Concert Hall is a key part of Perth’s bright future

Feb 12 2010

Dear Editor, – Mr Valentine's letter (PA, Friday February 5) suggested that Perth Concert Hall does not host conferences and is in competition with Perth Theatre.

I work for both Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre as marketing director of the two venues and can confirm that the venues are perfectly complimentary and that Perth Concert Hall is one of the most successful concert and conference venues in Scotland, winning Scotland’s top award for Business Tourism in only its

third year of operation.

The creation of Perth Concert Hall has attracted far more major conferences to the town than ever before, bringing many thousands more business visitors with them. Independent economic assessments indicate that the hall has added over £20 million to the local economy since its opening and the Concert Hall’s conference business brought over 20,000 delegates to Perth in the last year alone.

Indeed it is in part this success in attracting major conferences which helps Horsecross Arts to pay for the exceptional programme of theatre and concerts which fill both Perth venues year round.

In this 800th anniversary year I am sure we would all join Robin Valentine in celebrating Perth’s past, but in view of the huge success of the Hall and the support it has brought to the theatre and the town as I whole, I hope we can all also celebrate culture and conferences of the Concert Hall as a key part of Perth’s bright future.

Ben Jeffries,

Director of Marketing and Communications,

Perth Theatre and Perth Concert Hall.