Skip to content

Coventry City of Culture helped to secure more than £183m - independent report

BBC This is the City paradeBBC
One thousand people took part in the This is the City parade to mark Coventry's final month as the UK City of Culture

Coventry's year as UK City of Culture helped to generate more than £183m for the local economy, a new report has said.

The research, by the University of Warwick and Coventry University, said that was in spite of some 300 events not taking place due to the pandemic.

The city's tenure began in May 2021, five months late due to Covid-19, but ran for a full year.

Researchers said it was a feat even to deliver the programme.

Prof Jonathan Neelands, from Warwick Business School, said: "The outstanding feature of all of this for me is that there was a UK City of Culture in 2021 hosted in Coventry, despite the ravages and disruption of a global pandemic.

"I'm not sure how many other cities might have pulled that off."

The long-term legacy was called into doubt earlier this year when the City of Culture Trust collapsed owing millions to creditors - including £1m to the city council - and making 50 people redundant.

The body was supposed to deliver a three-year, multimillion-pound programme of projects beyond 2021.

Joe Bailey/FiveSixPhotography Pauline BlackJoe Bailey/FiveSixPhotography
Pauline Black kicked off the year with a song called River Rushing Flow

However, David Welsh, Coventry City Council's cabinet member for housing and communities, said the independent report showed the year "was a success overall with millions attracted to the city".

The research showed 47% of local residents engaged with more than 700 City of Culture events. It added that those that got involved reflected the city's diversity.

More than 80% of schools and colleges also participated in some way.

Some 1,500 people trained as volunteers to support events, while more than 3,000 community performers took part.

The report said the city also saw a boost in visitors, with the economic impact of tourism exceeding £750m in 2022, more than £156m higher than before the pandemic.

Prof Nick Henry, director of Coventry University's Research Centre for Creative Economies, said the year "delivered joyful, thoughtful and inspirational activities of cultural, social and economic value across the city".

He added there were also lessons for future cultural investment in the city, while Prof Neelands said it would provide a vital point of reference for future major cultural events.

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]