THERE are moments from this year's Manchester International Festival (MIF) that'll linger long in the memory: Damon Albarn's surprise acoustic set in Albert Square; Wayne McGregor's kaleidoscopic Tree of Codes at the Opera House; pissed-up Scottish barmpot Douglas Gordon's axe attack on HOME.
MIF 2015 saw the highest yet economic benefit to the city of £38.8m
But now the dust has settled it's time to lock away the memories and crack out the abacus... because it's time to talk numbers.
And though some corners may bemoan the impenetrability of the artsy festival to sooty-faced Mancs, while others whinge (rightly so, in this case) that Manchester International Festival barely features anyone actually from the Manchester arts community, the festival's overall contribution to the city and its soaring cultural stock cannot be questioned.
A report released today by arts and culture research firm Morris Hargreaves McIntyre (MHM) reveals that this year's MIF has been the most successful one to date - with numbers up across the board.
Here's the figures:
- According to MHM, MIF 2015 saw the highest yet economic benefit to the city of £38.8m compared to £38m in 2013 (double the increase of the two previous festivals)
- It cost £12m to host the festival (up £100,000 on 2013), with an £8.1m spend on artists (up 5%) and £3.9m operating costs (down £100,000).
- The festival raised £2.7m from 114 corporate sponsors and donors (nearly double those in 2013)
- Income from ticket sales grew 7% to £1.5 million
- There was a 5% increase in attendance at Festival events to almost 260,000 people - up 13,000 on 2013.
- 44,000 of which attended free events
- 126,000 people visited Festival Square
- 65% of attendees came from Greater Manchester
Maxine Peake as The Skriker for MIF 2015- 230 programmed performances during the Festival
- 92% of audience surveyed rates performances as excellent or very good
- 22 original commissions and special events
- 268 suppliers from the Manchester city region
- 551 contracted employees with 436 volunteers also taking part.
A triumphant departure then for MIF's ten-year festival director, Alex Poots, who is stepping down to take charge at New York's new $400m Culture Shed
...and hefty shoes to fill for incoming director John McGrath, formerly of the National Theatre Wales.
"I'm delighted to be joining Manchester International Festival on the back of its most successful year yet," said McGrath. "Both the quantity and consistency of support for the Festival from the Manchester community, from audiences and volunteers to local business and the council, is hugely impressive - especially considering the current tough economic landscape.
“The dedication of all involved is extraordinary and I'm excited to now be a part of the team and help build on the success of this thrillingly unique Festival."
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Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "The importance of culture and the arts to Manchester's growing reputation on the world's stage can't be overstated and Manchester International Festival has, since the very first Festival back in 2007, played an enormous part in this.
"This year once again MIF has managed to deliver a festival that not only packs a punch locally, but through its co-commissioning approach is also successfully taking the Manchester brand around the world.
"This is a significant achievement and one we're looking to the festival to further build on over the next three festivals as The Factory Manchester is established and opens for business."
The report from Morris Hargreaves McIntyre will go before the Manchester City Council Executive on Wednesday 10 October in order to seek approval for £2.5m of funding for MIF 2017.
