OBLIQUE ARTS
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021
Charity name: Oblique Arts
Charity registration number: 1142653
The charity has income of £81,021, with restricted grant income of £66,565. Accounts have been externally audited.
Objectives and Activities
Oblique Arts works with communities to deliver innovative arts-based outcomes. We provide unique creative workshops with communities and individuals (often young people) to inspire and educate. We use the arts to explore important questions around sustainable futures and encourage critical thinking and creative action.
We work with hard to reach communities (including GRT), which would not normally have access to arts engagement. We consider the arts in the broadest sense, including creative thinking and new methodologies to address problems. The projects allow for empowerment of the communities we work with, giving them a “voice” where once they had none. We support around 12 freelance artists, a coordinator and have 12 volunteers. We work on partnership projects Nationally and Internationally with EU partners to offer opportunities for young artists, including training and mentoring.
Objects:
T o deliver arts projects for the benefit of communities, particularly those who are disadvantaged/youth.
To curate exhibition, shows and events. To manage community projects with a view to sustainability and environmental awareness.
To reads funding to market the charity. To raise awareness about the practice/innovation of art and related activities in the community.
To access training and development for the benefit of artists/community. To work in partnership with related interest organisations to benefit communities.
To promote accessibility and inclusivity in events, activities, exhibitions and workshops.
Reporting Public Benefit
The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
Our annual report details activities that further the charity’s purposes for the public benefit. In particular, the annual report also addresses the two key principles by which we will assess public benefit:
1) There must be an identifiable benefit or benefits which have been evaluated.
- 2) Benefit must be to the public, or a section of the public, particularly the disadvantaged communities that we work with.
Achievements and Performance
It has been a unique and challenging year for us. We have moved a lot of our teaching online due to Covid-19 and have made moves to become more resilient in the face of this pandemic. At the beginning of the year we went into lockdown. A number of our projects were cancelled or put on hold.
In spite of this, we have delivered many projects, engaged new artists, partners and participants. We have become proficient in online delivery for different groups, retriaining all of our artist/tutots. This year we have used Zoom to deliver to Teenagers facing economic and other hardships, Older artists facing isolation and our Neurodiverse community. Peer support groups formed and later workshops moved to physical spaces as the pandemic allowed.
In the summer the City Council and Library service commissioned us to deliver activity arts packs and projects for families in isolation: Bulltastic was a big success. In the winter the City Council again commissioned us, this time to launch Wanderland. Our colourful, backlit windows of public buildings inspired families to create their own window arts for the Wonderland trail.
The Arts Council supported us to explore a ‘World after Covid’, our online gallery shows the depth and range of our artist’s response to this. The pandemic has had a negative effect on many people’s mental health and we have been attentive to this. Both the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller (GRT) community and marginalised groups have suffered disproportionally. We began our Creative Imagination walks this year. The popular walks take people out of Cambridge to get in touch with nature. Some exceptional creativity has emerged as well as social bonds between the group, supporting those most in need.
This year we set up ‘Oblique Arts South West’ with metal workshops for women, homeless, or precariously housed, in Glastonbury and ‘Mad About’ Podcasts,
supporting neuro-diverse audiences with informative discussion and humour. .
Our Advocacy Project for the GRT community saw us in court supporting Travellers faced with evictions, assisting with a range of issues, largely resulting from discrimination, and engaging the City Council in regular meetings with a view to a longer term aim of providing a Transit site in the city. We are also part of GRT research groups with our peers at Essex University.
The World Roma Congress celebrated it’s 50th anniversary this year and we partnered with Gallery Kai Dikhas in Berlin to present the World Roma Congress Exhibition with high quality arts commissions from all across Europe. The online exhibition has been a real achievement and the physical exhibitions followed in London and Berlin (2021/22). The gallery attracted our largest audiences and we are pleased to be part of the congress with ongoing work, using the arts as a tool of emancipation for Roma.
Our work saw wide coverage in the press and media. Participant numbers: Direct participants: 2269 Audience totals: 23,000 Online engagement: 23,200 Press: 130,000 Online Press: 50,000 TV Coverage: 4.5M
Financial Review
Income for this period: £81,021. Restricted grant funding of £66,565. Commissions of £5,207. Unrestricted grant income of £9,149 and donations of £100.
