Stewart,

Who created the arts council? What kind of support does it have from the venue, local government, community, etc?    Do you think they are doing adequate publicity?

The club I work with, the Hurdy Gurdy, partnered with a local town and we are now putting on concerts in a gorgeous 171 seat theater. It might be small for some artists, but we find it just about right. Working with the town, our rate to rent the space and sound techs gives us some money left over to do publicity. However, we rely on "free" publicity where we can.   Establishing an e-mail list is critical. You can create a "buzz" without spending a dime!

Getting the word out is probably the most critical aspect of building and audience - and letting an audience know that this type of music is out there.