Visitors flock to Glasgow’s museums and galleries

GLASGOW has seen a 16 per cent hike in the number of people visiting its sport and culture venues over the last year, new figures have revealed.

The opening of the Riverside Museum, the growth of the Merchant City Festival since its relocation in the calendar to July and a record-breaking year for Celtic Connections were all said to have aided the boom.

Some 16.8 million people – a jump of 2.3 million on the previous 12 months – attended events at venues run by the arms-length council trust, Glasgow Life.

More than 1.6 million people alone flocked to the Riverside Museum, which opened last June, while a further million visited Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Six million people attended sports venues, a rise of 8 per cent.

Almost half a million people attended concerts at venues such as the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the City Halls. Celtic Connections alone attracted more than 100,000 people.

Archie Graham, deputy council leader and chairman of Glasgow Life, said the figures were a major boost to the city’s status ahead of its hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

He said: “These figures prove, once again, that sport and culture are of huge importance to the people of Glasgow.

“We’ve enjoyed record-breaking attendance figures and despite the massive economic challenges, none of our facilities have been closed.

“The fact that our citizens are already enjoying sport and cultural activities in record-breaking numbers bodes well for 2014.

“I’m sure that the passion and dedication of the staff and volunteers across Glasgow Life will be keenly felt in the coming weeks and months and will play a fundamental role in delivering a real and lasting legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

BRIAN FERGUSON