Podcast Episode
How Queer Britain Tripled Visitor Donations Through Pay What You Can with Andrew Given

About this episode
How can museums increase revenue without charging mandatory admission? Andy Povey is joined by Andrew Given, CEO of Queer Britain, who shares how Queer Britain's Pay What You Can model generated more than three times the previous donation income while making the museum more accessible to visitors. The discussion covers fundraising strategies, donor psychology, visitor data, inclusive storytelling, partnerships, and why cultural organisations should embrace experimentation and innovation.
Topics Discussed
The founding story of Queer Britain
Building the UK's national LGBTQ+ museum
Operating without government funding
Diversifying museum income streams
Pay What You Can admission strategy
Tripling visitor donations through voluntary giving
Donor psychology and visitor behavior
Making museums more accessible
Collecting visitor data through online bookings
Using visitor insights to improve experiences
Community engagement and volunteer programs
LGBTQ+ history and cultural preservation
Museum storytelling and exhibitions
Partnerships with major cultural institutions
Innovation in museums and visitor attractions
Lessons for nonprofit fundraising
Sustainable museum business models
Improving the visitor journey
Simplifying online ticket booking
The future of museum innovation
Show references:
Andrew Given - Chief Executive at Queer Britain Museum
https://queerbritain.org.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/queer-britain/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/awtgiven/
Skip the Queue is brought to you by Merac. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your guest host is Andy Povey.
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Credits:
Written by Emily Burrows (Plaster)
Edited by Steve Folland
Produced by Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle (Plaster)
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