The Lowry - A Success Story
Since opening on 28th April 2000, The Lowry, National Landmark Millennium Project for The Arts has exceeded all expectations with visitor numbers already nearing three quarters of a million*. During its opening few months, The Lowry has enjoyed various sell-out theatre shows, forged links with local communities, attracted international companies to enjoy its conferencing facilities, won awards and was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen. Chief Executive Stephen Hetherington is now developing the broader business plan to progress another key element of The Lowry Project, the Digital World Centre.
AWARD - WINNING
The Lowry was selected as the overall, national winner of the Celebrating Construction Achievement Award, as well as the regional winner for the North West. More recently, it won the special Manchester Evening News Horniman Award for Outstanding Services to Theatre and converted 4 of its 13 nominations in 7 categories to awards for theatre events ranging from Best Dance to Best Visiting Production. The British Guild of Travel Writers has Highly Commended The Lowry for its Silver Unicorn Award 2000 for the Best Tourism Project in the UK at attracting tourists and benefiting the local community and environment. Manchester’s magazine, City Life gave the accolades of Best New Building and Best New Arrival to The Lowry whilst the artist Liam Spencer whose sell-out show was part of the opening season of exhibitions at The Lowry Galleries was runner up to Badly Drawn Boy as Mancunian of the Year.
SELL-OUT SHOWS
The theatres programme was extremely successful with sell-out shows from companies such as Birmingham Royal Ballet and English Touring Theatre and productions including Sing along to the sound of music and childrens’ shows like The Phoenix and the Carpet. Both Royal National Theatres’ productions, The Oresteia and An Inspector Calls sold out. The Lowry has established itself as a top comedy venue in the North West with sellout shows of Harry Hill, Ruby Wax, Jeff Green, Phil Jupitus and the FHM comedy tour. The Lowry’s Christmas show The Wizard of Oz was 98% sold out a fortnight before the show even opened.
WIDE COMMUNITY APPEAL
In The Lowry's opening year the ALL Arts Team (dedicated to Audiences Living & Learning at The Lowry) has developed a range of projects & initiatives with local artists and visiting companies. They have developed an extensive programme for schools and colleges led by visiting artists & companies, providing over 130 artist-led workshops as well as special events for teachers & educators. The ALL Arts team have also targeted families through its programming and held 48 family activity sessions and 2 Family Welcome Days, with more planned for 2001.
The ALL Arts Team has delivered many successful projects within the community and in collaboration with artists, such as: The Bigger Picture - Billboard Project with Big Issue in The North; Museum of Me - Exhibition Project with Salford & Swinton PRU; Ordsall A-Z - Documentary Photography Project with Ordsall Primary Schools; Tram Art -3 Year of The Artist Residencies in partnership with Metro & Salford Community; One Voice - Summer School with Salford Community; O 4 euridice - Initiative with Young People in partnership with Opera North which the company presented in the Quays Theatre with performances dedicated to the memory of Lea Parkinson.
TARGETS SMASHED
Visitor numbers to the Galleries to date are just under half a million. The Lowry’s conferencing facilities have generated interest from national and international companies ranging from the telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries to universities and showbiz parties. Targets for conferencing and hospitality in The Lowry’s first year are way exceeded.
TV & FILM LOCATION T
he Lowry’s stunning architecture has generated interest from recording companies & TV companies keen to use the building as a location. It was used for a major storyline in a recent episode of Granada's Cold Feet programme when Rachel (Helen Baxendale) proposed to Adam (James Nesbitt) in The Lowry Galleries.
ROYAL OPENING
On Thursday 12th October, The Lowry Trust and the City of Salford welcomed Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to The Lowry to formally open the building.
The Royal party enjoyed the full range of The Lowry’s facilities during a three hour visit and Trustees were delighted to receive a letter from the Queen and the Duke thanking everyone for providing such a warm welcome and offering their good wishes for the continuing success of The Lowry. Chief Executive, Stephen Hetherington commented, “There is no higher commendation that could be accorded to The Lowry that would recognise its status as a project of national significance.”
THE FUTURE
After four years as Chief Executive of The Lowry Project, Stephen Hetherington is now moving away from day to day operations in order to concentrate on the broader development of the project. His brief will focus particularly on the development of the Digital World Centre. From January 1st Galleries Director, David Alston, will be taking the lead in the day to day operations of The Lowry, working closely with Theatres Director, Robert Robson, and The Lowry’s Management Team.
Stephen commented “This project has been a most wonderful adventure for all of us. The future development of The Lowry now requires a broader business plan that capitalises on our extraordinary success. The Digital World Centre will add a whole new dimension to the project.”
The Lowry’s Trust Chairman, Felicity Goodey said “The Lowry has marked the Millennium in style. Local Salford residents tell us that we are firmly embedded in their community. National critics say we rival the Guggenheim in Bilbao. We owe it all to our tremendous team and our many supporters.”
The new year in The Lowry’s theatres sees the British premiere of Tantalus (sat 27 Jan) from the Denver Center Theatre Company in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Twelve years in the writing, six months in rehearsal and ten hours in the playing, Peter Hall’s production breaks the boundaries of theatre itself.
The new Lowry exhibition Who Chose That? opens on 6th January with a diverse collection of the artist’s work from his industrial scenes to delicate seascapes. The pictures have been chosen by a range of people from famous figures such as Simon Callow and Harry Hill to Salford school children.
From the 20th January, The Lowry’s galleries will be transformed into the colourful and dynamic world of futurist artist Fortunato Depero. Playing a central role in the Italian futurist movement during the 20s, Depero produced a wide range of creative works from theatre designs, tapestries, paintings, graphics, furniture and toys.
Building on the success of these first few months, the future of The Lowry looks bright and events and activities planned are destined to open The Lowry’s appeal to an even wider audience.
Posted on Thursday, 21 December 2000 under Press General Press