Every £1 of public funding spent on classical music in the West Midlands sees a tenfold impact on the local economy, says a new report published by Arts Council England, West Midlands. Making a Noise The economic impact of classical music in the West Midlands was prepared by Audiences Central, based on information from 38 local organisations producing or presenting classical music in the region, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (pictured).
The average spend per attender was found to be £32.96, including £16.10 for the ticket and an additional £16.86 on items such as travel, refreshments, programmes and childcare costs. It was also found that classical music events attracted 10% of visitors from outside of the region. The report follows a study of the economic impact of theatre in the West Midlands, published last year.