## THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN
**ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
President David Cotterell
**Trustees and members of the committee who served at any time between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024**
David Milledge* Chairman and Arts Volunteering Amanda Zaadstra* Vice Chairman, Communications and Arts Award Helen Hughes* Secretary Jim Tranter* Treasurer Val Lupton* Programme Secretary Anne Marczak* Membership Secretary Nicky Lipscombe Day Visits and Events Liz Allan Days of Special Interest Terry Lipscombe* Committee Member Jenny Bickley Committee Member Louise Holland Committee Member Tim Roberts Photographer and Heritage Volunteering Sue Hanley Minutes Secretary and Archivist
_Asterisk* after a name denotes Trustees_
THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN
**Cover photograph taken by Tim Roberts. The Chairman and Vice Chairman receive an early copy of ‘50 Treasures Around The Wrekin.’**
## **CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MEMBERS**
This is my report for my final year as Chairman of The Arts Society Wrekin. Three enjoyable years have passed since I was elected. This has been a learning role for me. One is never too old to have new experiences. I have been supported by an encouraging and hard working committee. The hours they have devoted to the Society, if totalled, would be truly amazing.
We have completed a full and varied programme of lectures and events. Their quality is evident in the fact that our numbers have been maintained and we now have a small waiting list. The programme of events and visits has been well supported and often over subscribed.
Unreliable rail services, road works, the remnants of Covid and one occasion of failure of the heating have added stress on a few occasions. We hope for a trouble free time from now on. We appreciate the fine facilities we enjoy at The RAF Museum, Cosford.
This year sees the 50th Anniversary of the founding of our Society. Initially meeting at Weston Park as Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society it later became The Arts Society Wrekin. We look forward to our Anniversary Celebration to be held (appropriately) at Weston Park. Also in celebration an Art Exhibition is planned for October. This will be at the Footprint Gallery at Jackfield. It will show work by our artistic members. There will be work made by young people in the masterclasses we have sponsored this year. This will be an attractive exhibition to showcase the talents of our members and the young people whose efforts we support.
Look out for our 50th Anniversary Logo (designed by a member) which will be in use throughout the year.
A sub-committee has been producing a book, ‘50 Treasures Around The Wrekin’, featuring the artistic and heritage treasures of our area. As I write it is at the printers and will soon be issued. I am confident it will be a fitting celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Also 2024 is our year for The Wrekin Arts Award (£2500). It is now open for applications. Details are on our website. The fund for the Award has been increased by a very generous anonymous gift from a member.
There have been some changes to our committee. I am pleased that Sue Hanley has become our Minutes Secretary. Jenny Bickley and Louise Holland both resigned in
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the latter half of the year. We are grateful for their contribution and pleased that they will both be on hand to offer help when needed.
Thanks to the continued efforts of everyone involved we have a flourishing Society which can continue to promote The Arts to its members and the wider public. I wish my successor every success.
## **David Milledge**
Chairman and Arts Volunteering
## **Arts Volunteering**
As in previous years we have sponsored the individual prizes in the Halls Young Artist Competition held at Weston Park. Theme-Coronation.
We provided prizes and some members judged the end of year competition at the Art Department at Telford College.
_Infant class Winner_
We have provided sponsorship for The English Haydn Festival and The Codsall Community Arts Festival.
For the second year we supported EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) Creative Days for primary school children at Weston Park.
The Wrekin Stories picture produced by Year 7 pupils at Madeley Academy was completed and went on public display at The Meeting House in Southwater Telford. It was there all Summer and Autumn when the young
_Wrekin Stories_
artists could show it to friends and family. It then transferred to the Rose Paterson Gallery at Weston Park as the centrepiece during the Halls Young Artist Exhibition. It now has pride of place at Madeley Academy.
