and dance. Belfast Waterfront, the Grand Opera House, Lyric Theatre, Ulster Orchestra and Ulster Hall are just some of the venues taking part.

   A list of the venues and organisations offering Test Drive the Arts NI tickets can be found on the Arts Organisations page.

5. Are all shows with the named venues and organisations part of Test Drive the Arts NI?

   Only the shows listed on the Test Drive the Arts NI website are available to Test Drive and tickets are limited. Where all Test Drive tickets have gone, there may still be tickets available to purchase. You can contact the venue directly to buy tickets.

6. Does it cost anything to participate in Test Drive the Arts NI?

   There is no charge for Test Drive the Arts NI tickets and no obligation to accept any subsequent offers from Test Drive the Arts NI organisations.

7. If I'm not paying for the tickets will the seats be any good?

   Tickets for Test Drive the Arts NI are selected on the basis of which seats are available and are at the discretion of the venue. Your tickets will be equivalent to those of a paying customer.

8. What are the Terms and Conditions?

   Terms and Conditions

   The following terms and conditions apply to all Test Drive the Arts NI patrons. Venue or performance specific conditions also may apply.

   1. You must be 18 years or over to participate in Test Drive the Arts NI.
   2. You must be a Northern Irish resident to participate in Test Drive the Arts NI.  Exceptions include residents of border counties who live within the catchment area of specific Northern Irish venues. This is at the discretion of the venue.
   3. Tickets for Test Drive the Arts NI are strictly limited and subject to availability.
   4. The number of tickets reserved for Test Drive the Arts NI is at the discretion of the performing arts venues or companies.
   5. Eligibility for Test Drive the Arts NI is conditional on not having attended a live performance at the participating performing arts venue or company in the last 3 years.
   6. By entering Test Drive the Arts NI, you agree to authorise Audiences NI to contact you for feedback via online survey shortly after the event you attend and one year later. This will be emailed to you.
   7. By entering Test Drive the Arts NI you authorise Audiences NI to share your information with any organisation participating in the Test Drive the Arts NI initiative.
   8. You also authorise Audiences NI to keep you informed about arts events via the fortnightly e-newsletter run in partnership with CultureNorthernIreland.org. You will be able to opt out of these communications at any subsequent stage.
   9. Please choose carefully the performance you want to attend. Test Drive the Arts NI tickets are only issued once to any individual.
   10. While Audiences NI will endeavour to ensure that every individual who participates in Test Drive the Arts NI receives a set of guest tickets, this may not be possible due to ticket availability and demand.
   11. You agree to receive other special offers from the performing arts venue or company you apply to Test Drive. You may opt out of these communications at any subsequent stage.
   12. In the event you are unable to attend the performance you will let the venue or organisation know as soon as possible so that tickets may be re-allocated.
   13. Tickets are not for re-sale although they may be transferred to another person.
   14. Transferred ticket holders must meet the same eligibility criteria for Test Drive the Arts NI and must advise the venue of their contact details.

   Disclaimer: Responsibility for performances and events lies with the organisation that issues the ticket for the event or performance. Audiences NI accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage or injury incurred or suffered by any person arising out of the person's participation in Test Drive the Arts NI or any performance or event associated with Test Drive the Arts NI.

9. It sounds too good to be true - is there a catch?

   The catch is that we want you to come back! We'd also like to know what you thought about your Test Drive the Arts NI experience. By accepting Test Drive tickets, you are agreeing to complete two quick online surveys; one sent shortly after the performance and one a year later. You're also authorising Audiences NI to keep you up to date with arts events via a regular e-newsletter in partnership with CultureNorthernIreland. The Test Drive organisation will also send you special offers for future performances. You will be able to opt out of these communications at any time.

10. Is Test Drive the Arts NI open to non-Northern Irish residents?

    As Test Drive the Arts NI aims to build long term audiences for Northern Irish arts organisations, Test Drive tickets are only available to Northern Irish residents. The only exception to this is where a venue’s audience could easily be drawn from one of the border counties, given that they are in its catchment. This is at the discretion of the participating organisation.

11. How will I get my tickets?

    As a general rule, tickets will be posted to you within 7 days of your application. You should also receive an email confirming the success of your application.

