About
Company Information
The establishment of the Tourbook company has emerged from an intersection between the concerns
of the professional performing arts and those of design, digital and data. Its establishment has
also been made possible through a partnership and collaboration between the private, public and
third sectors.
The Tourbook vision is a more accessible, diverse and well distributed professional performing arts scene - made possible by bespoke and effective digital cultural infrastructure.
Tourbook is a Community Interest Company, limited by shares, established in 2016 and headquartered the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.
Tourbook CIC is owned by think.in.form* and The Touring Network (Highlands & Islands)** and managed by think.in.form.
Company Number is: 531007
Registered Address is: Strongarbh House, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Argyll, Scotland, PA75 6AG
Tourbook CIC Directors: Adrian Lear, Jo McLean, Jane Wilde.
Contact Us
Support
Email: support@tourbook.live
Admin, Finance and Office
Email: hello@tourbook.live
Telephone: 01688 307031
Please note Tourbook is only able to offer telephone support only to Networks with a Network Premium Subscription.
Background
Tourbook was originally conceived in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, emerging from the
Promoters Arts Network, now The Touring Network (Highlands & Islands).
The network was looking for a more efficient way to join up their activities within a challenging geographic and economic context. The idea of an ‘always on’ showcasing space to connect performers looking to tour with promoters and venues looking to host them, and to connect promoters with each other for coordination and support.
A ‘network-only’ version of the platform was launched in 2013 by The Touring Network, under the name Tourbook and funded through the Scottish Arts Council AmbITion Scotland programme.
This initial version was relatively limited in both it’s geographic reach and it’s functionality but following launch, interest from across the sector developed and it became clear that a tool of this nature could be of use to others beyond this initial constituency.
From 2013 further funding was sought with the aim of underwriting costs of a substantial refactoring of the platform and to build a version that could be opened up to promoters and performers looking to tour across Scotland and beyond.
This new development was supported by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Enterprise Ready Fund.
Rather than contracting out work to develop the new Tourbook, development was undertake under the banner of The Touring Network Innovation Lab which sought to bridge the in-house expertise held by those who had been involved in the evolution of the idea of the platform with the specialist skills required to build it.
This process was led and managed by think.in.form, a private company formed from individuals who had originated and advanced the idea of Tourbook since its inception.
Development continued within this structure until mid 2016 when project funding was exhausted. The project partners came together, supported by long term key sector partner and project funder, Creative Scotland, to explore routes to ensure the future viability of the work achieved during this project phase.
The outcome of this process was the spinning out of Tourbook into a new structure: a social enterprise created through a partnership between think.in.form and The Touring Network.
The operations of the new Tourbook company have been enabled by further financial support from Creative Scotland and think.in.form. Additional income for internationalisation of the platform has been received by Theatre Forum (Ireland) and Theatre NI (Norther Ireland) supported by funds from Arts Council Ireland.
***
*think.in.form is a design, software and consultancy studio based in the Highlands & Islands with key expertise in the arts and cultural sector.
**The Touring Network (Highlands & Islands) is a membership, support and development organisation for promoters, venues and performers across the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.