## **David Milledge**
Chairman and Arts Volunteering
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## **Lecture Programme**
Again, the programme was disrupted, mainly by the seemingly endless industrial action affecting travel. Tessa Boase found herself stranded in Italy two days before her scheduled visit to Wrekin, but Margaret Watson saved the day by interrupting her holiday and trundling her harp up to Shropshire to give us a wonderful presentation. Tessa’s lecture will now take place this year.
Jackie Klein’s lecture on Grayson Perry was also cancelled two days before the printing of the calendar of events to be hastily replaced by a talk on the Dutch Golden Age.
Jonathan Conlin found his train cancelled and nobly set of at the crack of dawn on a long drive to give us his fascinating talk on Calouste Gulbenkian. Our problems did not end there; due to a heating failure, we were obliged to hold the lecture in a smaller room where, unfortunately, not all members could be accommodated and Jonathan was obliged to deliver his lecture crouched over the microphone.
As well as this visit to Lisbon we were taken on a wonderful tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel by Stuart Harvey and the architecture of Venice by the ever-popular Jo Walton.
Linda Collins spoke about some of the paintings in the vast Royal Collection, while Alexandra Epps and Brian Healey introduced us to the less familiar work of John Atkinson Grimshaw and that of the artists of the Ashcan School respectively.
Barry Venning challenged the often-expressed view of modern art that ‘a child of six could do it’ through the work of the greatest cartoonists. Sandy Burnett gave us an overview of the music of the Baroque era with wonderful musical illustrations. Hopefully, something for everyone.
## **Val Lupton**
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## **Days of Special Interest**
Our study days at The Red House Albrighton continue to be oversubscribed and entertaining.
At our November meeting Roger Butler spoke on Canal Heritage and History, covering the unusual architecture, historic boats and dramatic engineering of the canal network. Roger is an experienced photographer so he showed some fascinating photos of urban and rural canals through the ages. A very enjoyable day.
For the Spring meeting we welcomed back Chris Aslan with his new book, ‘Unravelling The Silk Road’. His three talks covered the three roads - silk, wool and cotton. He spent many years in Central Asia resulting in wonderful illustrations and stories of his first hand experiences.
## **Liz Allan**
## **Day Visits and Events**
The Society has enjoyed a variety of events over the last year. We started with two more guided walks with the charismatic Dr Jonathan Berg in Birmingham; one exploring the Public Art at the University of Birmingham and the second to visit Digbeth with its street art and graffiti.
The visit to Willey Hall with Lord Forester and Gareth Williams (Curator and Head of Learning at Weston Park) was a highlight. This grand house (1812) in Palladian-Neoclassical style was designed by Lewis Wyatt and is hidden away in the picturesque parkland. The Great Hall is most impressive with its tall Corinthian columns in Siena scagliola, galleried basilica and sweeping semi-circular staircases.
Another small group enjoyed the historic Grade I listed Wenlock Abbey, home of Gabrielle de Wet. It really is another hidden treasure and amazing survivor with its immense cat slide roof – now in need of major restoration. Andrew Pearson’s wood carving of the chapel screen is masterful.
Gareth Williams gave a very interesting and informative talk on Charles Darwin in the Music Room at Weston Park. This enabled us to support another series of sessions of outdoor learning for Telford schoolchildren with EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) at Weston Park. The lecture was followed up with a fascinating visit to Darwin House in Shrewsbury, Darwin’s childhood home.
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Sixty members and guests joined us for the Summer Picnic - a private visit to Hodnet Hall Gardens, where we were able to explore the extensive and beautifully maintained gardens courtesy of Sir Algernon and Lady Heber-Percy.
The summer concert at St Andrew’s Church in Shifnal was a celebration of the young artists we have supported. Claudia Grinnell, sub-organist at Winchester Cathedral returned to give us an accomplished recital on the organ (Wrekin made a donation to its restoration cost). Our Arts Award winners came along. Jacob Chandler and Michael Potter (both sculptors) brought some of their handiwork and gave short presentations to tell the audience how the Arts Award Bursary had assisted them. Kate Woodman, joint winner of the delayed 2020 Arts Award, was represented on a video clip demonstrating her skill and versatility as a budding actor.
