2024-25 was a truly special year, filled with memorable moments and meaningful celebrations.
At its heart was the 50th anniversary of The Met, a milestone that offered a wonderful opportunity to look back on how the organisation has grown and evolved over the years. It also gave us a chance to reflect on the important role it continues to play at the heart of Bury’s cultural life, bringing people together through music, art, theatre and stories and enriching the community in so many ways.
Our golden anniversary encouraged us not only to celebrate our rich history but also to look forward with ambition and confidence. Throughout the year, we have celebrated both our own story and the creativity of the people and communities of Bury and Greater Manchester.
We have seen growth, with bookers showing the biggest increase at over 25%. A contributing factor to this being strong pantomime sales, which achieved a gross income of £100k and audiences over 6000. We deepened our commitment to grassroots music by expanding our support for northern artists. Our programme gives emerging songwriters and touring musicians, the space, expertise knowledge and audience connections they need to thrive.
We made meaningful progress on environmental responsibility through our involvement in Julie’s Bicycle’s Capital Readiness Programme, helping us move steadily toward our ambition of becoming a carbon neutral organisation.
Alongside these successes, we have continued to navigate the same financial pressures felt across the arts sector, with rising costs affecting every part of our work. Even in this climate, we remain firmly committed to ensuring that every experience at The Met, on stage, in our building, or through our community programmes, is delivered with care, quality and creativity. This commitment is only possible thanks to the ongoing support of our funders, partners and audiences, whose belief in our work helps us keep culture thriving in Bury.
We are especially grateful for the continued backing of Arts Council England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Bury Council. Their support enables us to deliver an ambitious programme that inspires audiences, supports artists and strengthens our place within the region’s cultural landscape.
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our corporate supporters, members, donors, volunteers and everyone who buys a ticket. Your contribution, in every form, helps us continue offering high-quality cultural experiences and ensures The Met remains a vibrant and valued part of Bury’s creative community.
You can read more about this year in the full 2024/25 Annual Report document, which you can download by clicking the image below.
