Rural Touring Stats

1,650 Performing Groups

110,000 Voluntary Hours

332,000 Audience Members

£1,000,000 Box Office Sales

2,500 events

1,000 venues

Benefits and Impact of Rural Touring

• RT acts as an agent between the local agenda and creative work being made
• RT sector doesn’t just tour work that is already touring – it commissions and premiers too
• When the country is becoming more ‘place-based’ RT addresses localism by creating work with national appeal
• RT is ahead of the curve when it comes to non-traditional touring spaces in comparison to town and city-based touring
• It supports professional performance into rural areas, engaging residents in cultural experiences
• Thanks to RT, audiences in rural areas can enjoy the same opportunities to see and appreciate the arts on their doorsteps as urban counterparts
• RT supports skills development and cohesion
• RT gives opportunities to address social mobility and people living in deprivation
• RT contributes to local economic growth
• RT can change individual and community perceptions of art and culture, increasing confidence and a sense of belonging in people
• RT helps facilitate a greater understanding of what local provision should be delivered and how this could be achieved
• RT helps drive improvements in local facilities
• RT supports the development of strong local networks and volunteering in a range of activities.
• RT is a driver for promoting a year-round calendar of events and activities
• RT positively contributes to wellbeing including social and emotional development
• RT fosters the empowerment of young people
• RT encourages social inclusion and integration into the wider community
• RT encourages the arts to be more integrated into the school curriculum
• RT supports staff training in arts development