About SentoVox - European performing-arts visitor research since 2024

The story behind the study

SentoVox was born from a concrete need in the performing arts. Cultural venues in Belgium were looking for a shared study that would allow them to benchmark their visitor results - in support of local cultural-sector advocacy and funding initiatives. Through ENCC, in collaboration with the University of Antwerp and Sento, this initiative took shape. Interest quickly grew across borders. Today, 130+ cultural venues, theatres and concert halls across Europe use SentoVox to understand their visitors, demonstrate their impact, and make better decisions.

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130+
Cultural venues in Europe
7
University partners
Pan-EU
European reach
60,000+
Visitor responses
Our story

How SentoVox started and grew

SentoVox started in 2024 as a practical answer to the need for accessible, reliable visitor research for the performing arts. What began as an initiative in partnership with academic researchers quickly grew into a recurring annual European measurement instrument.

2024 - Belgian pilot

The project starts in Belgium

SentoVox launched as a Belgian pilot with cultural centres connected to the Cult network, in close collaboration with the University of Antwerp. The pilot confirmed the methodology and grew quickly into a permanent participant base of 100+ Flemish & Brussels cultural houses, theatres and concert halls.

2025 - Expansion to the Netherlands

Dutch theatres join the benchmark

Following sector interest from VSCD member theatres, SentoVox expanded to the Netherlands with venues including Theater aan het Vrijthof, Parktheater Eindhoven, Concertgebouw de Doelen, Schouwburg Hengelo and Stadstheater Zoetermeer. A first cross-border benchmark between Belgian and Dutch venues was published.

2025-2026 - Expansion to Germany & Austria

Bühnenverein partners and DACH adoption

SentoVox extends into the German-speaking cultural sector through partnerships with researchers at HAWK Hildesheim and FH Kufstein Tirol, and dialogue with the Deutscher Bühnenverein. join the European panel.

2026 - Pan-European rollout

France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland

SentoVox becomes a true pan-European instrument with venues onboarded in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, supported by academic partners in seven countries. Today the platform is active in 6 languages with 130+ participating venues.

Academic team

Backed by leading European universities

SentoVox is supported by an academic team of cultural-sector researchers across Europe.

Prof. Dr. Annick Schramme

Lead of the academic consortium

University of Antwerp

8 researchers

Across 3 universities

 

Sector partners

European cultural-sector networks

ENCC · VSCD · Cult · +more

Team Sento

Operated by Sento Group

Experienced partner in international research

European report

A pan-European report on performing-arts audiences

SentoVox produces a yearly cross-country report covering visitor profiles, satisfaction, NPS, motivation and the Impact Compass Model. Data is anonymised, GDPR-compliant and benchmarked across peer venues.

  • Visitor profiles
    Demographics, frequency, channels.
  • Experience & NPS
    Satisfaction, recommendation, loyalty.
  • Impact Compass Model
    Cultural, social and personal impact.
  • Non-visitor research
    Why audiences stay away and how to reach them.
Presentations & media

SentoVox in the cultural sector

Presentations, conference appearances and media coverage about SentoVox across Europe.

ENCC Conference
2025EU
SentoVox results presented at the ENCC Conference
First findings of the European visitor study were shared with cultural-sector leaders.
Cult.be
2024NL/FR
SentoVox: a shared visitor study for Belgian cultural venues
Coverage of the Belgian pilot phase that preceded the European launch.
VSCD
2025NL
Dutch theatres join the European audience benchmark
Dutch venues participate in SentoVox to benchmark visitor experience across borders.
University of Antwerp
2025EN
Methodology paper - Impact Compass Model for performing arts
Academic publication on the Impact Compass Model used in SentoVox.
Cultural venues about SentoVox

What participants say

Feedback from cultural venues that have participated in SentoVox.

The study was well received and is very valuable to us. We received concrete suggestions we can act on, and the benchmark with peer venues helps us optimise programming.

Director
Cultuurcentrum Brugge, Belgium

We get clear starting points to refine our strategy. From the dashboard I saw, for example, that visitors would value a richer Wednesday-evening programme.

Audience research lead
Concertgebouw de Doelen, Netherlands

The Impact Compass Model surfaced things we had missed. Non-visitor results were uncomfortable in a useful way - they showed exactly where to focus.

Communications lead
Parktheater Eindhoven, Netherlands

Thank you for the report - it contains a wealth of information that we are eager to put to work within our organisation.

Director
Opéra de Lyon, France

The questionnaire is well-constructed and the support from the team has been consistently thoughtful. Our board appreciates the independent benchmark.

Public-engagement manager
Konzerthaus Wien, Austria

SentoVox gives us concrete insight into how our visitors experience the venue and what they take away. The European benchmark makes our own results much more meaningful.

Audience development
Teatro alla Scala, Italy
Participating venues

Cultural venues already participating

A selection of 130+ participating venues across Europe. Browse alphabetically or use search. The list is updated regularly.

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