ARTVENTURE TRUST LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
Registered Number: 05349857 Charity Number: 1109302
ARTVENTURE TRUST LIMITED
Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024
==> picture [453 x 307] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Contents|
|Contents|.................................................................................................................................. 1|
|Aims, Objectives, Activities and Achievements ...................................................................... 2|
|Aim and Objectives ............................................................................................................. 2|
|Activities and Achievements............................................................................................... 3|
|Public Benefit ...................................................................................................................... 6|
|Structure, Governance and Management ............................................................................... 7|
|Governing Document.......................................................................................................... 7|
|Trustees .............................................................................................................................. 7|
|Staff ..................................................................................................................................... 7|
|Finances .................................................................................................................................. 8|
|Artventure Operations ........................................................................................................ 8|
|Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) ............... 8|
|Funding ............................................................................................................................... 8|
|Reserves Policy .................................................................................................................. 8|
|Appendix: Financial Statement ……………………………………………..…………………..8|
----- End of picture text -----
All art works shown in this report were created by Artventure participants
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 1
The Artventure Trust provides creative day centres for adults with learning difficulties. Founded in 1984, the charity was set up to allow vulnerable people to explore the visual arts in a safe and secure environment.
We have two purpose-designed arts studios with equipment and materials enabling a wide range of creative activities, both 2D and 3D. A number of the staff and volunteers are practising artists who bring their knowledge, skill and experience to support participants. In some instances, carers will remain and become involved in the activities with the participants.
Aims, Objectives, Activities and Achievements
Aim and Objectives
Artventure aims to alleviate the social exclusion and isolation suffered by adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities through the provision of supported visual arts workshops, delivered in dedicated, secure and friendly studio environments by a team of experienced and caring artworkers.
We achieve this aim through,
-
Encouraging creative expression by allowing each participant, regardless of their level of ability, the opportunity to work on their chosen projects, at their own pace, with whatever support they need.
-
Facilitating the development of personal and social skills and providing safe environments in which involvement in the visual arts is instrumental in building participants’ self-confidence and self-reliance.
-
Enabling participants who may have limited verbal abilities channel their thoughts and emotions into a creative process.
-
Encouraging participants to value and share their achievements and hence to enhance their sense of self-worth.
-
Promoting public acceptance and understanding of learning disability and combat social exclusion through working in partnership with the local community, schools, other charities and faith organisations, art societies etc. and by presenting exhibitions of our participants’ artworks
==> picture [386 x 6] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
• .
----- End of picture text -----
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 2
Activities and Achievements
-
A Year of Cooperation
-
2023-24 was a year of cooperation at Artventure. During the year:
-
We undertook a major joint project with the Meath Epilepsy Charity.
-
We worked together with RHS Garden Wisley and local garden centres to design our new garden.
-
As a result of a joint project with Gosden House School, we were offered the opportunity to open our second studio in the grounds of Gosden House School.
-
At the end of the school year we had a joint exhibition with the Art department of St Peter’s School where students and our participants presented their portraits.
-
We offered card making workshops to the students of Pond Meadow School, a local SEN school.
-
We started conversations with JubyLee Bakery to work together in promoting disability art.
-
40[th] Anniversary
-
We celebrated our 40[th] Anniversary in 2024 so we have had a number of special exhibitions and events to mark this important milestone and these are detailed later.
-
Participant growth and opening of new studio
We grew significantly from 46 participants to 53 participants per week during the year. This was mainly thanks to our new studio at Gosden House which opened in April 2024. We are planning to grow organically and slowly, adding a new day a year at Gosden House School unless we sense greater demand. It is important for us that the two studios work together, cooperate, and undertake the same themes; this helps
ensure there is one organisation operating at two different sites.
• River Wey Project with the Meath
This project started in August 2023 with excursions and mutual visits with The Meath in October and November to explore the many aspects of our River Wey.
Exhibitions, and Meet-The-Artist events, started in January in Cranleigh Arts Centre. The collection of project artworks came to Guildford, to The Electric Theatre, in February. In March the project was presented in The Lightbox in Woking and then it returned to Godalming Museum in April.
It was a fun project that created not just amazing artworks but also friendships along the way.
