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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity registration number 1069622

Company registration number 03439777 (England and Wales)

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees M G Noonan
T Clarke (Resigned 20 February 2023)
P A Gifford
T Irwin
I Metcalfe
M L Oliver
S K L St George
R P Hedley
R Gotobed
Charity number 1069622
Company number 03439777
Registered office Little Keep
Bridport Road
Dorchester
Dorset
UK
DT1 1SQ
Independent examiner Rowlands Webster Limited
Austin House
43 Poole Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
England
BH4 9DN

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 10
Independent examiner's report 13
Statement of financial activities 11 - 12
Balance sheet 14
Notes to the financial statements 15 - 22

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".

Objectives and activities

This year Arts Council extended our core funding, delaying the open call for their revenue funding for the National Portfolio. We extended our 2018-2022 Business Plan and reviewed the aims and objectives for the next three years.

The next two pages summarise our vision, aims and objectives for the year, followed by our report on the activity.

Activate Performing Arts, Sparking Possibility

Live performance has the power to fire the imagination, uplift and connect us. It creates moments that touch hearts and minds like nothing else. It makes memories that last lifetimes.

We exist to promote, support and produce performing arts projects in our communities. Bringing world-class events to unexpected places, like town centres, village squares, beaches and hilltops.

Our aim is to break down barriers and reach the widest possible audiences, while celebrating our natural landscape and sense of place. Supporting our performing arts community is at the heart of everything we do. We bring people together, offer advice, and provide access to learning and resources.

For over 30 years, we’ve been promoting, supporting and producing some of the most extraordinary events in the UK.

In everything we do, we have just two rules. Anything’s possible. And everyone’s invited.

OUR VISION: extraordinary moments connect and uplift us all.

OUR MISSION: to create opportunities for everyone through the performing arts.

OUR PURPOSE:

Artistic talent : we enable outstanding artists in the performing arts to create inspiring work.

Togetherness : we strengthen communities through shared experiences that are remembered and talked about for decades.

Opportunity : we break down barriers that stop people getting involved in performing arts, be that rural isolation, ill health, social deprivation or other obstacles.

Place : we celebrate our natural landscape and sense of place.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

AIMS

  1. To make meaningful links between our ‘flagship’ project, Inside Out Dorset festival, and our socially engaged outreach programmes that run throughout the year including our artists’ development and venue support.

  2. To produce work with artists who reflect the diversity of our contemporary society and in line with our artistic vision.

  3. To produce work with our international partners in developing artistic practice, particularly outdoor and landbased arts.

  4. To develop audiences as participants/‘active spectators’ to reach a socially diverse audience.

  5. To inspire all in our community to take part in performing arts: to be inclusive in our audience development and deliver on social justice. To facilitate a lifelong connection with the arts and experience the impact that can bring by the input they give as well as their presence there.

  6. To support those wanting to pursue a career in the arts and offer progression routes into the industry.

  7. To demonstrate that artists can both affect and provide positive change in our communities and that they positively contribute toward our social justice vision.

  8. To work in partnership locally, nationally, and internationally so that we can work on production, development and promotion of the arts in other sectors (such as education, health, environment, community development, voluntary, social enterprise, business and the wider creative industries).

  9. To create a contemporary organisation that values its people and the people it works with artists, collaborators, audience/participants, investors and all its stakeholders and to create the conditions for a sustainable model of practice to resource its work.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Promote and present a wide range of high quality international (where possible) performance and outdoor arts in Inside Out Dorset festival, as well as festivals and venues run by arts and tourism partners. We will bring high quality, higher risk small-scale (indoor) theatre and dance to Dorset venues. This will help create a distinctive sense of place: a county with the reputation as a strong cultural destination and build on the unique attributes of the geographic location. We will work within European partnerships including Oerol, Sura Medura and Green Carpet to achieve this and work with venues run by arts and tourism partners.

  2. We will produce and support the production of new high-quality innovative work, especially by artists based in the county and sub region, working with the Dorset Theatre Promoters Consortium (DTPC).

  3. We will support performance artists, producers and practitioners at all stages of their career to fulfil their potential, especially those working in dance, theatre and outdoor arts, from emerging, to mature artist. This includes the provision of information, advice, signposting, networking, publicity and advocacy services to the performance and outdoor arts sector as well as our partners and the general public.