The Accounts
The accounts include a Statement of Financial Activities, a Balance Sheet and notes to the accounts. The Statement of Financial Activities distinguishes between the unrestricted and restricted funds
Statement on Reserves Policy:
The large portion of our income is ‘Restricted’ and is therefore applied only to set-aside projects. As a general rule, 10% of this restricted income is used to pay unrestricted running costs (as listed in the accounts expenditure above) so that the charity can function.
Some of the income we receive is as a commission or unrestricted grant to carry out a particular project(s), and on occasions we are able to complete the project(s) with money in hand. This enables us to build up a modest unrestricted reserve which can help with running costs and also any potential overspend on projects in the future or other unanticipated costs or opportunities eg where we have to provide unrestricted contributions in order to access grant monies.
We aim to keep at least £10,000 in unrestricted funds therefore.
Recelpts and Paymènts accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021 2021 2020 ExPendIr6 (Unrestrlcted) Wages (Co-ordinator and other) Administrative Materials + Ex Stationery & printing & trav81 Insurance l AcUntancY I Storage etc (These items are in RestrFGted Expenses. comwisir*J the £7.639 Ihis sect) Tolal for Admln materla18 & expen8e8 544 328 1.244 544 1,572 Projecl artistnilmmaker fees 2,180 13,145 Artists Mat8rials 63 2.302 Artists Expens8S Total Expendlture Iunrostrlcted) OVERALL TOTAL EXPENDITURE
Structure, Governance and Management
Description of charity’s trusts:
Oblique Arts is a charity registered with the Charity Commission in 2011. Registration number 1142653. It is governed by a deed of trust.
Organisational structure
The charity trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The trustees give their time freely and
The trustees are responsible for all decisions taken in relation to running of Oblique Arts and the activities provided by the charity. The management committee, comprising Chair, Secretary and Treasurer manage the smooth running of the charity. The Coordinator is responsible tor administration, fundraising and project organisation. A bookkeeper oversees day-to-day finance. A media manager oversees publicity and marketing for the charity and for projects.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees in consultation with management and other members of the charity. In selecting new trustees, we seek to identify people who regularly attend events and take an active interest in the work organised by the charity and have skills to share. They demonstrate that they are willing to volunteer to help in our broader work with communities. Potential trustees are invited to attend events and activities. They are appointed at the AGM.
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing an annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees for the purposes of charity law who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out here.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity’s principal address: 14 Cockburn Street, Cambridge. CB1 3NB
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Christopher Maughan appointed 25th May 2018
Peter Torak appointed 10th June 2020
Catherine Dabrowa appointed January 2021
Management committee 2020/21
Chair: Karen Kellet
Secretary : Penny Sobr
Treasurer: Dawn Burford
Name of Coordinator: Beverley Carpenter
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature (s)
C Maughan
Full Name Karen Kellet
Christopher Maughan
Position Chair Trustee Date 27th January 2022
OBLIQUE ARTS Charity Number 1142653 Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
Contents
Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March 2021
OBLIQUE ARTS (Charity Number 1142653)
Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
| 2021 2020 £ £ Income (Restricted) Grant income 66,565 48,271 Donations/Participant fees 1,421 Commissions/Earned income - Sponsorship 500 Total Income (Restricted) 66,565 50,192 Income (Unrestricted) Grant income 9,149 - Lush (2k) + The Funding Network Donations/Participant fees 100 600 Commissions/Earned income 5,207 25,651 Sponsorship - - Total Income (unrestricted) 14,456 26,251 OVERALL TOTAL INCOME 81,021 76,443 |
2021 2020 £ £ Income (Restricted) Grant income 66,565 48,271 Donations/Participant fees 1,421 Commissions/Earned income - Sponsorship 500 Total Income (Restricted) 66,565 50,192 Income (Unrestricted) Grant income 9,149 - Lush (2k) + The Funding Network Donations/Participant fees 100 600 Commissions/Earned income 5,207 25,651 Sponsorship - - Total Income (unrestricted) 14,456 26,251 OVERALL TOTAL INCOME 81,021 76,443 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Income (Restricted) Grant income Donations/Participant fees Commissions/Earned income Sponsorship Total Income (Restricted) Income (Unrestricted) Grant income Lush (2k) + The Funding Network Donations/Participant fees Commissions/Earned income Sponsorship Total Income (unrestricted) OVERALL TOTAL INCOME |