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 3
- Garden Project
We have created a sensory garden and an outdoor art space next to our studio in Merrow. Experts from the RHS Garden Wisley and local garden centres gave us advice on how to best create this new outdoor space.
We organised a Crowdfunding Campaign to secure the necessary funds. Our Local councillor, George Potter, supported our initiative through Your Fund Surrey and Guildford Borough Council matched the funds we raised during the crowdfunding campaign.
The garden was officially opened in June and the participants have been happily using it ever since.
- Bringing the world to Artventure
Going out with our participants is not always easy; some of them prefer to stay in the studio. Therefore, we try to bring the ‘world’ to them, and this involved artists who worked with them in the studio. There were visits from local dignitaries who were impressed with
the art, and talked to participants about their work. Visitors expressed admiration for the efforts of the team. During the year:
- Christine Charlesworth, a well-known local sculptor, joined our Autumn Clay Workshop and worked with our participants.
- The High Sheriff of Surrey, Tim Wates, visited Artventure with his daughter in November.
-
We worked very hard to get funding for a glass project which will now continue go forward with local artists supporting participants and staff.
-
Exhibitions and events
During the year we were able to undertake a number of exhibitions which displayed the work of participants and raised the awareness of disability art in the local community. We also held events which raised the profile of the work of Artventure, and helped raise funds. These included:
September Food Exhibition at Electric Theatre – art works by participants based on the theme of food were on display. During the project participants learnt about nutrition and then depicted their favourite foods for the exhibition
October Trumble Family Concert. This concert by Philip Trumble – a Trustee of
Artventure - and members of his family was a great success and raised funds specifically for Artventure. There was an exhibition of artworks by participants at the concert.
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 4
-
November Continuing our collaboration with Art@theStation we held an exhibition at Farncombe Station Waiting Room 1 with A2 size original prints by eight different participants. It looked great.
-
January The River Wey exhibition at Cranleigh Arts Centre. There was a
-
successful opening event with participants and their families and friends. Visitors included participants of The Meath, Mary Creswell a local artist, Arts Society Cranleigh and Arts Society Guildford
-
January Meet-the-Artist event at The Electric Theater. Amazing solo exhibition by Sarah Hopkins, a participant, whose Panels were admired by Friends of Artventure, family and friends.
-
February-March River Wey Exhibition at Electric Theatre. There was a Meet–the–Artist
- Event at the exhibition. This was a high profile event with the Meath management and trustees, funders and patrons. The Lord Lieutenant of
Surrey, and the Deputy Mayor of Guildford attended.
-
February Another exhibition of prints at a railway station was held at Guildford Station Platform 3 Waiting Room
-
March - April River Wey Exhibition at The Lightbox, Woking ~~.~~ The Private View was very successful and there were sales.
-
April- May River Wey Exhibition at the Godalming Museum
-
May – July A participant, Joe Gamble, had a Solo Exhibition at the Electric Theatre, Guildford. It was a great event , iy oa q y
-
with sales of artwork, and there were donations which covered the cost of the hire of the gallery space.
-
May – June Earth Spirits Exhibition at Godalming Museum. This was a joint project with What Next? There was good feedback, and
participants contributed to the private view by talking about their work with visitors.
June Daisy-Chain Exhibition at the Lightbox Woking where one of our participants – Tom Sliwinski - was chosen to show his work
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 5
June Surrey Artists’ Open Studios drew a good number of visitors. There were 120 art works on display for two weeks in the studio. The exhibition was open to the general public; we had over 150 visitors and sold 10 artworks.
Artventure staff held printmaking workshops for members of the community on Tuesday afternoons
June When the garden was complete, we held a Garden Opening Tea Party which included participants, parents, carers, visitors, and contractors who had contributed to the Garden. It was opened by local councillor, George Potter. It was another positive event, and there was good media coverage in local press and television.
June 40[th] Anniversary BBQ. This annual event was part of our 40[th] year celebrations. 100 people attended, and there was good food, music and Jeeta! atmosphere.
August The Summer Workshops for participants were a success, one workshop being held at RHS Wisley and two more at Gosden House School.
