ANVIL Arts generates over £6million of spending in Basingstoke every year, according to an independent survey.

In the face of looming Government funding cuts for the arts, Anvil Arts commissioned a company to look at what contribution The Anvil and The Haymarket make to Basingstoke’s economy.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council currently provides £1.2million of the trust’s total funding income of £5.3million – but the survey concludes that the economic impact of Anvil Arts on the the local economy “far exceeds the generous grant that it receives from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.”

Christine Bradwell, chief executive of Anvil Arts, said: “The results of this independent survey are even better than we anticipated.

“We thought it was important that Anvil Arts was put into context and I think the survey proves that if Anvil Arts wasn’t here, people wouldn’t be coming to Basingstoke.”

Ms Bradwell said the survey shows the money the borough invests in Anvil Arts generates a five-fold return for the local economy.

She said: “There are thousands of artists and technicians who come here because of Anvil Arts every year. They are all spending money in the local shops and other places. Some are here for a long time, especially at Christmas.”

Anvil Arts, which is the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire, runs The Anvil concert hall, with a capacity of 1,380, and 400-seater Haymarket theatre, which it took over in 2007.

The survey, which was conducted between March and August by BOP Consulting, assessed three areas of expenditure.

It looked at goods and services bought by Anvil Arts from local suppliers, the spending of Anvil Arts’ audiences in Basingstoke – such as pre-theatre meals, drinks or shopping – and it took into account the spend by performers and stage technicians who stay in the borough during the shows and consequently spend money here.

To collate this information, the consultancy interpreted Anvil Arts’ accounts, looked at audience figures and interviewed its senior managers.

To get a broader perspective on the impact of Anvil Arts in the local community, the consultants also interviewed individuals from seven Basingstoke businesses. The feedback was full of praise for the contribution that The Anvil and The Haymarket make to Basingstoke.

The survey was also sent to the 17,000 people on Anvil Arts’ database – customers who have made an online booking in the last two years or have indicated they wish to receive email communications – and yielded information on visiting versus local audience members, spending habits and opinions.

In all there were 2,077 valid responses, of which just over 70 per cent were aged 40 to 64. Fifty-seven per cent were women.

The survey revealed that 61 per cent of The Anvil’s visitors who responded, and 46 per cent of The Haymarket’s visitors, come from outside the borough. Fewer than three per cent stay overnight when they attend an Anvil Arts performance but most will spend money on food or drink – at Anvil Arts venues or elsewhere in Basingstoke – and some also shop.

Apart from their tickets, local visitors to both venues also spend on average £19.14 during their visit and non-residents spend £24.12 in the town.

The survey showed a high level of satisfaction for the qual-ity of performers and 93 per cent rated The Anvil’s facilities as good or outstanding. The figure was 80 per cent for The Haymarket.

Ms Bradwell said with the prospect of Government cuts, the arts will struggle. However, she said the independent report clearly showed the value of Anvil Arts to the Basingstoke economy.

She added that ticket prices for Anvil Arts’s shows were often £5 less than at venues in nearby towns and cities, and said the organisation is running the two venues at £300,000 less each year than when they were run separately.

l The main findings of the report are available to view online at anvilarts.org.uk/news/anvil-arts-economic-impact.