  4. We will increase the range and depth of participation and engagement in theatre, dance, and outdoor arts, specifically working with diverse communities, young people and our elders/older people, which make up a growing population in the county. We will create a robust audience development plan and digital policy to support this, and our social justice aims.

  5. We will strengthen our organisation’s operational/business model and strategy for the delivery of our ambitions, utilising our partnership model of working, recognising our reliance on public subsidy, and exploring how we manage the cuts in public finance.

  6. 2 -

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2023

Our year in statistics. Note: this is a non-festival year.

14,000 estimated live audience attendances 7,743 attendances at workshops & 13 new productions supported Sessions 20,466 views on Vimeo 2,897 participants 13 films produced 11 artists’ commissions 1 exhibition in shop windows 11 artist residencies 507 workshops and artists’ advice 149 artists, producers and sessions · technicians employed 39 performances presented

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Green Space Dark Skies

In June 2022 we were the lead Producer in Dorset for Walk The Plank in producing 1 of the 20 national events as part of UNBOXED Creativity UK. The Dorset event took place at Maiden Castle in partnership with Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Natural England. We commissioned choreographer Subathra Subramanium, Director of Akademi to lead the choreography of the work, Dorset based rapper and producer Isaiah Dreads as musical director and Zakiya Mackenzie as the writer.

This landscape-based engagement and digital project brought communities together, inviting people and engaging diverse groups from across Dorset to register to become ‘Lumenators’. 523 people took part in a day of creative workshops, food and music at Maiden Castle where they learned the distinctive movement choreography that focussed on carrying low-impact geo-located lights specially designed by Siemens, sensitive to the night-time environment.

Participants came together through the creation of this artwork to spend time outdoors, walking in the landscape and performing the choreographed movement of the lights in large groups at dusk directed by 20 locally recruited dancers. They were communicated with via headsets with overall choreography and direction by Subathra Subramaniam whilst filmed on the ground and above by drone, giving both the team of local freelance production team and participants the unique experience of being involved in using a pioneering blend of live/digital technology.

At each special location across the UK, the unique artwork created was recorded and filmed by CC Lab, producing a series of 20 short films and 1 finale film. Events took place at 20 different locations across the UK in our National Parks and AONBs including the four highest peaks in the UK. The inspiration for this project was the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Kinder Scout mass trespass, when 500 people walked across Kinder Scout in the Peak District in protest at the laws that made crossing the land illegal. Today, the UK’s National Parks and AONBs are places that anyone can visit, any time, for free. Recognising that not everyone feels able to make use of these incredible spaces, Green Space Dark Skies invited people who feel excluded from our wild spaces to make a journey together, with the aim being to create powerful new connections with the UK’s countryside.

Following the event, Dorset AONB delivered their own project: From Dawn to Dusk – inviting Lumenators to return to the Dorset AONB. They reported back that the events they ran after the GSDS event were taken up by a far more diverse public than usual and they were delighted to be able to reach a new audience. We continued developing our relationships with the communities who participated, examples include building a link between Dorset Blind and theatre show Rose - audiences and new writing workshops, Allsort'd group attending our Summer School in July, involving the Weymouth Veterans Hub in engagement work in Teatro Vivo theatre show, and BPC Indian Community liaison via our Women Leaders South West programme. Through this work we are continuing to embed inclusivity and diversity in the arts.

The Aims this project fulfilled: 1-9 and 1-5 of the Objectives.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Peixos by Sarruga – Inside Out Dorset signature event

Following the success of Sense of Unity in Inside Out Dorset Festival 2021, We Are Weymouth (Weymouth BID – Business Improvement District) and Weymouth Town Council approached us to deliver another event. On the 23rd and 24th September we presented Peixos (‘fish’ in Catalan) by internationally renowned and highly respected Spanish company, Sarruga – carefully curated to celebrate Weymouth’s maritime and fishing heritage and coastal location: creating a memorable experience which helped enrich, interpret, and celebrate our coastal town of Weymouth. 5,000 people came out across the two nights, and it was a resounding success.

The processional performance showcased a variety of large, colourful animated puppets and mechanical bicyclepowered creations: giant fish, shark, seaweed and jellyfish surprised and delighted huge diverse crowds with music, smoke, lights and jets of air as it moved through Weymouth town centre and along the seafront. We worked with communities in Littlemoor and Chapelhay engaging 139 participants to create puppets inspired by Peixos that were displayed in shop windows in advance of the event, and we delivered a summer school using the theme of fish - described below under Remix. The event attracted extensive local and regional recognition through media coverage. The whole of Weymouth town felt represented, and the event brought communities together.

