Who we are.

SPARC was founded in 2010 as part of the strong profile of music psychology research at the University of Sheffield. We work collaboratively with arts sector organisations, developing rigorous, interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the how, why and when of audience experience.

Our aims.

The Sheffield Performer and Audience Research Centre aims bring together the practical knowledge of music management with the rigorous empirical research of music psychology to generate new insights on how arts and culture organisations reach their audiences.

We have a strong track record of working in partnership with arts organisations, including researching long-term change at Music in the Round, investigating possibilities for audience crossover in the contemporary arts with organisations in four UK cities, and considering the impact of education for lifelong musical participation.

Our students.

Students in the Department of Music benefit from SPARC approaches through undergraduate models involving placements and original research projects, such as Community, Music and Education and Music Placements. In our MA courses in Psychology of Music and Music Management, postgraduates undertake training in research methods and can carry out dissertations in partnership with our wide network of arts and culture organisations.