PAPER C
Committee: EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE
Date: 9 SEPTEMBER 2002
Title: REVIEW OF DINOSAUR ISLE 2001-2002
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
Results are provided of the first full 12 month’s operation of Dinosaur Isle, Sandown, set against the objectives and forecasts in the Business Plan. Members are invited to consider the first year’s performance of this new Council run attraction.
BACKGROUND
Dinosaur Isle is an Island 2000 project, which cost £2.7m, funded by the Isle of Wight Council and the Millenium Commission.
Designed to combine the best features of both a visitor attraction and a museum, Dinosaur Isle opened on August 10th 2001on Culver Parade, Sandown, immediately adjacent to Brown’s Golf Course. The building was designed by Rainey Petrie Johns Ltd of Newport, and the exhibition fit-out was designed by Haley Sharpe Associates of Leicester.
Dinosaur Isle is one of the few major indoor attractions on the island open all year, and nationally, is Britain’s first purpose built dinosaur museum. Land to the west and north of the site (including 4/5ths of the Boating Lake) was sold to a developer to help finance the project. The Museum of Island Geology located within Sandown Library transferred its collections and closed upon the opening of Dinosaur Isle.
The issues
The primary issue and purpose of this report is to consider the results of the first year of operation of this facility, that is between August 10 2001- August 9 2002, against projections in the Business Plan, and consider whether the facility is performing to expectations.
For Today
To help answer Members questions about the past 12 month’s operation and future developments, the Museums Officer, General Manager, Geology Curator and a volunteer have been invited to attend.
For information
1. Dinosaur Isle was awarded full Registered Museum status by Resource in 2002.
2. The facility serviced 213 visiting school groups in its first year, and organised 26 specialist seminars/lectures.
3. In-house publications have included a new leaflet, a new Guidebook and a new Education Resource Pack.
4. The facility’s first temporary exhibition was mounted in the Education Room this summer, on the subject of Extinction.
J METCALFE
Head of Community Development and Tourism
DINOSAUR ISLE - SUMMARY FINANCIAL PLAN & ACTUAL FULL YEAR TRADING
April 2001 - March 2004
|
2001/02 (8 months) |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
Actual 2001/02 (8 months) |
Actual 10.8.01 to 9.8.02 |
NOTES |
ADMISSIONS |
64,000 |
110,000 |
100,000 |
73,524 |
112,696 |
|
INCOME (£) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Admissions |
177,000 |
304,000 |
277,000 |
211,950 |
337,450 |
|
Retail (assumes £1.40/head) |
90,000 |
154,000 |
140,000 |
118,400 |
220,450 |
= £1.96 per head for year |
TOTAL INCOME |
267,000 |
458,000 |
417,000 |
330,350 |
562,900* |
*£5,000 car park income added |
EXPENDITURE (£) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Souvenir costs |
45,000 |
77,000 |
70,000 |
74,900 |
123,800 |
|
Staff costs |
149,000 |
166,000 |
166,000 |
152,680 |
216,500 |
Extra for security & education |
Repairs & maintenance |
13,000 |
23,000 |
21,000 |
12,500 |
22,400 |
|
Rates & Insurance |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
29,520 |
28,200 |
Rates appeal in progress |
Utilities |
19,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
19,200 |
22,640 |
|
Cleaning/Security |
19,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
17,920 |
29,400 |
|
Office/Admin |
8,000 |
14,000 |
12,000 |
14,210 |
17,200 |
|
Marketing |
31,000 |
36,000 |
33,000 |
52,300* |
58,800 |
*Extra costs for opening |
Miscellaneous |
5,000 |
9,000 |
8,000 |
12,620 |
11,500 |
|
TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
314,000 |
400,000 |
385,000 |
385,850 |
530,440 |
|
TRADING PROFIT (Loss) |
(47,000) |
58,000 |
32,000 |
(55,500) |
32,460 |
|
DINOSAUR ISLE, SANDOWN
FACT SHEET 2001-2002
Building: Architects: Rainey Petrie Johns Ltd, Newport, Isle of Wight
Building contractor: Leonard Field Group plc, Southampton
Structural engineers: Gifford & Partners, Southampton
Exhibition: Designed by Haley Sharpe Associates, Leicester
Car parking: 300 spaces, including 5 disabled, and 2 motorcycle bays, in joint usage with Brown’s. Pay & Display fee redeemable at Dinosaur Isle and Brown’s.
Opening: Open daily (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and maintenance period in January). Times: 10.00am - 6.00pm April - October
10.00am - 4.00pm November- March
Admission charges: Adult £4.60 Group adult £4.00
Child (3-15) £2.60 Group child £2.20
Concession £3.50 Group concession £3.00
Family (2+2) £12.00
Staff: 1 FT General manager 1 PT Administrative Officer
1 FT Geology Curator 1 PT Education Assistant
1 FT Assistant Curator 3 PT Retail Assistants (annual)
1 FT Education Officer 2 PT Retail Assistants (seasonal)
1 FT Shop Supervisor
1 FT Senior Retail Assistant
Visitors by month: August 2001 35,159
September 10,991
October 10,638
November 3,277
December 3,547
January 2002 1,035
February 3,460
March 5,417
April 6,339
May 7,692
June 11,471
July 13,670
School visits: 213 school parties = 8,048 children
Dinosaur Isle, Culver Parade, Sandown PO36 8QA - (01983)404344 - Fax (01983)407502