In our engagement work we targeted communities traditionally underserved in Weymouth with free creative activities for children receiving free school meals and for participants from All Sort’d who support for adults with learning disabilities to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing. 15 Local technicians, crew and performers were hired to perform in the procession, working with the company to learn the mechanics of the bicycle powered puppets and performing in the shows.

Inside Out Dorset development

In parallel to the delivery of these Inside Out Dorset signature events was a significant amount of work in planning and fundraising for the next edition of the festival in September 2023. This will be reported in full in the 23/24 Report. In summary, we developed partnerships and a fundraising plan to present a high-quality artistic programme in Bere Regis at Wild Woodbury with Dorset AONB and the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Moors Valley Country Park and Forest with Forestry England, Poole Town Centre with Poole BID and Lighthouse, Poole, Wimborne with Wimborne BID, and Weymouth with We Are Weymouth (BID) principally.

We hosted 2 residencies with European artists from our EU partnerships: De Chair Et D’Os and Collectief Walden and significant engagement work as part of Performing Dunescapes. Our partnership Arts University Bournemouth goes from strength to strength and our other partnerships such as LAND, Green Carpet and We Live Here have supported the programme development. Professional meetings, talks and further engagement was planned with Outdoor Arts UK, Oerol and Cultural Hub.

The Aims these projects fulfilled: 1-9 and 1-5 of the Objectives.

ENGAGEMENT AND YOUNG TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Performing Dunescapes

A legacy to Green Space Dark Skies, was a partnership with National Trust. We worked with National Trust team in Purbeck, Dorset as part of their national ‘Dynamic Dunescapes’ project which is focussed on important areas of dunes across the country: sites at risk of coastal erosion and the negative effects of climate change. 'Performing Dunescapes', set in the Dorset AONB, was focussed on raising awareness of the dunes with local young people. Participants were invited to be inspired by the sand dunes at Studland, learning about the dunes and how public behaviour can help to reduce effects of the climate emergency.

Two carefully selected artists were chosen to engage with young people through the performing arts: Isaiah Dreads, who makes inspiring lyrical music and Isaac Farmer, a street dance artist and choreographer, also based in the South West, who has won multiple titles at regional, national and international level. The project also provided inspiration and insight for the young people into the careers of these artists to learn about the creative industries

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

136 young people from Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation and Year 9 and Year 10 students from The Swanage School took part in music and dance workshops led by Isaiah and Isaac. They visited the sand dunes at Studland for inspiration with National Trust staff and developed their music, literacy and dance skills and empowering the young people in the community by building their confidence. They created raps and dance work interpreting and inspired by their coastal landscape to create memorable experiences.

Remix

Remix Year-round we continued to engage 49 young people aged 5-25 with disabilities and without in The Remix through a programme of 21 creative workshops, funded by Dorset Council Short Breaks, Children in Need and the Dorset Community & Culture Fund and the Holiday Activity & Food Programme (HAF). Remix provides a break for families in caring for children who are disabled, improving the whole family’s wellbeing through cultural activity. This year we extended the age range and began a new offer in the East of the county Premix East – lowering the minimum age to 5.

Our pilot of Remix Originals – a group for the older cohort of Remix participants aged 18 to 25 was successful and we continue to fundraise and deliver this.

A highlight this year was the 4 day Summer School for Remix, Dorset Youth Dance and All Sort’d in partnership with the HAF scheme for children receiving free school meals and some additional free workshops at Holy Trinity School, Redlands Sports Centre and Weymouth Library which took place in July. B-Sharp, Holly Miller and Aimee Hobbs worked with Remix and community participants in their Summer Workshops – creating puppets inspired by fish, linking with our signature event: Peixos by Sarruga in September. 51 young people took part across 3 days at Weymouth College.

