The number of visitors to six new museums and galleries have exceeded expectations, leading several to reassess annual targets.
The National Museum of Scotland, which reopened on 29 July, welcomed 311,000 visitors in its first three-and-a-half weeks – suggesting that it could surpass its annual target of one million.
A spokesman said that the annual target would now be reassessed. The Museum of Liverpool is also revisiting its annual target. A spokesman said: “We predicted 78,000 visitors in the first month, but we got 250,000. Our original target now looks conservative.”
The Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire has already doubled its annual target to 300,000 after welcoming 85,000 people in its first four weeks of opening.
However, with the gallery set to surpass the 200,000 mark this month, even the new figure looks conservative.
The Riverside Museum has averaged almost 10,000 visitors a day since opening on 21 June. However, it does not plan to update its annual target of 800,000.
Likewise, the Turner Contemporary in Margate is sticking to its 156,000 annual visitor target, despite a footfall of 79,477 in its first four weeks.
M Shed in Bristol welcomed 68,272 people through its doors in the first four weeks of opening. Its annual target is 250,000.
Hepworth Wakefield
Annual target: 150,000*
Total in first four weeks: 85,000
M Shed
Annual target: 250,000
Total in first four weeks: 68,272
Museum of Liverpool
Annual target: 750,000
Total in first four weeks: 250,000
National Museum of Scotland
Annual target: 1,000,000
Total in first four weeks: 311,000**
Riverside Museum
Annual target: 800,000
Total in first four weeks: 284,860
Turner Contemporary
Annual target: 156,000
Total in first four weeks: 79,477
*subsequently revised to 300,000
**total refers to first three-and-a-half weeks
The National Museum of Scotland, which reopened on 29 July, welcomed 311,000 visitors in its first three-and-a-half weeks – suggesting that it could surpass its annual target of one million.
A spokesman said that the annual target would now be reassessed. The Museum of Liverpool is also revisiting its annual target. A spokesman said: “We predicted 78,000 visitors in the first month, but we got 250,000. Our original target now looks conservative.”
The Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire has already doubled its annual target to 300,000 after welcoming 85,000 people in its first four weeks of opening.
However, with the gallery set to surpass the 200,000 mark this month, even the new figure looks conservative.
The Riverside Museum has averaged almost 10,000 visitors a day since opening on 21 June. However, it does not plan to update its annual target of 800,000.
Likewise, the Turner Contemporary in Margate is sticking to its 156,000 annual visitor target, despite a footfall of 79,477 in its first four weeks.
M Shed in Bristol welcomed 68,272 people through its doors in the first four weeks of opening. Its annual target is 250,000.
Visitor numbers at new museums
Hepworth Wakefield
Annual target: 150,000*
Total in first four weeks: 85,000
M Shed
Annual target: 250,000
Total in first four weeks: 68,272
Museum of Liverpool
Annual target: 750,000
Total in first four weeks: 250,000
National Museum of Scotland
Annual target: 1,000,000
Total in first four weeks: 311,000**
Riverside Museum
Annual target: 800,000
Total in first four weeks: 284,860
Turner Contemporary
Annual target: 156,000
Total in first four weeks: 79,477
*subsequently revised to 300,000
**total refers to first three-and-a-half weeks