National Museums Liverpool (NML) has experienced £1.3m in revenue, following a run of high-profile corporate events and filming projects.
It is the first time the NML team has exceeded £1m in annual revenues, with the 2022/23 financial year seeing 38% growth in events income, compared to pre-pandemic levels (2018/19).
Event calendar
It has been its busiest year for venue hire, event management and inhouse catering. The team hosted 453 events and more than 28,000 guests across its seven venues – from a major event for United Utilities and bespoke hospitality for Boodles Jewellers, to a maritime evening with celebrity hosts and Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year production.
Eurovision also supported its financial year, with NML facilitating the ‘turquoise carpet’ launch event at Walker Art Gallery, creating spinoff events across several venues, producing an catering provision for crew and artists over 10 days, and hosting the BBC’s media hub at the Museum of Liverpool.
Karen O’Connor, director of commercial enterprises at NML, said: “It’s been a record year for our talented events team, with significant growth from our pre-pandemic levels and our biggest run of high-profile events to date.
“Our venues are used creatively for corporate and private events – from a small boardroom with a history dating back to 1901, to a 1,000-capacity gallery in a museum that is home to incredible artefacts. We’ve refined the way we deliver event services for our customers and have big plans for the year ahead.”
Recent developments saw the team recreate spaces within the Museum of Liverpool to provide a ‘blank canvas’ for clients to customise events, alongside the day-to-day visitor experience at the museum. This work has seen a 15% increase in event bookings at the venue.
NML has also launched an external catering service, using its in-house chefs for other venues and events in the region, which do not sit within National Museums Liverpool’s own portfolio.