Participants in Remix learn new skills and feel included in their community through the activities and support provided by the experienced artistic and care staff, reducing their isolation and empowering the children and young. Children who are disabled and children without disabilities play and learn new creative skills together, breaking down barriers and embedding inclusivity. ‘Just go for it, it’s ok to be different.’ – Remix participant

Dorset Youth Dance (DYD)

In 2022-23 we engaged 23 children and young people aged 7-25 in 90 sessions of weekly and special school holiday workshops through our Junior, Senior and Company groups. They had workshops with Jazz Grit, Sonia Sabri, Isaac Farmer, Subathra Subramaniam and choreographed a piece for Street In the Park in May 2022. The creative talent of the children and young people in DYD is nurtured year-round providing them with career pathways and new ways to curate their own culture. A Day of Dance' activity, delivered in Feb 2023 offered workshops to DYD and local young people in a diverse range of styles, including African, Street and Musical Theatre. ‘When I’m feeling low dancing gives me a lift.’ – DYD participant

Street in the Park

In partnership with Weymouth College and Dorchester Town Council we delivered the 4[th] edition of Street in the Park in May 2022.Dance artists Chris Donnely and Yazmin Harcourt led workshops with Remix, Weymouth Dance Studio, Stagecoach and DYD to create a finale dance for the event in Dorchester. The presentation was scaled down due to funding, but it remained an inclusive platform with a DJ competition that was judged by Isaiah Dreads with one DJ chosen to perform at Green Space Dark Skies in June.

It was well received with an audience of 700+ over the course of the event with 38 young people participating. The event created employment opportunities for the artists and platform opportunities for the early career DJs to thrive in Dorset and build their career. The event was also live streamed and viewed by 134 people online.

A Little More Street in the Park

Utilising a donation from an anonymous donor to support creativity in young people, we were invited to apply for funds from Abri Housing Association to engage their residents in Weymouth and Yeovil. A Little More Street in the Park project in February (and later April 2023) worked with young people in Littlemoor to explore Hip Hop song writing and dance delivered by Isaiah Dreads and Isaac Farmer, following the success of ‘Performing Dunescapes’ with National Trust – connecting it to our Street in the Park project (above).

By collaborating with Abri Housing Association in communities like Littlemoor we are able to build long term relationships with participants from low socio-economic backgrounds. A short documentary film was created about the project: https://vimeo.com/activateperformingarts

The Aims these engagement projects fulfilled: 1-9 and Objective 1-5.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Grace The Space

We supported a project developed by our Women Leaders South West associates including Dorset based artist Natasha Nixon that helps marginalised women to access the outdoors through a series of creative walks. By providing transport and a guide with gentle creative activities a final walk is taking place this autumn before this chapter of the project ends and the artists review the next steps in engaging women under-served in the arts and natural landscape.

Sector support for Dorset Creatives – commissioning and talent development

Our wealth of experience, gained over more than 30 years, makes us a great sounding board and source of information on all aspects of creating live performance – relevant to the industry. As well as chairing the Dorset Theatre Promoters Consortium, bringing local venues together to work strategically to bring new risk-taking work to Dorset, we provide bursaries, 121s (including the One Stop Shop with Arts Development Company), signposting and broker introductions for creative freelancers in Dorset. In 22-23 we provided 178 advice and support sessions to 206 to creative students, early, mid and established career practitioners in Dorset, enabling them to develop projects, secure funding and work opportunities and build their networks so that they can thrive in the county.

Kate Wood our Executive & Artistic Director is on the steering group for What Next Dorset: a sector support initiative bringing cultural practitioners together meeting fortnightly. Across the year our staff ran a number of sessions including conversations about fair pay rates, freelancer support and culture’s response to the climate emergency. We are members of Outdoor Arts UK and we chair a festivals consortium with b-side and Bournemouth Arts by the Sea to work strategically to create opportunities for artists and practitioners in the county. We funded work with the Dorset Artists Festival run by Lighthouse in May 2022, supporting artists from across the county to network.

We have provided seed and co-commission funding to Dorset artists Lorna Rees, Angel Exit (via Lighthouse) for their SALT community play, Natasha Nixon, Remix and Grace the Space artists, Working Boys Club, Michelle O’Brien, 20 dancers at Green Space Dark Skies and Jorge Oliver a local up and coming DJ.

We created a new 6-month Trainee Producer role to address areas of under-representation in our team and a supported entry level role and trainee position in the county. We simplified our application process, creating an application form and alternative format now and trialling a new model of anonymising the short-listing to improve accessibility, remove unconscious bias and attract more diverse candidates. We had an equalities specialist advising us, Ruth Pitter who was our Women Leaders South West associate and our Inclusivity champion on the Board Rowan Prescott-Hedley.