||
| Expenditure (Restricted) Wages (Co-ordinator and Media officer) NSC grant, which was received late last year Administrative Materials + Expenses Project artist/filmmaker fees Artists Materials Artists Expenses Total Expenditure (restricted) |
13,771 6,940 1,639 - 18,922 28,472 2,360 4,038 1,581 4,042 38,273 43,492 |
OBLIQUE ARTS (Charity Number 1142653)
Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
2021 2020 £ £
Expenditure (Unrestricted)
| Wages (Co-ordinator and other) | - | - |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Materials + Expenses | ||
| Stationery & printing & travel | 544 | 328 |
| Insurance / Accountancy / Storage etc | - | 1,244 |
| (These items are in Restricted Expenses, comprising the £1,639 figure for this section) | ||
| Total for Admin materials & expenses | 544 | 1,572 |
| Project artist/filmmaker fees | 2,180 | 13,145 |
| Artists Materials | 63 | 2,302 |
| Artists Expenses | - | 865 |
| Total Expenditure (Unrestricted) | 2,787 | 17,884 |
| OVERALL TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 41,060 | 61,376 |
OBLIQUE ARTS (Charity Number 1142653)
Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
| RETAINED SURPLUS 2021 2020 £ £ RESTRICTED FUNDS: (deficit)/surplus for the period 28,292 6,700 Surplus Brought Forward 24,298 20,984 Transfer to unrestricted funds to cover project core costs (1,069) (3,398) Correctionto last year’s balance - 12 |
|
|---|---|
| Restricted surplus carried forward 51,521 24,298 |
|
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS: (deficit)/surplus for the period 11,669 8,367 Surplus Brought Forward 13,719 1,966 Transfer from restricted funds1,069 3,398 to cover project core costs Correctionto last year’s balance - (12) |
|
| Unrestricted surplus carried forward 26,457 13,719 |
|
| TOTAL FUNDS: (deficit)/surplus for the period 39,961 15,067 Surplus Brought Forward 38,017 22,950 |
|
| Total surplus carried forward 77,978 38,017 |
The organisation has no recognised gains and losses other than those represented in the surplus above and therefore no separate statement of total gains and losses has been presented.
All activities are continuing, there have been no acquisitions or disposals during the year.
OBLIQUE ARTS (Charity Number 1142653)
Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March 2021
| 2021 Unrestricted Funds |
2021 Restricted Funds |
2021 Total Funds |
2020 Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash at bank | 26,606 | 53,018 | 79,624 | 43,619 |
| Cheques paid out but not cleared at year- end |
(149) | (1,497) | (1,646) | (5,602) |
| TOTALS | 26,457 | 51,521 | 77,978 | 38,017 |
Statement on Reserves Policy:
The large portion of our income is ‘Restricted’ and is therefore applied only to set -aside projects. As a general rule, 10% of this restricted income is used to pay unrestricted running costs (as listed in the accounts expenditure above) so that the charity can function.
Some of the income we receive is as a commission or unrestricted grant to carry out a particular project(s), and on occasions we are able to complete the project(s) with money in hand. This enables us to build up a modest unrestricted reserve which can help with running costs and also any potential overspend on projects in the future or other unanticipated costs or opportunities eg where we have to provide unrestricted contributions in order to access grant monies.
We aim to keep at least £10,000 in unrestricted funds therefore.
The financial statements were signed by trustee:
OBLIQUE ARTS
12.05.21 AGM Date: ……………………………
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Oblique Arts
I report on the accounts of Oblique Arts (Charity Number 1142653)
for the year ended 31/03/2021.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that an audit is not required (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011)and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts following the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of examiner’ s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’ s unqualified statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr Lee Walford MAAT(AAT Licensed Accountant No. 1000163) 24 Temple End, Great Wilbraham, Cambridge, CB21 5JF
Signed .................................................................
Date: 13[th] July 2021
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Oblique Arts
I report on the accounts of Oblique Arts (Charity Number 1142653)
for the year ended 31/03/2021.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that an audit is not required (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011)and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts following the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of examiner’ s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’ s unqualified statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr Lee Walford MAAT(AAT Licensed Accountant No. 1000163) 24 Temple End, Great Wilbraham, Cambridge, CB21 5JF
Signed .................................................................
Date: 13[th] July 2021