Another group enjoyed a Scagliola demonstration at Acton Round with the talented Thomas Kennedy followed by lunch in the family’s beautiful Queen Anne Hall.
Three years after Adam Busiakiewicz’s Zoom lecture on Warwick Castle and its forgotten collection we finally made it by coach to see for ourselves. An excellent guide gave us an insight into life in the castle. The lifelike wax mannequins added realism. Many of us visited the Lord Leycester Hospital with the Pensioners, an amazing survivor from medieval Warwick as much of the city was destroyed by fire. Others explored the treasures of the beautiful St Mary’s church nearby.
New members had the opportunity to meet the committee and enjoy a tour of Tong Church with a local historian followed by a delicious afternoon tea in the village hall.
The final event of the year was the ever popular ‘Festive Talk and Tea’. Lt Col Graham Jones, former Senior Director of Music, Household Division, gave an entertaining and colourful account of some of the military ceremonies and traditions around Christmas time and encouraged us to remember all the servicemen separated from their families on Christmas Day.
The events this year including the longer London visit and the two Days of Special Interest have raised over £6,400 from which donations totalling £2,500 have been given to Willey Church, EKO, Ironbridge Gorge Museums, The Albrighton Trust (Moat) and £1,227 has been designated for the Arts Award funds.
We are very grateful to the venues which have allowed us to visit and speakers who have given their time to enable us to maximise our donations to support charitable causes.
**Nicky Lipscombe**
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## **Longer Visit – London**
A group of 38 members and visitors travelled independently to London in April 2023 to explore the City. The visit followed on from Ian Swankie’s excellent Day of Special Interest on the Guildhall and its Art Collection and some virtual tours we enjoyed during lockdown with Blue Badge Guides, Simon Whitehouse and Katie Alcock.
Simon and Katie guided us in two smaller groups assisted with excellent listening devices. We explored Soho, Seven Dials and Covent Garden on day one. Our guides shared their knowledge and passion for the area with enthusiasm and humour. On our second day we sailed down the Thames to Greenwich where we saw the magnificent Cutty Sark, visited the Queen’s House and Painted Hall and walked in the park. We stood astride the Greenwich Meridian in a quiet residential street.
We enjoyed convivial lunches together at a Turkish Bistro on the first day and in a traditional family run ‘Pie and Mash’ restaurant on day two.
Our final day took us to the Guildhall where we explored the historic venue with local guides before independently exploring the Art Gallery and Roman amphitheatre in the basement. The more energetic did a further walking tour in the City of London with Simon.
A good time was had and it was lovely to have the opportunity to get to know some of our newer members.
_Wren Chapel at Greenwich_
## **Nicky Lipscombe, Liz Allan And Jenny Bickley**
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## **Communications**
Email has now become the main method for members to receive communications about lectures and events. Engagement remains consistent with 70-80% of all emails sent out being fully opened. Anyone who doesn’t think they are receiving their emails should first check their junk mail before contacting us. There remains a very small number of members who are not yet online and in order to ensure that they are kept informed they are contacted by post. Use of email saves both time and money.
Events advertised and booked online remain popular. Places are offered on a first come first served basis. For popular events places can get booked up quickly, we do keep an active waiting list and it is certainly worth enrolling on the list as many do get offered places. The waiting list can also be helpful to gauge interest to arrange repeat day visits where there is sufficient demand.
## **Amanda Zaadstra**
## **Heritage Volunteering**
_**During the past 12 months Arts Society volunteers have been involved in three projects at the Coalbrookdale site of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum**_
## **The Rolt Project**
On the 28th of June the Heritage volunteers completed the Rolt Project after nearly 12 months of work on what proved to be a complex collection of documents. The volunteers worked as small groups donating over 1075 manhours to the project. The Rolt Archive is now fully catalogued and stored in 135 archival boxes. The completion of the project was marked by a day of celebration when the archive was transferred in to its permanent home.