We undertook evaluation of the Women Leaders South West: we were a partner with 7 other female-led arts organisations from 2020-2022. A film celebrating the success and impact of the project where 16 associates across the South West were supported in a pioneering traineeship initiative was created available to watch here: https:// vimeo.com/685867446 We ran a bespoke development programme to address further training needs identified by the associates from November – January 2022 and the training was accessed in person and online by 10 of the 16 associates from across the South West at various career stages in the arts and culture.

We provided platforms for young creatives to perform through the Remix and DYD nurturing talent for a diverse range of children and young people. We created the Christmas Showcase in December 2022, where groups Weymouth Curtain Raisers, Weymouth Dance Studio and Weymouth College performed alongside our Remix groups and DYD as well as Isaiah Dreads. In March both Remix and DYD groups performed at Origins Youth Dance Showcase at Pavilion Dance South West.

The Aims these projects fulfilled: 1,6,7,8 and Objective 3

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Touring

We continue to produce local company Working Boys Club in the development and touring of their work Serving Sounds – we developed a creative residency period for them in partnership with Theatre Orchard, Bournemouth Arts by the Sea and Out There/Freshly Grated in Great Yarmouth and they presented in all 3 locations. They were successfully taken up as a touring company by the Without Walls consortium and will tour extensively in 23-24 across the UK. We also toured Geophonic by Dorset artist Lorna Rees which was presented at Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, Pavilion Dance South West Dance Weekend and Hastings Storytelling Festival. As both companies’ Producer, we ensure they secure a great repertoire of touring and raise their profile across the UK, putting the county on the map as a hub of high-quality outdoor arts.

The Aims this project fulfilled: 1,2,4-9 and 1-5 of the Objectives.

National Strategy Adoption of the Art in the Landscape – Connecting People to Nature strategy

Kate Wood our Executive & Artistic Director continued working with Landscapes for Life – the National Association of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to implement their arts strategy which she wrote with Bill Gee and the National Association secured an MOU with Arts Council England, fulfilling 2 of the 9 recommendations in the strategy report. Work began on a nationally significant commissioning project, Nature Calls, working towards submitting an Expression of Interest submitted in 23/24. This work both raises our profile as a leading organisation in landscape-based arts and the profile of Dorset and Dorset AONB.

The Aims this project fulfilled: 1,7,8 and Objective 3.

Internationalism

We sustained our 2 European partnerships (Green Carpet and LAND).

Working LANDscapes, the final year of the 2-year knowledge exchange project for land stewards, artists, producers and scientists in all five partner locations: UK, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and France, with a focus this year on the 2 larger training opportunities in Slovakia and Norward. We secured Erasmus+ funding. Artists Lorna Rees and Subathra Subramanium joined us for the trips to Norway and Slovakia separately and the manager of Dorset AONB joined us for both, alongside artists, scientists, and artists partners from all four other partners. We shared learning about land rites, the climate emergency, and the potential for collaborations and planned the next project: Transitioning Landscapes

LAND 2.0 – the 1.5-million-euro Creative Europe project with Oerol, and our partners in France, Norway, Slovakia, Eire and Portugal was unsuccessful, so we reviewed and resubmitted a smaller project: Transitioning Landscapes. If successful we will be significant sub-contractors rather than partners to support artists, land stewards and scientists in a period of ‘matchmaking’, artistic interventions/residencies, presentations, focussing on training.

Green Carpet – we selected our third company to be commissioned for the four partners across Belgium, France, and the UK. We received 70 applications and short-listed 6 companies, selecting De Chair et D’Os as the company that we will work with in residency. They will present their new work, 5 Seasons, for Inside Out Dorset 2023 and tour to Le Citron Jaune and Cirque Jules Verne in France and Chassepierre festival in Belgium in the same year.

The Aims these projects fulfilled: 1,3-5,8 and 1-5 of the Objectives.

