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Terracotta General © Mr. Ziyu Qiu
No two ways about it, 2018 was a blockbuster year for National Museums Liverpool.
In figures released today by ALVA it was revealed that World Museum was the most visited museum in England (outside London) last year. And it doesn’t stop there: THREE of the top four English museums outside London were National Museums Liverpool venues: World Museum (1st), Museum of Liverpool (3rd) and Merseyside Maritime Museum (4th).
World Museum achieved these remarkable results, 1,416,632 visitors over the course of the year, thanks to the Terracotta Warrior effect. The award-winning exhibition, which drew more than 610,000 visitors is estimated to have boosted local economy by an amazing £83 million.
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Boy adding post-it to Remember Love wall
It was another exceptional exhibition that contributed to Museum of Liverpool’s brilliant visitor figures last year. Double Fantasy: John & Yoko, has prompted such a heart-felt response to its powerful story of love and creativity, that it has been extended until 3 November 2019.
The celebratory bunting is also out at the Walker Art Gallery who had their most successful year since 2008, when Liverpool was Capital of Culture. The huge popularity of Slaves of Fashion: New Works by The Singh Twins at the start of the year and the continuation of a diverse and exciting programme of exhibitions and events made in partnership with the Arts Council Collection, ensured visitors kept coming back for more. The super-cute Storywalkers, which was launched last year also meant that some of those visitors were very young and hopefully at the start of a long love-affair with museums and galleries.
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Storywalkers. Image © Robin Clewley
We’re basking in these great results today but not resting on our laurels. 2019 has a busy programme already with more to be announced.
Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool said: “The museums and galleries of National Museums Liverpool are bursting with brilliant objects, incredible stories and memorable moments, and in 2018 we were able to take it to another level with a really vibrant programme, including some exceptional exhibitions.
“We hope to build on this success for 2019 and in the years to come. We have just opened Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Making the Glasgow Style at the Walker Art Gallery, which has already welcomed more than 5,000 people, and proving to be another ‘must-see’ exhibition.”
