Find out what The Spotlight Conference is and how Spotlight members can apply for free tickets to attend.
We’re thrilled to announce the first Spotlight Conference – a brand new event bringing together performers, agents and casting professionals to discuss the state of the performing arts industry.
What is The Spotlight Conference?
The Spotlight Conference took place on 21 October 2025 in London, and provided our community with a forum to have open and honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. We’re currently in a period of significant change, with emerging technologies and shifting cultural landscapes affecting us all. This event served as a crucial platform for addressing these urgent issues from all our unique perspectives.
The theme of this Conference was ‘Shaping the Future of Talent Discovery’, and the day’s programme was designed to take attendees on a chronological journey. We explored the foundations that have shaped the industry, confronted the issues of today, and collectively looked towards building the future. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with urgent discussions on the role of AI in the casting process, the evolving dialogue around Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI), and the impact of digital media on an artist’s brand and legacy.
“We believe that a successful future for our industry depends on collaboration,” said Matt Hood, Managing Director at Spotlight. “There are many issues facing our sector and it is vital that we come together to inform and shape those discussions. For far too long, performers have been an afterthought in policy. That changes from today.”
One of the biggest challenges in our industry is maintaining the connection between performers, agents and casting directors. Performers often feel left out of the conversations and policies that directly affect their careers, while at the same time, they may not fully appreciate the challenges that agents and casting directors face. The Spotlight Conference is designed to bridge this gap. By creating an open dialogue and shedding light on these processes, we hope to foster greater transparency among everyone in the industry.
How to Get Tickets for The Spotlight Conference
In a move to make the event more accessible, our ticketing partners, Narrow Road and InterTalent, generously pre-purchased 60 tickets to be made available to performers. Performers interested in attending The Spotlight Conference were invited to apply for a free ticket.
Applications for these free performer tickets were open until 16th September 2025. Successful applicants were contacted on 19 September 2025.
Applications are now closed.
The full programme of sessions for The Spotlight Conference was announced on 23 September 2025.
Keep an eye on your emails and the News & Advice section for further updates about The Spotlight Conference, including the speakers and sessions you can expect on the day. We hope to see you there!