_The Rolt Archive ready for storage_
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## **The Labouchère Project**
The Labouchère Archive Collection relates to the 18th century Darby Family, iron founders of Coalbrookdale. The eleven volunteers started work on the 6th of February. The project is to audit the collection, enhance the existing Catalogue, digitise and transcribe selected materials. Eight volunteers are now working as two pairs at the museum. Three other volunteers are able to work at home so documents have been photographed and sent to these volunteers. Another volunteer is making archive cases for specific artefacts.
## **The Sentinel Project**
The Sentinel Project started on Friday 10th November. Five Wrekin members and one Shrewsbury member joined a Museum volunteer and two Museum staff to form a group of nine people. They have been meeting at Coalbrookdale. The majority of the work has been outside under the viaduct. The weather has affected the number of days worked over the winter but despite this a great deal of progress has been made.
There is plenty of conservation work to be done on the old engine so the project will continue for the rest of this year.
_Arts Society Members at the Sentinal Engine_
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## The Arts Society Wrekin – Annual Report 2023-24
## **Financial Review and Reserves Policy**
Since 1 April 2022 our accounts have been prepared on the cash basis. For the year 2023-24 there was an increase in subscription income from £14564 to £15018 and the deficit on the lecture programme was reduced from £635 to £55.
Income from Gift Aid increased substantially from £2527 to £3492, due to the exceptional donations received (see below).
Surpluses from events continue to rise, and this year we have received substantial donations in respect of our biennial Arts Award and our forthcoming publication of our 50th Anniversary book _Fifty Treasures Around the Wrekin_ , both of which will involve considerable expenditure in the year 2024-25.
Our policy has always been to hold a reserve to cover the expenses of a full year’s programme of lectures. We also like to ensure that the costs of running the lecture programme, our administration costs and the affiliation fees to The Arts Society are met by our subscription income, augmented by income from visitors and raffles.
The full details of our financial activities are shown in the accounts on pages 10-14.
Our financial support for arts and heritage continues. The accounts show the extent of this support and full details are set out on the back cover of this report. We continue to have the potential to make an important difference to the individuals and organisations which we support.
Members are also reminded that the committee welcomes suggestions for financial support for arts-related projects.
Finally, my thanks to Philip Sims, our Independent Examiner, for his work on behalf of our members.
## **Jim Tranter**
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## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
## STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
|**Lecture Programme**
**Incoming Resources**
Members’ subscriptions (note 1a)
Visitors’ donations
Raffles
Interest receiveable
**Total Incoming resources**
**Resources Expended**
Meetings (note 3)
Affiliation fees (note 1b)
Administration costs
**Total Resources expended**
**Deficit on lecture programme**
**Gift Aid received (note 1c)**
_(Continued on page 11)_|**2024**
**£**
15018
370
717
545
**16650**
**£**
10609
5131
965
**16705**
-55
3492|**2023**
**£**
14564
485
514
204
**15767**
**£**
10134
5107
1161
**16402**
**-635**
2527|
|---|---|---|
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## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT - continued**
## **Other activities**
|**Incoming Resources**
Events - total income (note 4)
Events - total expenditure
Surplus on events
Sales of publications (net)