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ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Financial review

Activating Performing Arts is core funded by Arts Council England as one of its National Portfolio Organisations, along with Dorset Council, and BCP Council . To support its programme of work additional funding and income was raised from different service units within the local authorities: Dorset Council, BCP Council, Short Breaks in Dorset, as well as the Cultural Hub, BBC Children in Need, Arts Council England Lottery Funds via The Point Eastleigh, Abri Housing Association, Holiday Activity and Food Govt Funding, Dorchester Town Council, Weymouth College, Forestry England, Weymouth BID/We Are Weymouth, Weymouth Town Council, Dorset AONB, Erasmus+ (via Oerol Festival, Holland), Wave/Soundstorm, Walk the Plank Unboxed funding, National Trust.

The balance of income is derived through ticket sales, trader income participants’ fees and donations.

Reserves policy

Reserves are held in three funds – ‘restricted funds’, ‘unrestricted funds’ and ‘designated funds within the unrestricted funds’. Restricted funds represent money that is earmarked by the donor. The Directors can only use these funds for the specific purpose for which they were given. Unrestricted funds are funds that the Directors may use for any purpose within the objects of Activate. The Directors have earmarked certain funds for future use:

  1. The smooth operation of the company is dependent upon its staff and any form of long-term illness would involve the company in additional costs for temporary staff. Operational Reserves Funds have been set aside to employ temporary staff for 6 months.

  2. Core funding is agreed on a year-by-year basis. Should any core funders not provide the funds in any one year, the future of Activate would be in doubt. The company would need to conclude its activities in an orderly manner and eventually make its staff redundant. Funds have been set aside in case this unfortunate circumstance should arise.

  3. Committed project. At 31 March 23, restricted funds totalled £44,620. Unrestricted income funds totalled £64,118. The Directors designated Operational Reserves of £209,928 in accordance with the Reserves Policy above. See note 13 for additional detail.

  4. We continue to hold sufficient Reserves for the organisation.

Structure, governance and management

Activate Performing Arts is a company limited by guarantee, formerly known as Dorset Dance Forum, which became a registered charity on 8 March 1994 and incorporated on 25th September 1997 governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The organisation became Activate Performing Arts on 22nd November 2004, by special resolution, when the change to add drama to the principal activity was resolved. The organisation was formed in 1991 as an unincorporated association.

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

M G Noonan T Clarke (Resigned 20 February 2023) P A Gifford T Irwin I Metcalfe M L Oliver S K L St George R P Hedley R Gotobed

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Mr Tom Clarke stepped down at the AGM Ms Lauren Rosegreen was an observer on the board. In accordance with the Articles of Association, Polly Gifford and Tamsin Irwin will retire at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

We have a diverse representation of gender, age, sexuality, race, socio-economic background and disability on the board.

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

Our policies

Diversity and Equality Policy, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable People Policy, Environmental Policy, Reserves Policy, Health and Safety Policy and Risk Management (including COVID Guidance Policy), Special Needs Policy, Procurement Policy, Financial Control Policy, Training and Development Policy, Grievance and Disciplinary Policies and Privacy Policy. We introduced two new policies in the year: Conflict of Interest Policy and Whistleblowing Policy. We are also guided by the Five Guiding Principles for working with Freelancers in the arts.

Organisation

The Board of Directors, who are also the Charity Trustees, establish policies that are then implemented by the Executive (and Artistic) Director who is responsible for the employment of staff to carry out the objectives of the company. The directors, who are listed below, present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023. When new Trustees are required, both an open call is undertaken or persons who are able to offer particular expertise are invited to serve on the Board. All Trustees are inducted and provided with full information on the organisation’s current and past programme and policies. Under the Executive Director’s supervision, staff members and freelancers are employed or engaged on short term contracts to deliver the programme of work. For the year ended 31 March 2023 Activate employed 12 permanent members of staff (7.5 FT equivalent, based on contracts over 52 weeks) and 149 artists, producers, technicians, and administrators on short contracts and were supported by 35 volunteers. Lucy Rouse continued in a freelance capacity to cover Verity Shallaker’s Maternity Leave until July 2022. Jen Walke-Myles took maternity from November for 6 months with Sarah Colwell and Caroline Suri covering the finance and supporting fund-raising until June 2023. We recruited a Trainee Producer for a fixed term 6 month contract as part of our commitment to progression and talent development.

