Scarborough's Open Air Theatre has paid over a million pounds to local staff and contractors during its 2024 season.
It's estimated the venue has contributed nearly ten million pounds overall to the town's economy.
The council's head of Venues - Stuart Clark - says employing local people is a key element of that.
The team behind Scarborough's Open Air Theatre have been describing their year in numbers.
The venue had a record breaking season with 18 concerts and a record number of tickets sold.
Stuart Clark says the OAT has also had a big impact on the local economy.
Local contractors were hired for a range of services, including electrical work, security, and Wi-Fi supply. The OAT also prioritised employing local residents for its bar and catering staff, riggers, and crew, with the majority of these positions filled by individuals from the area.
This investment in local people resulted in an estimated £1 million spent on staffing alone. A breakdown of these expenditures reveals the extent to which the OAT supported various sectors of the local economy:
- Bar and catering staff: £370,000
- Local crew and riggers: £225,000
- Agents and promoters, including their hotel stays: £65,000
Beyond direct employment, the OAT also boosted the income of local businesses. Hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses reported full occupancy on show nights, with some even implementing minimum two-night stay policies. Local pubs experienced a surge in customers, while taxi services and Shoreline Sun Cruiser buses were heavily utilised after the shows.
Even the artists' backstage catering needs were met by local supermarkets, further contributing to the economic benefits generated by the OAT.
The venue also hosted the Scarborough Sparkle event in December bringing further economic activity to the site in 'off-season' months. There are now plans to expand this in 2025 with a Food and Drink Festival to be held in April.
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