12. Can I choose the performance I want to Test Drive?

    Yes. You can choose any performance from those on offer on the Test Drive the Arts NI website.

13. Am I guaranteed Test Drive the Arts NI tickets?

    As tickets are limited, we cannot guarantee that there will always be tickets available on the website. However keep checking back or sign up for email alerts to make sure you don't miss out.

14. Can I register more than once for Test Drive the Arts NI?

    No, as tickets are limited and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to Test Drive. People who have already applied for Test Drive tickets successfully will automatically be screened from re-applying. As this programme is primarily designed to introduce newcomers to the performing arts, participating organisations reserve the right to cross-match Test Drive ticket applicants with their existing databases.

15. Can I apply to Test Drive for more than one show?

    No. To allow as many people as possible to participate in Test Drive the Arts NI, you can only apply for one show. Choose your show carefully. If you are unsuccessful, you can always go back to the website and try again by applying for a different show. The only exception to this is if you apply to receive tickets for a free event.

16. Some of the events listed on your website are free to everyone attending. Are they treated in the same way as tickets with a face value?

    From time to time we do include interesting, high-quality events which we think Test Drivers might like to know about, but which don’t have a ticket value. For such events, this will not be counted as your single successful application, so you will be able to apply for another event through the Test Drive the Arts NI website.

17. Who is behind Test Drive?

    Test Drive the Arts NI is a collaboration between Audiences NI, Culture Northern Ireland and the participating Arts Organisations. The initiative is funded by Belfast City Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

18. What happens if I can't attend the performance - can I exchange or transfer my tickets?

    If you are unable to attend the performance, you have two options:

    1. You may be able to exchange your tickets for another time. Just contact the organisation you are Test Driving and, dependant on ticket availability, you may be able to select another performance time. If tickets are not available, you will need to cancel your tickets with the organisation. You can then revisit the website and apply for different Test Drive tickets. You MUST let the venue know you are cancelling the tickets or you will not be able to re-apply via the website.
    2. You can transfer your tickets to friends (they must be resident in Northern Ireland and meet the Test Drive the Arts NI eligibility requirements). They will just need to contact the organisation that issued the tickets, provide their name and details, and agree to the Test Drive Terms and Conditions. You will then be able to re-apply for tickets through the Test Drive website.

19. I can't see a show I would like to Test Drive - will there be more?

    New shows will be added to the Test Drive the Arts NI website as they become available. The shows and number of tickets released is at the discretion of the participating Test Drive organisations. We invite you to revisit the Test Drive website regularly or sign up for email alerts to make sure you don't miss out.

20. Can I tell my friends about Test Drive the Arts NI?

    Please do! And if they qualify, let them know they can apply for guest Test Drive tickets. We would like as many people as possible to have the chance to take part in Test Drive the Arts NI.

21. Will my personal details and privacy be protected?

    All personal information is held in accordance with UK Data Protection legislation. By taking part you authorise Audiences NI to hold your details and let you know about arts events via an e-newsletter run in partnership with CultureNorthernIreland. You also agree to take part in two follow up online surveys after your Test Drive experience. Personal information will be collected by the participating Test Drive organisations in order to issue tickets and send follow-up offers. You will be able to opt out of these communications at any subsequent stage. Test Drive the Arts NIorganisations may also cross-match your details with their existing customer databases to ensure that only new attenders receive tickets.

22. Why is Audiences NI running Test Drive the Arts NI?

    Audiences NI is the audience development agency for Northern Ireland. We are committed to helping arts organisations develop new audiences and believe that the Test Drive model is an excellent way of helping more people experience the magic of live arts. We know from similar models throughout the UK and our own pilot initiative in 2007 that Test Drive is an effective way of developing new audiences. We are delighted that the project funder Belfast City Council and our principal funder Arts Council of Northern Ireland, are working in partnership to support this exciting initiative. We are proud of Northern Ireland's vibrant and diverse arts scene and want to give people the opportunity to experience the high quality live performances on offer. In a challenging economic climate we want to support our performing arts organisations by helping them build new audiences so they are more creatively and financially sustainable. Your involvement in Test Drive the Arts NI will help achieve these goals.