The Box boosts Plymouth economy by £244m - report

The museum opened in autumn 2020

A major tourist attraction has boosted Plymouth's economy by £244m since it opened five years ago, a report has said.

The Box, which contains a museum, gallery and archive centre, opened in September 2020 and was the result of an ambitious £47m regeneration project.

An impact assessment by Counterculture LLP, which provides services for the creative and cultural sectors, revealed people visited The Box 1.1 million times.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: "This institution has generated nearly a quarter-of-a-billion pounds in economic impact, delivered over £100m in health benefits, and positioned Plymouth alongside Britain's premiere cultural destinations."

Health and wellbeing

The Box said it had forged partnerships with institutions including the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum since it opened.

It said of the visitors, 72,000 were international.

More than 100,000 hours of volunteering had taken place at The Box since it opened with an estimated economic value of £1.1m, it said.

The Box added that it had generated £100m in health and wellbeing benefits, with £43m in estimated benefits from reduced incidences of depression and dementia as a result of the attraction and its exhibits.

It added £49m in estimated benefits from improved general health among adults aged 30-49, including improved quality of life and increased productivity from engagement with The Box.

Tudor Evans, leader of Labour-led Plymouth City Council, said: "Five years ago, we made a bold decision to invest in culture when many cities were cutting back.

"Today, The Box stands as proof that Plymouth refuses to accept second best.

"This isn't just about impressive statistics, though a £244m economic impact speaks volumes, it's about transforming how the world sees Plymouth and how we see ourselves."

Victoria Pomery, chief executive officer of The Box, said: "We've shown that world-class cultural programming can thrive outside London while remaining deeply rooted in community."