14 Nov 2024
St Albans’ two museums are contributing more than £4m to the local visitor economy each year, a new report has revealed.
The total economic impact of visitors to the district economy in 2023/24 was £3,567,225 for St Albans Museum + Gallery and £898,221 for Verulamium Museum.
The figures have been published by The Annual Museum Survey 2024, which puts St Albans Museums in the top 22 per cent nationwide for Economic Visitor Impact.
Museums audience development manager Catherine Newley said: “We are thrilled with the results and delighted to see the positive commercial impact we are having in our community.
“We’ve had fantastic success since opening the Museum + Gallery in June 2018 after a £7.75million restoration project. Our offering across the
museums is going from strength to strength with thanks to fundamental and ongoing partnerships with the likes of UH Arts + Culture and Community Groups and we can see footfall ever increasing.
“Nearly one million visitors have enjoyed a host of exciting and thought-provoking exhibitions, engaging events, and immersive activities such as Henry Moore: Drawing in the Dark, the hugely popular The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Artists, Becoming Us: African Caribbean St Albans and Women Doing Everything, Everywhere, All At Once”
Both museums will be changing their opening hours from January 6 next year, from 10am-4pm daily.
Catherine added: “The appetite for culture and thought-provoking exhibitions and events is growing and we’re delighted to satisfy demand and offer longer opening hours. Increased accessibility will enable locals who are in the city centre early to come into St Albans Museum + Gallery from 10am.
“Opening Verulamium on Sundays means we can welcome more visitors over the weekend which makes it easier for people working in the week and for those travelling to the region from further away.
“We hope this move will continue to positively impact visitor numbers and ultimately create a stronger economic response benefitting our St Albans’ community and beyond.”