Risk management

The Trustees have a risk management strategy that is monitored quarterly and reviewed annually by the Finance Subgroup. Risk management in this financial year continued to be a focus due to the pandemic. These groups have been reviewed and two permanent subgroups have been in operation focussing on Finances and Income Generation/Fundraising with new ‘champions’ being created focussing on: environmental responsibility/climate emergency, innovation, and diversity, with a task and finish HR subgroup when required. There is also one associated group focussing on the Inside Out Dorset festival. A Governance sub-group was set up to review the organisations’ Memorandum & Articles of Association and found them still to be fit for our purpose. Systems and procedures are established and discussed at Board Meetings, to mitigate any identified risks, which the Executive Director implements and oversees with the staff team.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Team

With female leadership, we are recognised as a diverse led organisation. The core team for the year was:

Kate Wood – Executive and Artistic Director (F/T)

Jen Walke-Myles – Executive Producer (P/T) (maternity leave for 6 months) Irene Archibald – Senior Administrator (F/T) Caroline Suri – Producer Specialising in Theatre, and Engagement (P/T) Michaela Shaw – Producer Specialising in Youth Dance and Diversity (P/T) Verity Shallaker – Marketing & Communications Manager (P/T) Dom Kippin - Producer for Inside Out Dorset and Outdoor Arts (F/T) Samantha Gillingham – Project lead on Dorset Youth Dance and Assistant Producer, Inside Out Dorset Archie Rowell – Trainee Producer (6 months P/T)

With essential project support from the following freelance contractors who worked with us over a longer period: Bill Gee – Inside Out Dorset Co-Artistic Director, Sense of Unity and consultancy Mat Ort – Head of Health & Safety/Production Manager, Inside Out Dorset Jude Allen – The Remix Project Manger Aimee Hobbs – The Remix East Artistic Director Claire Benson – Dorset Youth Dance Artistic/Rehearsal Director Sarah Colwell – Book-keeping

Away day business strategy and vision meetings have been in operation.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

.............................. M G Noonan Trustee

Date: .............................................

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Current financial year
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
306,580
69,418
Charitable activities
2
16,411
158,046
Total income
322,991
227,464
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
59,876
-
Charitable activities
4
243,708
242,548
Total expenditure
303,584
242,548
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers
19,407
(15,084)
Gross transfers between funds
15,828
(15,828)
Net income/(expenditure) for the year/
Net movement in funds
35,235
(30,912)
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
238,811
75,532
Fund balances at 31 March 2023
274,046
44,620		 Total
2023
£
375,998
174,457
550,455
59,876
486,256
546,132
4,323
-
4,323
314,343
318,666		 Total
2022
£
455,553
162,873
618,426
54,592
658,752
713,344
(94,918)
-
(94,918)
409,261
314,343

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Prior financial year

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2022
2022
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
319,548
136,005
Charitable activities
2
11,519
151,354
Total income
331,067
287,359
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
54,592
-
Charitable activities
4
224,902
433,850
Total expenditure
279,494
433,850
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers
51,573
(146,491)
Gross transfers between funds
(93,161)
93,161
Net income/(expenditure) for the year/
Net movement in funds
(41,588)
(53,330)
Fund balances at 1 April 2021
280,399
128,862
Fund balances at 31 March 2022
238,811
75,532		 Total
2022
£
455,553
162,873
618,426
54,592
658,752
713,344
(94,918)
-
(94,918)
409,261
314,343

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Activate Performing Arts (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of Association of Accounting Technicians, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Rowlands Webster Limited

Austin House 43 Poole Road Bournemouth Dorset BH4 9DN England

Dated: .........................

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
11
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Income funds
Restricted funds
12
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
13
General unrestricted funds		 2023
£
92,459
244,454
336,913
(18,394)
209,928
64,118		 £
147
318,519
318,666
44,620
274,046
318,666		 2022
£
79,956
263,840
343,796
(29,792)
225,338
13,473		 £
339
314,004
314,343
75,532
238,811
314,343

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .........................

..............................

