Almost 75,000 people visited the Treasure House in Beverley during the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has announced that the final total of visitors to the Treasure House in Beverley during the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition was a remarkable 74,425. On the last day alone (Saturday 22 April), a total of 1500 people visited the building.

The exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, was one of the key East Riding events in Hull UK City of Culture 2017, in which East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a Principal Partner.

‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ featured 100 awe-inspiring images, from fascinating animal behaviour to breathtaking wild landscapes. It is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, and has provided a global platform showcasing the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for over 50 years.

Martin Green, Director of Hull 2017, said : “My challenge to people at the beginning of the year was to embrace everything that this year has to offer and these excellent visitor numbers show that people are really throwing themselves into what is going on. This exhibition was outstanding. As a Principal Partner, East Riding of Yorkshire Council is putting on some brilliant events, giving another reason to come to the region.”

Kevin Hadfield, libraries, archives and museums manager at the council, added: “These visitor figures are stunning, and show just how popular this exhibition has been. One of the most pleasing aspects of the success of this exhibition has been the numbers of people visiting the Treasure House in Beverley for the first time, and so experiencing the Art Gallery and other facilities like the library, where we had numerous animal sculptures on display.

“There is no doubt that the exhibition brought people to Beverley, to experience the delights of the town as well as the exhibition. The success of the events programme that accompanied the exhibition – together with the hugely successful special Sunday openings at the Treasure House – are testament to the value of the council’s partnership in Hull 2017.

“We now turn our attention to the full programme of events at the Treasure House for the rest of the year, ranging from a life drawing course to author speed dating, and from our summer exhibition on the British holiday camp through to ‘The Children of the Poor – the Drawings of Edith Farmiloe’, and a private collection of British neo-romantic art, both of which have just opened.”

Quotes in the Visitor Book about Wildlife Photographer of the Year included:

‘Fantastic exhibition – well worth a visit’
‘What a brilliant exhibition!’
‘Inspirational’
‘Wonderful display in a great setting.’