Landlords Wanted
Art Gallery’s Record Year Tells Us About Manchester Tourism
MANCHESTER Art Gallery is celebrating a record year in which it attracted more than half a million visitors for the first time. This tells us something about Manchester tourism in general.
Previously the gallery was closed on Mondays, it has been open seven days a week since summer 2012, with a late night opening until 9pm on Thursdays.
From blockbuster exhibitions by art world superstars such as Grayson Perry and Jeremy Deller to arts and health and learning activities, the gallery’s hugely varied programme attracted 514,852 visitors between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.
This is almost 100,000 more than the 415,785 visitors in the corresponding period in 2012-13.
The figure smashed projections and with 8,531 visitors in the first few days of 2013/14 (up to Sun 6 April), Manchester Art Gallery looks set for another bumper year, with shows including the current exhibition from Joanna Vasconcelos: Time Machine and The Sensory War.
Visitors have also responded well to the gallery’s increased opening hours, which have been funded by the gallery’s Development Trust.
Where previously the gallery was closed on Mondays, it has been open seven days a week since summer 2012, with a late night opening until 9pm on Thursdays.
Image – Holman Hunt’s Hireling Shepherd in Manchester Art Gallery:
Visitors have attended educational programmes too. More than 58,000 people have been part of the learning sessions – 26,500 family members, 18,000 school pupils and 13,200 adult learners – delivered by around 500 volunteers.
Dr Maria Balshaw, Director of Manchester City Galleries and Whitworth Art Gallery, said: “Our vision to present internationally important art has not only brought economic benefit to the city, but is obviously meeting local residents’ desire for higher quality programming. We have a fantastic range of exhibitions and events coming up this year too, so we hope to build on the great success of 2013/14.”