Macrobert Arts Centre, Central Scotland’s leading arts hub, needed a new website to match their expanding cultural programme. As a home for cinema, live performance and creative participation, their digital presence had to inspire audiences, simplify ticket booking and reflect their inclusive ethos.
Ping Creates partnered with Macrobert to design and deliver a fully responsive arts and culture website that would become a digital stage for Central Scotland’s creative heart.
The Challenge
Macrobert’s existing site had become outdated, making it difficult for users to discover events, book tickets or engage with their wide range of workshops and activities. The challenge was to deliver a platform that could:
- Showcase a dynamic programme of cinema, theatre and exhibitions
- Make ticket booking and donating seamless and secure
- Reflect Macrobert’s welcoming, inclusive ethos in both tone and design
- Give the in-house team full control to update and target content efficiently
In short, Macrobert needed a digital stage as dynamic as the events they hosted.
Our Approach
When creating websites, we believe that every interaction should be intuitive and engaging. Working closely with the Macrobert team, we:
- Streamlined Content: Consolidated their existing content into a clear, informal-yet-professional tone of voice.
- Designed for Discovery: Built intuitive navigation so visitors could explore “What’s On,” browse by category and access practical visitor information with ease.
- Enhanced Engagement: Integrated social feeds, donation functions and mailing list sign-ups to strengthen connections between Macrobert and its community.
- Empowered the Team: Delivered a secure CMS, enabling staff to manage event listings, promotional materials and press kits without technical bottlenecks.
The design emphasised clarity, energy and accessibility, ensuring the site worked beautifully across desktop, tablet and mobile devices
The Solution
The new Macrobert website launched as a fully responsive digital hub:
- Event Listings & Booking: “What’s On” calendars, detailed event pages and seat selection integrated with the box office.
- Creative Programmes: Dedicated sections for workshops, youth programmes and artist opportunities.
- Community Support: Prominent “Donate” and “Support Us” sections to sustain Macrobert’s charitable mission.
- Visitor Experience: Accessibility guides, venue information and pre-order options for merchandise and food.
- Integrated CMS: Full editorial control for Macrobert’s team, including tools for targeted communications and promotional downloads.
Impact
The website became a digital extension of Macrobert Arts Centre’s artistic vision. Visitors could now discover events, support the centre and participate in creative activities with ease, while staff gained the flexibility to keep content fresh and engaging.
With over 200k site visitors in the last year and over 850K event triggers, engagement is up 72% when compared to the previous website and continues to grow month on month.
For Macrobert, the project strengthened their reputation as Central Scotland’s cultural heart. For Ping Creates, it was another an opportunity to showcase how arts and cultural organisations can thrive with the right digital strategy.
Dreaming of a website that boosts engagement?
