## **Annual Report for DVA Trustees and Members** ## **October 2024** **I wanted to outline where DVA is now as an organisation and the achievements of the past 18 months. There is a lot of work ahead to outline and develop further opportunities for Dorset Creatives, building on the work we have been doing since January 2023. We plan new activity to support DVA Members with their creative development, and will be announcing marketing resources, bursaries and residencies in the coming weeks, with the support of key cultural partners across the county.** **This autumn, we will be undertaking the first DVA Member survey to better understand artist’s needs and to identify where support is needed.** **The DVA Membership offer will be added to as the new Membership year relaunches in October, with further partner discounts, more opportunities to network, and access to exclusive support with a creative development programme. Making Dorset is being relaunched and the Emerging Artist group will grow providing particular support to those needing advice and guidance in a rural county.** **We are reviewing the delivery of Dorset Art Weeks, with some key changes, as the 2024 event report is produced. This will also be published in the autumn, along with an announcement about the future of the event.** **We are developing some new exhibition activity and projects across the county which will provide more opportunity for Dorset creatives in 2025, details to follow soon.** **DVA is undertaking a fundamental Digital audit to improve its website, comms and social media presence to better serve Dorset artists.** **In the past 18 months DVA has achieved much and there is a lot of ‘behind the scenes’ work which needs illuminating. Put simply, the challenge we face is that we are creatively ambitious and growing at this time, but with very limited resources and capacity. We have several measures now in place on which to build and ensure we continue that growth. A lot of this work, whilst mundane, is vital and it is important that Dorset artists, and organisations can understand what we are achieving in order to have confidence in that planning and what it might mean for them in the coming months. Change is happening, we are evolving, but it is an ongoing process and some things will not happen as quickly as some would like. And we also have to be flexible to the challenges and questions which will always come our way on this creative journey.** **What’s happened in the last 18 months?** - **We’ve revised our mission statement, looking at our core values and updating where appropriate to better fit the current climate and our future endeavours. We have also developed key policy documents and job role descriptions to help ensure the organisation is better regulated as it grows** - **This has led to the development of a 3 year business plan with clear objectives and targets - for the DVA team as well as its Membership** - **We have held regional meetings to explain our plans and plan to hold these biennially for all Members to attend and network** - **We have relaunched our core standard membership with an increased range of benefits, with plans to develop the Emerging artist offer and to relaunch Making Dorset in October 2024. The** ## **Membership offer is now more inclusive, with more offers to come around artist development and support** - **We brought back Dorset Art Weeks with a successful event, including many of the previous elements which have made the event popular, along with new developments and approaches to presenting work. But there is more to do** - **We have grown our team, with additional support from Izzie Jobbins, a new DAW Producer and a small part time role for digital** - **We have provided a placement to an AUB Events Management student, rekindling an important education link between DVA and AUB** - **We have reinitiated activity on the DVA Instagram account and DVA website, with more frequent updates and sharing across DVA news, Member news, The Sherborne and news from across the region, also reflected in our monthly member newsletter** - **We held an important exhibition for Dorset artists, the Instinct of Hope at Durlston NNR, part of a new approach working with cultural partners and addressing important issues** - **We reissued a commission opportunity for Dorset artists with an enhanced residency package with DAW’s headline sponsors, Hall & Woodhouse** - **We have re-established links with key cultural partners in the county, including those with advocacy and support such as Arts Development Company and Dorset Council** - **We were successful in receiving Organisation Support Funding from Dorset Council, underpinning our core operation for the next three