Monday 16 April 2012

Turner Contemporary announces £13.8 million impact on Kent economy in first 12 months of operation

Turner Contemporary announces £13.8 million impact on Kent economy in first 12 months of operation
Turner Contemporary reaches its first birthday today 16 April 2012, 496,554 visitors have passed through the doors, more than treble what was predicted for the first year of operation.
Now a new report shows that Turner Contemporary has generated an additional £13.8m of value for the Kent economy and supports an estimated 130 (FTE) jobs in the county.
Victoria Pomery, Director Turner Contemporary said:
‘The past 12 months have been truly spectacular for Turner Contemporary. We have been absolutely delighted by the number of visitors, and their response to the gallery and our exhibitions. This report highlights the positive impact these visitors have had on the local economy in terms of additional tourism income and in supporting jobs.
The gallery has also had a huge social impact. We were delighted that over 20,000 people had participated in our Learning Programme, over 35,000 more children visited with their families, and around 20,000 of our visitors said that they had never been to an art gallery before.
We are now very excited about our 2012/13 programme which promises to be every bit as impactful.'
The new gallery for Turner Contemporary was created by Kent County Council who is the major funder and continues to support the gallery. Partner agencies who have also provided funding are SEEDA (£4 million) and Arts Council England (£4.1 million). Thanet District Council provided the land.
Mike Hill, Kent County Council Cabinet member for Customer and Communities said:
‘We are tremendously proud of the success of Turner Contemporary. We were determined to keep to our promise and build a landmark building which would boost the area and be a catalyst for regenerating East Kent. It has created jobs, encouraged new businesses to the town and will go on to be a lasting legacy to driving the development of the county and the south east.’
Sally Abbott, Regional Director, Arts Council England, said:
‘Our congratulations go out to Turner Contemporary as they reach their first anniversary in their new gallery.
We are proud to have Turner Contemporary as one of our National Portfolio Organisations and will continue to support the development of their ambitious artistic and learning programme as part of our wider investment in Kent.
Turner Contemporary’s success in the past year has gone to show that art is integral to local life in Kent and vital to Margate’s regeneration - with long lasting benefits for the community and local economy. Great art enriches lives, and Turner Contemporary is helping more people experience and be inspired by the arts both regionally, nationally and internationally.’
Turner Contemporary is pleased to announce their second year programme of exhibitions:
She Lay Down Deep Beneath the Sea: Tracey Emin at Turner Contemporary (26 May - 23 September 2012)
Alex Katz: Give Me Tomorrow (6 October 2012 - 13 January 2013)
Carl Andre (26 January - 25 May 2013)
Rosa Barba: The Truth is Rarely Pure and Never Simple (2 February - 6 May 2013).
In addition to the exhibitions, Turner Contemporary has commissioned leading contemporary artists Lindsay Seers, Mark Wallinger (7 July - 6 August 2012) and John Smith (1 - 17 June 2012) to create new site-specific works on show throughout the summer at Turner Contemporary. Also on show a new Sunley Gallery commission by Brazilian artist Maria Nepomuceno: Tiempo para Respirar (14 September 2012 - 24 March 2013).
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15 comments:

  1. Do you remember all those screams of protest, white elephant, waste of money, we'd be better off with an ice rink, it will be closed in six months and sundry others. Where are they now, oh silly me, probably saying No to Night Flights or waiting with eager anticipation for the avalanche over at Royal Sands.

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    1. It's only been a year. Time will tell...

      I sure wish they'd rebuilt the pier / jetty instead!

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    2. wHAT A LOAD OD NONSENSE YOU SPEAK.
      THIS ELITIST MONOLITH HAS DONE NOTHING TO IMPROVE MARGATE.IT WAS BUILT ON A LIE, AND WILL CRUMBLE IN LIES AND GOOD RIDDANCE

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    3. Doubt you will live to see the day though, 20:16. With your anger a thromby is just around the corner.

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  2. Tom, I know you are keen to be upbeat on Thanet, and I personally feel Turner Contemporary is great for Thanet, but can you explain to me how, when entry is free, it can be calculated that each visitor contributed £27.80 to the economy of Thanet?

    Unless the cafe and gift shop prices are sky high.

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  3. Ken, I made no claim about figures nor do I have access to such information. Like you I can only go by what I read and, from this posting alone, it certainly seems to have brought money to the local economy. My point was more about it not being the white elephant the detractors had claimed.

    On your figure of £27.80, I have no way of proving or disproving that, but it does not seem a small fortune for a day out in a place. Even less if visitors were tempted to stay overnight in a local B & B. For example, a civil service MOD employed driver recently claimed £41.30 for lunch in a Thai restaurant plus another £8 for a half bottle of wine on his expenses, but then perhaps you did not know that civil servants can claim actual expenditure, seemingly with no upper limit.

    Appreciate that is another campaign, but mention it just to illustrate how much one person can easily spend on lunch alone.

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  4. When they calculate these figures (assuming that they actually count how many people visit the gallery), (a) how do they know whether or not the people are locals, & (b) how do they know whether they spend money elsewhere?

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  5. Tom, I'm one of the detractors and still have serious doubts about this and the impact it has claims to have had on Thanet.
    Last Easter it was heralded as the great saviour of our region,thousands of visitors flocked to Margate and according to all reports,the draw was the the Turner.However,I would point out that the temperature was in the nineties and the world and his wife headed to the seaside.They did visit the Turner but I would dispute that it was the reason for their visit,more likely they went inside merely because it was there.I notice that the Easter visitor figures this year have not been released.
    As Peter has said, time will tell but I think you need to consider how many businesses have actually closed in the area this with jobs lost against those opened due to the Turner - I am not convinced that the one will outweigh the other.

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    1. Ann, you are right that only time will tell though the first year visitor figures for the Turner are impressive. As for impact, well all one can see is that the area around the Margate old town and harbour has undergone something of a recovery. Further afield the impact is probably negligible.

      Over your way, of course, you should see a massive business boost thanks to the Worrow inspired half hour free parking. That will at least allow us geriatrics to stop for a paper, but then I do not live in Birchington anyway so for me it is meaningless. You also have the Minnis Bay Gay Pride event to look foward to even if some clown managed to screw up the wind surfing event. All in all, Thanet lurches on, but at least we have no shortage of clowns and nimbys.

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  6. Over my way Tom? I live in Cliftonville and thought the comments were about the impact of the Turner on the area.

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    1. Sorry, Ann, obviously confusing you with another Ann who has a business in Birchington. Anyway, I did cover what I perceive to be the impact of the Turner in its immediate area, but still accept Thanet as a whole needs a lot more investment to bring real life back to our towns and communities. At least the Turner is a start.

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    2. Don't apologise, Tom, she is the same Ann Adley who back before Christmas was proclaiming John Worrow's merits when he defected and how he was putting the needs of the Birchington people first. How gullible can you get?

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  7. Ann, do you know if the Minnis Bay Gay Day is still going ahead? I seem to recall you requesting to play there if my memory serves me correctly (unfortunately Worrow & Driver have ignored me when I've asked about it).

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    1. It is no longer their latest bandwagon, Peter, so, along with exporting poor beasties, it is on the back burner for a bit.

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    2. Damn, I spent ages putting together that Village People Red Indian outfit too...

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