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The Arts Economy: New directions in an age of austerity, organised on behalf of the Research Committee for the Sociology of the Arts of the International Sociological Association (RC 37), will be held on the 9th and 10th of September 2013 at The University of Sheffield, UK.This conference aims to critically examine the social, economic, ideological, and political forces that have shaped and transformed how arts and cultural organisations and activities have been financed and resourced.The arts sector is undergoing a period of unprecedented financial shortages not only in the UK, but also in the rest of Europe, and further afield; Canada, Australia and the US. Funding cuts from governments and an added pressure to finance the arts with income from the private and corporate sectors means that institutions and practitioners are facing new challenges to adapt and survive in such challenging working conditions.Seeking to bring together an international audience of academics, practitioners, independent researchers and policy makers, the conference aims to debate how the arts sector can move forward in the midst of austerity measures.Special guest speaker Emeritus Professor of Sociology Zygmunt Bauman, University of Leeds, will deliver an exclusive keynote speech at the confernce which will be formally opened byProfessor Sir Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield.Proposals for paper presentations are now invited. Please send a title and short abstract of 250 words maximum by 20 April 2013. For further information:Dr Marta HerreroPresident of the Sociology of the Arts Research Committee, International Sociological AssociationThe University of Sheffield Management SchoolPhone: +44 (0)114 222 3463 | Fax:+44 (0)114 222 3348 | Email: theartseconomy@sheffield.ac.ukhttp://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/events/arts-economy-2013&#160;