Other donations
Arts Society grant
Arts Award - donation
50 Treasures - donations, etc.
**Resources expended**
Charitable and other donations:
- Directly related to events
- Young Arts
- Other
Art Exhibition - deposit
Arts award
**Total resources expended**
**Surplus (2023 deficit) on other activities**
**Overall surplus (2023 deficit) for the year**|**2024**
**£**
23233
16698
6535
250
2500
846
**10131**
2045
1900
900
225
**5070**
**5061**
**8498**|**2023**
**£**
19868
15351|
|---|---|---|
|||4517
132
22
250|
|||**4921**|
|||3035
3103
1300
2694|
|||**10132**|
||||
|||**-5211**|
||||
|||**-3319**|
_(Continued on page 12)_
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## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Current Assets**
Cash at bank
Cash on deposit
Cash in hand
**Current Liabilities**
Income received in advance (Events)
**Net Assets**
**Accumulated Funds (all funds are unrestricted)**
Funds at beginning of year
Surplus for the year
**Funds at end of year**|**2024**
**£**
17788
24125
50
**41963**
7252
7252
**34711**
26213
8498
**34711**|**2023**
**£**
11962
20650
50|
|---|---|---|
|||**32662**|
|||6449|
|||**6449**|
|||**26213**|
|||29532
-3319|
|||**26213**|
## **JIM TRANTER**
Treasurer
_April 2024_
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## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
The accounts have been prepared on the cash basis, except where stated below and in note 4.
Subscriptions received are in respect of the subscription year ending 31 August 2024.
Affiliation fees are payable in January 2024 and are based on membership numbers at 31 March 2023.
Gift Aid is claimed on qualifying subscriptions and donations as received.
## **2. Gross income and expenditure**
The gross income for the year was £46971 (2023 £38566) and the gross expenditure was £38473 (2023 £41885).
|**3. Cost of Meetings**
Lecturers’ fees
Lecturers’ expenses
Hire of lecture theatre
**4. Income from events**|**2024**
**£**
4259
470
5880
**10609**|**2023**
**£**
4398
360
5376|
|---|---|---|
|||**10134**|
||||
Income from events is generally received prior to the event taking place. An adjustment of £7052 (2023 £6449) has been made in respect of income received during the accounting period, but referring to events taking place after 31 March 2024.
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
I report to the charity’s trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 10 to 14.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent Examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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 accounts to be reached.
## **PHILIP SIMS, ACIB**
_April 2024_
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## ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
## **Constitution and status**
The Society is governed by a constitution adopted on 21st May 2012 as amended on 21st September 2020.
Under that constitution the Officers for the time being (but not the Honorary Officers) together with two other Members of the Committee appointed by the Committee shall be the Trustees of the Society.
The Society is registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1148456 and is affiliated to The Arts Society.
## **Governance and management**
Appointments to the Committee are made by resolution of the Members of the Society. The Committee appoints the Society’s Officers, manages its affairs and administers its funds.
## **Objectives**
The Society shall have as its objects: the promotion, advancement, study and practice of the arts in many forms as described in its constitution.
The main activities carried out during the year in furtherance of these objects are referred to in the Chairman’s Report.
## **Website**
Further details can be obtained from the Society’s own website at **www.theartssocietywrekin.org.uk**
Printed by
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## THE ARTS AWARD 2024 £2500
Open to all branches of the arts and crafts with a connection to the Wrekin area. Closing date 12th July 2024
_**‘Head of Hermes’** a bronze sculpture by Michael James Potter, winner of The Arts Society Wrekin Award 2022._
**www.theartssocietywrekin.org.uk**
## **THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN**
**Accounts year ended 31 March 2024**
**The Society has given financial support to the following organisations:**
|**CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE**
**DIRECTLY RELATED TO EVENTS**
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
Willey Estates
St Andrew’s Church, Shifnal
St Andrew’s Youth Club, Shifnal
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
Tong PCC
The Albrighton Trust
The Albrighton Village Hall Trust
**YOUNG ARTS PAYMENTS**
Educating Kids Outdoors
Telford College Arts Competition - prizes
Halls Art Competition - prizes
Wrekin Stories
**CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE - OTHER**
Haydn Festival
Codsall Arts Festival|20
656
200
50
250
312
532
25|
|---|---|
||2045|
||1290
300
200
110|
||1900|
||500
400|
||900|
THE ARTS SOCIETY WREKIN