More than 2.7 million people attended Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival events and activities in the West Midlands, according to Arts Council England.
An initial report on the impact of the Cultural Olympiad reveals that the events generated £27.4 million for the West Midlands economy.
More than 10,000 events took place between 2008 and 2012. The highlights included the world première of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch aus Licht, a Birmingham Opera Company production featuring a string quartet who hovered overhead in four helicopters; the World Shakespeare Festival; and Kurt Hentschlager ‘s new work CORE.
Ros Robins, regional director of Arts Council England, said, “We’re delighted at the success of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival in the West Midlands.
“The economic impact of the programme and the impact on tourism in the region demonstrate this success.
“We’ve also seen a significant increase in local people participating in and attending arts activities and I’m sure this will leave a lasting legacy in the region.”