The Lowry contributes £29m to the economy

THE Lowry arts centre in Salford is Greater Manchester’s most visited destination and contributes £29m a year to the economy, according to a report from the New Economy think tank.

Beyond the Arts, which was commissioned by The Lowry, says the venue at Salford Quays attracts more than 820,000 visitors a year and has pulled in a total of 11 million since opening in 2000.

According to the report, 11.3% of The Lowry’s income comes from public funding – below the average across arts and cultural institutions of 40%. It claims the return on this investment is £16.27 for every £1 of public money, and that The Lowry has been a cornerstone of the £1.4bn regeneration of Salford Quays.

Chief executive Julia Fawcett said: “When The Lowry first opened its doors in 2000, we were the lone cultural organisation on Salford Quays. Today, we are at the heart of one of the world’s biggest culture and media destinations, MediaCityUK, with neighbours including the BBC and ITV.

“The report helps to identify how The Lowry played a fundamental part in one of the world’s most successful regeneration projects. It is with great pride that we can say that more people are employed on Salford Quays today than there were when this area was a working dock. This intricate study into The Lowry shows that examples of economic impact are not limited to London, and that the cultural investment in Greater Manchester and the North West brings sizable returns.”

The Lowry employs around 370 staff.