A new report credits Manchester’s 'cultural offering' as a key driver for economic growth, as well as "the ongoing happiness and wellbeing of the city’s residents".
The report on the Council's "Always, Everywhere" ten-year strategy of investment in culture across the city and how the culture sector has aided Manchester's recovery from the pandemic concluded that in the last year, "the city’s cultural sector has generated an economic impact of more than £342m for Manchester, supporting at least 4,800 full-time jobs."
The Annual Cultural Impact Survey shows that Manchester City Council invested £23.1m in libraries, arts and culture in 2023–24, helping to leverage a further £159.2m from other funding streams, supporting at least 4,802 FTE jobs, as well as 16 apprentices and 2,284 volunteers, which has helped Manchester to recover quickly following the global pandemic.
City centre footfall is starting to return to pre-COVID-19 levels, now up to 93% of the 2019/20 figures. Nine million people visited cultural venues in the city last year—2.8m to the city’s libraries—indicating that culture and events are bringing visitors back into the city.
Cllr Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, said, “Culture has for many years played an integral part in the city’s history—from international artists and musicians to grassroots arts in the hearts of our communities—it's all important and it all has a place to help our city and our people to thrive.
“Manchester is place where we celebrate our creativity, our diversity and our vibrancy. Quite simply, take away our culture and there would be no city. At the most fundamental level, the arts brings happiness to our lives, it creates wellbeing and supports good health. Culture also has the power to be a driver for social change, for justice and equality. Our 10-year strategy understands this, and we will use it to ensure our communities have a voice and make sure Manchester is a place where everyone can achieve their potential.
“Culture is also a key engine of growth. Some of the city’s biggest regeneration successes are underpinned by the value of cultural organisations being at the heart of the city’s transformation. The sector accounts for thousands of jobs and has the power to bring global attention and investment to Manchester that provides a platform for economic growth in the future.
“Big or small, culture is the beating heart of Manchester. But we want to do more. We want to celebrate culture in our communities, we want to make sure that as many people as possible can take part, and we want to change lives. This is what culture can do.”