Glasgow, Scotland - EventScotland, Scotland’s national organization for sports and cultural events has awarded Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival a grant of £15,000 for a significant market research study. The primary aim of the study is to examine the economic impact of the festival during 2007. The study will also research areas of potential growth for the future.
 
 David Williams, EventScotland’s Chief Executive said: “One of our aims is to help the development of events and festivals across Scotland. Investing in a market research study at this year’s Celtic Connections Festival will help determine whether the event has the capability to grow and expand over coming years.”

Glasgow Cultural Enterprises (GCE), who manage and operate the festival, has welcomed the announcement. Director of GCE Louise Mitchell said: "Celtic Connections is a well established event. However in order to sustain our reputation, innovation and refreshment is desirable. This grant from EventScotland allows us to measure the value of the festival to Scotland and develop a framework for growing audiences for the future."

Objectives for the work include providing visitor profiles of attendees to the festival, quantifying visitor spend, understanding visitor perceptions of Scotland as a destination and evaluating the impact of current marketing strategies and tactics.

The research will be undertaken by Glasgow’s Audience Development Agency, Glasgow Grows Audiences, throughout and after this year’s event. Initial results from the study are due to be published in spring.

Celtic Connections takes place in 12 venues all over Glasgow. The focal point of the festival is The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, where performances take place in every available space, from workshops in the foyers to performances by world-class artists in the Main Auditorium. The City Halls and Old Fruitmarket, ABC, The Tron, The Piping Centre and Glasgow’s newest live venue The Classic Grand will all play host to Celtic Connections events this year over a period of nineteen days in January and February.

During Celtic Connections 2006 over 1500 artists performed at over 300 events in 8 venues throughout the city. Over 100 000 attendances were recorded for concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops.

Celtic Connections announced a three-year principal sponsorship partnership with ScottishPower in October, which sees the international energy company sponsor the festival to the tune of £210, 000 over the next three years.

More information at: www.celticconnections.com.