years** - **And of course the achievement of being the lead arts partner in the relaunch of The Sherborne** - ● **We are now looking for further funding and support to develop and evolve our core operation plans. This will then enable us to develop targeted projects aimed at supporting artists across a range of criteria- skills development, creative development, bursaries, commissions, mentoring, resources** - **We are looking to develop new events and projects across Dorset in the DAW ‘interval’ year, tying in with the county Cultural Strategy and focussing on several areas- Emerging artist support, creating ambition for audiences , working in cultural cold spots** **In order to achieve this, we now have to focus on the following:** - **Finalising details on years 2 and 3 of the business plan- 2 months** - **Finalising the fundraising strategy including private and corporate sponsorship packages - 2 months** - **Producing an audience development plan - 6 months** - **Developing a digital strategy, to include CRM systems and internal/public comms, social media strategy, website platforms for DVA and DAW, event booking, training personnel to deliver and develop this - 6 months** - **Focussing on developing Emerging Artist and Making Dorset activity - 12 months** - **Continuing with regional get togethers and developing a hub network - ongoing** - **Review of DAW 24 and clear recommendations for 2026** - **Membership survey** - **AGM - subject to demands** - **Set up a series of events for 2025 - Cranborne Chase, Dorchester, The Sherborne and Swanage** - **Ongoing strategic development and training for the team** - **Successful callout for 4 new trustees to develop critical thinking and skills development in the organisation** - **Delivering a range of cultural, community and education engagement activity at The Sherborne including tours, workshops and outreach** **Paul Newman, Creative Director, Dorset Visual Arts** ACCOUNTS MARCH 2024 RECEIPIS SUbsCrwt￿TrS Drawing Dor5¢t GiftA*d Reclaim Transferslnfrom DVAPron Orher Ineome PTror￿ar adjustments To14lrK•lpts DORSET VISUAL ARTS 14,685.00 Iso. 525.(KI 2.C#)O.(KJ 24.660.39 143.88 42.164.27 PAYPIENTS Sherbome House Exhlbrtlon Expens•s Marketing& Athenisinz Admin & Bookkeeping Meeting Expenses Telephone Insuiance Bankeharges and Inte￿$1 SundrTres Translets to DAW PromoA¢eount Totslp•ym•rt¥ 1.035.fA) 2.295.04 41,730.00 41.00 739.49 281.84 60.00 I,ith.c 47W&J2 SURPLUSMEFICITFOA YEAR 5.67&L15 ACCUMULATED FUNDS 8aLance bllwd OV04123 Excess ol Expendrture 0￿rInc￿ B•ianc• clfwd 31103124 7.192.$0 5.674.t LSIO.53 ASSETS & UAJtUTIE5 CurreniAeeoufit Deblo CornputerEqupment Tot•iAsMts & Ltsbbuwes 35.00 584.10 1.51& These xcoufits been prnpavedbasedon IheinfomiatlonaTh1 ewanatsws wtyltJedtyth•charTrtystrustees.The a¢counts afe comptiantwth the Charttteski andforttclthe receiptsand p¥Jmertsforthe specrfwl wiodan¢J thesiatementolassets and lIa￿lit￿$ asatthe penoderKI. FbJnt¥A¢cr￿nfaftts ## **Independent Examination Report** ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Dorset Visual Arts** **Charity Name:** Dorset Visual Arts **Charity Number:** 1113249 **Period of Accounts Examined:** 01/04/2023 to 31/03/2024 ## **Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, as amended by the Charities Act 2022 and for ensuring that they provide a true and fair view of the charity’s financial position. As the independent examiner, my responsibility is to: 1. Review the financial records and accounts as presented by the trustees. 2. Conduct my examination in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the guidelines set out in the Charity Commission’s "Independent examination of charity accounts: guidance for examiners" (CC32). ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report** My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also involved consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not constitute an audit, and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: `o` To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; and - To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 2011 have not been met; or 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. **Signed:** Mr Luke Vivash ACCA luke@huntsaccountants.co.uk 10/01/2025 **Document Activity Report** **Document Sent** Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:21:27 GMT **Document Approval Status** Pending ## **Approval Activity Summary** Paul Newman Pending ## **Document Activity History** Document history shows most recent activity first ## **Date Activity** You can verify that this is a genuine Portal document by uploading it to the following secure web page: **http://huntsaccountants.accountantspace.co.uk/messages/VerifyDocument**