Creative Tourist is ’s multi-award Manchester Museums Consortium (MMC), nine winning online arts magazine. It publishes museums and galleries that have a shared features, interviews, news and vodcasts with vision: to stage intelligent, thought-provoking the UK’s best-known writers and artists. It and outward looking events; and to celebrate promotes new writing and photographic talent the city in which they live and . The site is through its regular showcases, competitions supported by the Northwest Regional and top 25 lists. Three times a year, it Development Agency and Renaissance North publishes its insider guides to Manchester – West, and is supported by Visit Manchester. It uncovering the galleries, museums, shops, is designed to raise the profile of Manchester bars, events and nights out that appeal to the and to drive cultural tourism. sorts of well-read, regional, national and international cultural consumers who are as Who reads Creative Tourist? passionate about Manchester as we are. Although we have a loyal local following, 80% of our readers are from outside the Northwest, ‘Don’t get us wrong, is a great with many from outside the UK. So although the magazine is about Manchester, it isn’t a city, but read creativetourist.com to see local or parochial publication: it speaks to an why you should look to the North – international reader and reflects on national and international arts news. Manchester’ @hostel, London

‘Checking out Manchester UK’s Who publishes Creative Tourist? exemplary local culture guide – if only

Although the site operates as an independent more cities did it this well’ @ArtWorldMag magazine, Creative Tourist is published by

How has Creative Tourist been put Does Creative Tourist work? together? The site averages 20,000 unique users per Creative Tourist is published on Wordpress, month, with high dwell times and low bounce which has enabled us to focus on what matters rates. 80% of our readers are from outside the most: creating unique, fresh and high quality Northwest – exactly the audience we hoped to content – the kind that we think reflects the art reach. and . We have won two digital industry awards. Why is Creative Tourist so museums and gallery focused? Surveys of users and those not using the site show that 40% say it changed their perceptions The project began life solely to promote the of Manchester. 11% say they planned to visit visual arts and museums collections of as a direct result. Mancheste. But as the site became more successful, and as demand for other coverage Creative Tourist has been covered in The increased, we have expanded our editorial Guardian and The Telegraph. We were on the reach. We now feature any cultural or creative front page of the Lonely Planet website. endeavour so long as it fits the site’s ethos. Lastminute.com listed Creative Tourist as among the top 50 blogs they rate.

‘Manchester is home to a wide array of Bloggers frequently write about how we have changed their minds about Manchester – brilliant historical sights, impressive exhorting their readers to visit. museums, a vibrant cultural scene and We have over 2,000 followers on Twitter, many a pumping nightlife – the city’s energy of which are extremely influential. Tate, for example, has over 60,000 followers yet only is absolutely infectious. I recommend follows around 650 people – we are one of spending at least three full days to see them. the sights and to get a feel of the city.’ Velvet Escape travel blog/Lonely Planet ‘But a family weekend break in

Manchester? Why? Would be my first How is Creative Tourist promoted? response. All they have is a big

The site is promoted via SEO, pay-per-click, shopping centre and a famous football PR and media relations, social media, print advertising, email and banner ads. team. Well, it just shows how little I know. Manchester was a revelation.’

‘Who’s the Mummy?’, Top 100 UK parenting blogs