Public Benefit
We have taken into account the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
As can be seen, the overarching aim of Artventure is to support, enable and develop adults with learning difficulties. Through this, Artventure also has a positive impact on carers and parents, not only by working with the participants, but also providing much needed respite for carers in the knowledge that participants are being well looked after.
Further community benefit arises through our promotion of public acceptance and
understanding of learning disability and combating social exclusion through working in partnership with the local community, including schools, other charities, faith organisations, art societies etc; examples are given earlier in this Report.
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 6
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Artventure Trust is registered as a company limited by guarantee (Company No. 5349857) and with the Charities Commission (Registration No. 1109302). In accordance with the Companies Act 1985, the charity adopted its Memorandum and Articles of Association as its governing document, when it was incorporated on 2[nd] February 2005.
Trustees
Artventure is governed by a Board of Trustees who bring a wide variety of experience and skills relevant to the Charity’s aim and objectives, and the Board endeavours to maintain this appropriate mix of experience and skills for the effective management of the charity.
Potential new trustees are required to meet the charity’s prescribed standards of commitment and independence, and are made aware of the role and responsibility of acting as a Trustee.
The Board has the power at any time to appoint any person to be a trustee. The Articles of Association do not limit the number of trustees. The trustees are also members of the charitable company. Conditions of membership are defined in the Articles of Association.
The trustees of the charity are also directors for the purpose of company law.
Trustees at the time of this Report were:
-
Robert Muir (Chairperson)
-
Caroline Breckell
-
Paul Charlesworth
-
Sue Cundell
-
Chris Dubois
-
Anne North
-
Philip Trumble
Staff
Paid Staff :
-
The Manage r oversees the day-to-day running of the Trust, manages staff and volunteers, and is responsible to the Trustees on all matters. The Manager is a co-opted member of the board of Trustees.
-
The Deputy Manage r, who reports to the Manager, has responsibility for the safety and maintenance of the building, and acts as Day Manager when the Manager is not present.
-
The Assistant Manager reports to the Manager and has responsibility to support the Manager and Deputy Manager in maintaining the Artventure studio and facilities in good working order, liaising with the Deputy Manager to avoid duplication, and acting as Day Manager when neither the Manager nor the Deputy Manager is present.
-
Artworkers are contractors who lead on arts projects, and work with participants to find out what they would like to do, and where appropriate making suggestions on how they can develop. They report to the Manager.
-
Volunteers work with individual participants to support them in their art activities, under guidance of the Manager.
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 7
Finances
Artventure Operations
During 2024 necessary maintenance was carried out on the roof of the studio. A substantial lottery grant of £18,500 was secured to support the complete repair of the roof, and the remainder of over £6,000 was financed from the reserves of the charity.
Although grants and donations were also received for two further major projects – landscaping the garden, a requirement for planning permission, and the setting up of the new operation of Gosden House – there was a need to draw on the reserves for £5,864 to fully finance both of these.
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)
The independently reviewed accounts for the year to 31 August 2024 are in the attached Appendix. Artventure remains in a strong financial position.
Funding
Funding is mainly through fees charged to participants. Most fees derive directly or indirectly from Local Authorities. Other fees are paid directly by carers/parents. This amounts to approximately 75-80% of our funding. Other monies are through grants from trusts and other organisations, events, community and corporate fundraising, and donations.
Reserves Policy
In line with Charity Commission guidelines, the term "Reserves" is used to describe that part of Artventure Trust’s income funds that is freely available for its operating purposes and not subject to commitments, planned expenditure and spending limits. Reserves do not include endowment funds, restricted funds and designated funds.
The Trustees have assessed the risks associated with a significant reduction in income to ensure that the charity is able to continue to deliver its services whilst action is taken to address any shortfalls. It was agreed by the trustees that funds equivalent to six months operating costs are held in reserve to ensure the continued operation of Artventure and to cover unexpected costs that may arise from time to time.
The level of reserves is disclosed in the Financial Statement.
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 8
APPENDIX: FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 9
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 10
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 11
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 12
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 13
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 14
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 15
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 16
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 17
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 18
Artventure Trust Ltd. Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statement to Aug 2024. Final. Page 19