Income and crowds up at latest ideas festival
AT All Across the Arts, we enthusiastically reviewed last October’s Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival and are very pleased to learn that it was the best attended yet, with record ticket sales of more than 3,200 and in excess of 4,000 people attending.
Ticket sales were the highest in the Rochdale Borough Council festival’s four-year history, with hundreds more attending un-ticketed events throughout the weekend, including All Across the Arts’ Fringe Writer’s Showcase at VIBE and preview shows earlier in October.
Revenue from ticket sales was £16,298 and spending by festival-goers in the borough is estimated at £61,500. A total of 23 shows were sold out.
The festival helped to bring the arts to new audiences, with 23pc of visitors asked saying they hadn’t attended a literature event before.
It also brought new visitors to Rochdale, as 40pc said they were not regular visitors to the town centre.
The festival attracted visitors from across the north west region and beyond, with people coming from Liverpool, Bolton, Manchester, Halifax, Leeds and Stockport.
Last year’s programme included events with Jenny Eclair, Owen Jones, Simon Callow, Mark Billingham, Nikesh Shukla, Ian McMillan, Alastair Campbell, Mark Steel and Joanne Harris.
We brought you interviews with Jenny, Alastair and Mark and have an interview with Simon Callow in the pipeline.
Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing at festival organiser Rochdale Borough Council, said there was great support from the public.
She explained: “I managed to see many inspiring events and, even though this was our longest festival, it still went so quickly and I was sad to see it come to an end.
“It was a delight to welcome to the borough so many leading names.
“The talks, workshops and events were informative, entertaining and captivating.
“I’m already looking forward to the 2017 festival and we expect to be able to announce the dates this month.’
Dwayne Wells, commercial development manager from festival partner First Manchester, added: “This really was another superb festival and we were pleased to be part of it again.
“We aim to support our local communities and the festival provides the perfect platform to promote reading and learning, offering something for all ages and tastes.’