The estimated figure is a combination of the festival’s 2019 edition as well as Noel Gallagher & The Courteeners concerts with Parklife continuing to support local organisations via its community fund.
Following a memorable 10th anniversary edition, Manchester’s Parklife festival has revealed it generated an estimated £13 million worth of economic benefit to Greater Manchester in 2019.
A total of £2,727,286.12 was spent by the festival with companies, authorities, shops, freelancers and suppliers with a Manchester postcode. Its suppliers include marketing, security, lighting, sound, Greater Manchester Police, stage managers, riggers, printers, DJ’s, live artists, staging, power, scaffolding, buses, cleansing, hardware, refrigeration, bar staff, stage crew, decor and set design.
As well as the annual two-day festival, Parklife curated Noel Gallagher and The Courteeners concerts which also took place at the festival’s home of Heaton Park in June. These three events combined delivered 230,000 music lovers to Manchester, and this audience provided an estimated economic benefit to the Greater Manchester economy of £10,350,000.00
Parklife also provides a community fund which is in cooperation with Manchester, Bury and Rochdale councils, and is now open to applicants. This fund is designed for the benefit of local community groups and priority is given to groups and projects that utilise parks and open spaces, although all are encouraged to apply with any ideas or requests to help improve the area they share.
This year, the fund has made more than £58,000 available for the benefit of community groups. It also supports the officially championed charity ‘Superjosh’ for brain tumour sufferers and families, raising an impressive £26,295 in 2019 from contributions made at the festival by guest-list attendees. An additional £8,000 was raised through festival tickets being donated to various charities for raffles and auctions – taking the total amount raised for charitable causes from Parklife 2019 to more than £92,000.
In addition, and for the first time, there will also be a £11,000 micro grant fund available for community groups who want to grow an idea or need a smaller amount of funding.
Prestwich Councillor Alan Quinn, Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said:
“We have been working with Parklife and Manchester City Council for several years to minimise the disruption to Prestwich residents and will continue to do so. It’s important that local people and businesses also benefit from having these events on their doorstep.
“In 2016, I asked Parklife to set up a community fund, and this year the fund stands at £22,500 which is a great sum and gives local groups and charities the opportunity to bid for this money. The amount available for each project remains at £1500.
“However, this year due to the fact there was an extra concert, we argued for more funding, so, this year an extra £13,000 is available split between Manchester and Prestwich to bid for. The £500 grants will be paid directly by Parklife using a simple application process. Since 2016, Prestwich has benefitted to the tune of over £80,000. In a time of continuing austerity this has made a real difference to our community groups.
Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Schools, Culture and Leisure, Councillor Luthfur Rahman, said: “From listening to residents, we know it’s vital to ensure that the hosting of major events results in benefits for our parks and green spaces – and through the Parklife Community Fund, Parklife can also help the many community groups who are active close to Heaton Park.
“I’d urge any groups with a vision for a project which would benefit Higher Blackley or Crumpsall to apply for a grant from the Fund, so that we can help empower them to enhance their local area.”
Author: Molly Hookings
Molly joined the editorial team in March 2019. She has several years’ experience working in broadcast and journalism, as well as marketing and PR. Past experience includes working for the BBC and independent publishing houses. If you have a story you think Molly might be interested in, please email: molly@eventindustrynews.com
