27 June 2008
Turner Prize brings £10m to Liverpool
• Renowned arts prize generates £10m for city-region
• Over 71,000 attended exhibition at Tate Liverpool
A report commissioned by the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA) and Tate Liverpool has revealed that the Turner Prize
2007, the curtain-raiser for Liverpool’s year as European Capital
of Culture, generated in excess of £10 million for the Merseyside
economy.
A staggering 71,800 people visited the exhibition at Tate
Liverpool, which was supported by the NWDA, and over 3.6 million
watched Turner Prize coverage on Channel 4.
The report shows that the Turner Prize was a key driver in
attracting people to the city, creating significant income for the
region’s visitor economy. The results highlight the importance of
culture as an economic driver in England’s Northwest.
This was the first time the prize had been presented outside
London since it began in 1984. The success of the exhibition, which
was the best attended ever at the Albert Dock gallery, has been
attributed to the excellent partnerships forged between Tate
Liverpool and its sponsors and a groundbreaking national marketing
campaign. The brand positioning of the Turner Prize helped attract
global attention to Liverpool.
Last month the Turner Prize won Best Tourism Experience at the
Mersey Partnership (TMP) Annual Tourism Awards, further
highlighting the role that culture plays in attracting visitors to
the region.
The Turner Prize 2007 was supported by Arts Council England,
Liverpool Culture Company, Northwest Regional Development Agency,
Milligan and Tate Members.
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:
“This boost to Merseyside’s economy is a dramatic example of the
power of art to generate economic benefits. High profile events
such as the Turner Prize not only have a huge impact on the
regional economy, but also have an important role to play in
shaping perceptions of the Northwest. The exposure that
Liverpool received during the three months of the exhibition will
no doubt create a legacy for the city as a cultural
destination.”
Andrea Nixon, Executive Director of Tate Liverpool, said:
“Hosting such a major event at Tate Liverpool was both an honour
and an achievement. We are delighted that the Turner Prize 2007 has
had such an impact on the city, at a time when economic investment
in the region is important. At the same time we are pleased to be
attracting new visitors from across the Northwest that will visit
Liverpool time and again to enjoy the visual arts on offer in the
city.”
-ends-
For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism
Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or Helen.Batte@nwda.co.uk
For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925
400259.
For further information and to view previous press releases
visit us at www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the
economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is
responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging
investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life