Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) attached

The Executive considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods), which provided an overview of the outcomes of the 2021 Manchester International Festival (MIF21). The report summarised the performance against the agreed objectives and details the impact of the festival, based on the results of the independent evaluation and demonstrated how the festival delivered an inspiring programme which enabled Manchester residents and wider audiences to return to the city to enjoy arts and culture, despite the challenges and uncertainty of COVID-19.

The Deputy Leader (Human Resources) commented that despite the challenges and uncertainty of Covid, MIF21 inspired residents of Manchester and beyond to return to the city and enjoy a programme of art, dance, theatre and music, delivered through an immersive series of events that utilised outside spaces like never before. 

John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive MIF reported that MIF developed a range of scenarios for the various potential levels of restriction that might be in place.  He paid tribute to the MIF team as at any one time, MIF was running five or more differing scenarios for the festival, and for each project within it, ranging from full lockdown to ‘business as usual’, and with several versions of a socially-distant or blended festival also in play.  He commented that the festival could not have happened without the extraordinary relationship that cultural sector and MIF had with the Council. 

Despite the impact of Covid on the media landscape, MIF21 generated strong press coverage across print, online and broadcast media including news announcements, previews of MIF shows, and features, interviews and reviews. 

It was also reported that MIF21 was the last Manchester International Festival to take place before the opening of the city’s new flagship cultural venue The Factory. As such it provided a citywide and international platform to build profile, raise awareness and introduce elements of The Factory brand to audiences, partners, press and stakeholders locally, nationally and internationally

Randel Bryan, Executive Director MIF, advised the Executive that whilst MIF21 was a socially distanced festival due to Covid, a large number of free and online events made it possible to reach a record number of audiences locally, nationally and internationally and as a result the 2021 festival reached 2,662,244 people (compared with 302,161 in 2019) – 1,462,244 in person and 1,200,000 online  He added that whilst the effects of Covid had meant that the economic impact of the 2021 Festival was lower than previous years, the total economic impact of MIF21 estimated to be £19.5million.  The festival also played an important role in terms of employment.  69 staff now worked for the festival all year round and a further 83 were contracted by the festival for a minimum of three weeks during the festival period as well as an additional 62 office-based freelancers. In addition, to deliver the festival, MIF contracted a further 680 people who worked as performers, stage managers, front of house staff or technicians on MIF commissions.

Decisions

The Executive:-

(1)      Note the substantial achievements of the 2021 Festival in achieving its objectives and in supporting the economic and cultural recovery of the city following the COVID-19 pandemic.

(2)      Recognise and support the importance of maintaining public sector funding commitments in order to attract significant match funding from other public and private sector partners