M G Noonan Trustee

Company registration number 03439777

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Activate Performing Arts is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Little Keep, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1SQ, UK.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charities governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

1.5 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred and is accounted for net of VAT. Contractual arrangements and performance related grants are recognised as goods and services are supplied.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Computers 25% on cost

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.9 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2 Charitable activities

Charitable Charitable
Income Income
2023 2022
£ £
Sales within charitable activities 169,214 155,953
Other income 5,243 6,920
174,457 162,873
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 16,411 11,519
Restricted funds 158,046 151,354
174,457 162,873

3 Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
£
£
Donations and gifts
192
1,127
Grants
306,388
68,291
306,580
69,418		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
2022
£
£
£
1,319
5,595
5,461
374,679
313,953
130,544
375,998
319,548
136,005		 Total
2022
£
11,056
444,497
455,553

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

4 Charitable activities

Charitable
Charitable
Expenditure
Expenditure
2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation and impairment 192 -
Charitable expenditure 486,064 658,752
486,256 658,752
486,256 658,752
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds 243,708 224,902
Restricted funds 242,548 433,850
486,256 658,752

5 Raising funds

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2023 2022
£ £
Support costs 59,876 54,592
59,876 54,592

6 Trustees

None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

7 Employees

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2023 2022
Number Number
10 10

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

8 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

9 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
Depreciation charged in the year
At 31 March 2023
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
Other debtors
Total debtors		 Computers
£
13,266
13,266
12,927
192
13,119
147
339
2023
2022
£
£
14,801
79,956
3,658
-
18,459
79,956
2023
2022
£
£
74,000
-
92,459
79,956		 Computers
£
13,266
13,266
12,927
192
13,119
147
339
2023
2022
£
£
14,801
79,956
3,658
-
18,459
79,956
2023
2022
£
£
74,000
-
92,459
79,956
13,266
12,927
192
13,119
147
339
2022
£
79,956
-
79,956
2022
£
-
79,956

10 Debtors

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2023
£
3,380
9,189
5,825
18,394		 2022
£
16,957
(890)
13,725
29,792

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

12 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Balance at
1 April 2021
r
£
CH Remix
26,774
IO
7,250
GreenSpace DarkSkies
62,650
Working Boys Club
-
Quest
30,688
Land
1,500
Youth Dance
-
Progression Routes
-
CPD
-
HAF projects
-
NAAONB
-
Geophonic
-
128,862		 Movement in funds
Incoming
esources
Resources
expended
£
£
54,715
(49,593)
3,080
(7,079)
133,905
(284,707)
-
-
18,025
(44,957)
-
(1,100)
-
-
33,051
(29,697)
3,841
(3,611)
35,000
(7,796)
1,242
(311)
4,500
(5,000)
287,358
(433,850)		 Transfers
Balance at
1 April 2022
r
£
£
(5,000)
26,896
(3,251)
16,000
104,151
27,204
-
4,500
(3,756)
932
(400)
-
-
-
(3,354)
-
(230)
-
-
-
-
-
5,000
-
93,160
75,532		 Movement in funds
Incoming
esources
Resources
expended
£
£
63,026
(54,188)
50,650
(72,934)
43,190
(56,112)
11,432
(14,118)
-
-
12,172
(10,494)
7,336
(6,266)
5,299
(8,339)
11,452
(1,532)
2,360
(701)
4,800
(2,217)
15,748
(15,751)
227,465
(242,652)		 Transfers
Balance at
31 March 2023
£
£
(6,304)
29,430
18,534
12,250
(14,282)
-
(1,814)
-
-
932
(1,678)
-
(570)
500
3,240
200
(9,920)
-
(351)
1,308
(2,583)
-
3
-
(15,725)
44,620		 Transfers
Balance at
31 March 2023
£
£
(6,304)
29,430
18,534
12,250
(14,282)
-
(1,814)
-
-
932
(1,678)
-
(570)
500
3,240
200
(9,920)
-
(351)
1,308
(2,583)
-
3
-
(15,725)
44,620
44,620

ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

13 Designated funds

The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:

Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds
Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at
1 April 2021 resources expended 1 April 2022 resources expended 31 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
6mths
running costs 129,145 7,855 - 137,000 - (4,000) 133,000
Future
depreciation 531 - (193) 338 - (192) 146
Festival 118,000 - (94,000) 24,000 45,000 - 69,000
Contingency 8,848 28,152 - 37,000 - (37,000) -
Trainee
producer
(Prog Routes)
CREATE - 5,000 - 5,000 - - 5,000
Grace the
Space - 5,000 - 5,000 - (4,803) 197
Artists
Festival - 2,000 - 2,000 - (2,000) -
JR Youth
Projects - 10,000 - 5,000 - (2,415) 2,585
Core IT and
Staffing - 5,000 - 10,000 - (10,000) -
256,524 63,007 (94,193) 225,338 45,000 (60,410) 209,928

14 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022 - none).