Ticket revenue from shows at Blackwood Miners’ Institute have increased by more than 20 percent in two years – despite reductions in council funding.
The venue, which is a registered charity, has changed the way it agrees profit-sharing and bringing in new arts and entertainment acts to draw in wider audiences.
Caerphilly County Borough Council provides an annual subsidy as the charity’s sole trustee, though funding has fallen from £365,279 in 2013/14 to £313,414 in 2017/18 – a 14% cut.
But a report reveals that income generated from BMI shows last year was £302,315, up from £249,768 in 2015/16 and £275,119 in 2016/17.
The average ticket yield last year was £8.67, with the council saying prices are kept as low as possible to ‘ensure that everybody has easy access to arts and culture’.
Bar and vending services, which only open when there are vents in the building, also made a combined profit of £13,449 towards earned revenue. Room hire also generated £41,937.
However, the charity’s total funds dipped from £2.57 million in 2016/17 to £2.49m last year.
“We acknowledge that we currently face challenging times, where local and regional engagement with the arts is traditionally low,” the report written on behalf of the council says.
“The region has higher than average levels of deprivation, and all this against a backdrop of ever decreasing public funding.
”But despite this, our efforts to continue engaging audiences, developing new and innovative programme stands, and by working collaboratively and in partnership, prove that we have a very valuable role to play in the creative community.”
The report’s findings were discussed by councillors in cabinet last week, with members having already pledged to make the BMI a more attractive destination for visitors.
Last July, senior councillors backed plans for a new marketing campaign to advertise the venue and improved signage.