Governance

Social & Economic Impact Report

A recent study by the University of Surrey, in partnership with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village, Compton, and Lightbox Gallery and Museum, Woking, shows that for every £10 spent at these venues, the local economy benefits, on average, by a further spend of up to £13.28, mainly in retail, and food and drink sectors.

The report also finds that nearly 70% of visitors would not have visited the areas otherwise, indicating the importance of the existence of these organisations and their notable contribution to local footfall and spend.

The research was carried out between March and July 2020, by Professor Gang Li, Professor Caroline Scarles, Dr Jason Chen, and Dr Anyu Liu from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey, and reflects levels of pre-Covid spending and attendance. It comprises two parts, social and economic, bringing together survey data collected directly from attendees to each organisation, in combination with interviews conducted with groups using the venues for additional community-related activities.

The report reflects on some of the ways in which the partner organisations were able to respond to the first Covid-19 lockdown, and the vital need to revise the offer of programmes and initiatives and consider the need for hybrid solutions to community engagement that extend across both physical and digital engagement platforms.

The social impact section of the report shows how, as well as physically presenting theatre and the visual arts, the partner organisations also use their expertise to support health and well-being initiatives, adult education, social inclusion, social justice, and community identity activities.

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