Manchester International Festival delivered a £38m jackpot to the city, says an independent research report.
The report, from Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, a strategic research consultancy, also reveals:
- An increase in non-public funding, both in real terms (up from £5.3m in 2011 to £6.5m in 2013) and as a proportion (up from 47 per cent in 2011 to 54 per cent in 2013, enabling the Festival to grow without the Council increasing its funding.
- A 3.5% increase in event attendance from 2011 to almost 250,000 people.
- 96% of audience members surveyed rating the quality of events as either ‘excellent’ or good, with the same proportion saying they would be ‘very likely’ or ‘quite likely’ to attend the Festival in the future and recommend it to others.
- 30% of the 2013 Festival programme was free with 50,000 people attending free events in addition to 125,000 visiting Festival Square. Some 14 events had tickets priced at £15 or under, while 5 per cent of all tickets on sale were offered to Greater Manchester residents on lower incomes at less than £12.
- Regional, national and international media coverage of an equivalent advertising value, excluding online coverage, of £26 million.
- 405 volunteers donating more than 15,000 hours worth of work.
- 251 suppliers from the Manchester city region.
- 2,450 active participants in the MIF Creative and MIF Learning programmes.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This independent evaluation shows that MIF2013 has been a resounding success, building on the achievements of its predecessors and performing remarkably well.
“It is clear MIF has established itself as one of the ingredients of what makes Manchester a world-class city, delivering significant economic, community and cultural benefits. The Festival has established itself as an inspiring event, of which any city would be proud, and we eagerly await its return.”