Chari&es Report 2024
other events taking place at Cwtsh.
The beau3ful but old building had some issues over the year with some high hea3ng bills, roof leaks and damp walls. The building con3nued to need regular a?en3on. The roof was checked by a qualified roofer and no damage was found as required by insurance. Also, some damp was found on one of the inner walls. This was probably caused by water leakage onto the outside of the wall but there had been some difficulty contac3ng the occupier next door to find the cause.
Although the web site con3nued to provide valuable informa3on to the Cwtsh community, the underlying structure of the web site had not been revised since 2015 and the commi?ee felt that it would benefit from a redesign exercise to reflect current usage and needs. This was carried out by a commercial web site design company who had developed the original web site. Although this was done at a very reasonable price, some of the desired features had to be reconsidered because of the cost. However, all agreed that the new design gave a new and fresh look whilst s3ll providing the necessary informa3on. It was also more efficient to administer.
The web site also had some issues with security warnings to users. This was due to an expired security cer3ficate and this was corrected by the web site hos3ng company.
In November Cwtsh played a coordina3ng role as a hub in Newport’s “Art on the Hill” fes3val where various venues displayed local art works, with Cwtsh hos3ng music and literary presenta3ons.
Many exhibi3ons were held in Cwtsh including a wide variety of subjects involving photography, pain3ngs, papercut and collage. Some highly regarded ar3sts were involved including Ruth Searle (A Celebra3on of Animals and Nature), Sue Thomas (Threadmarks – also involving a demonstra3on by the Gwent Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers), and also photographs taken in Newport in the 1990s by our own John Briggs who spends a tremendous amount of 3me in organising and hanging all exhibi3on pieces. The exhibi3ons were open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for viewing during their display at Cwtsh.
Open Mic sessions were held throughout the year at The Murenger pub in Newport with some eminent local poets such as Mike Jenkins from Merthyr, the prizewinning Jonathan Edwards and our own Chairman Alan Roderick who also compered and organised the sessions.
There were diverse subjects such as Flat Holm (an island in the Bristol Channel) and ‘Utopia on Usk’ on the work of Johnson Blacke?, the town architect responsible for the planning of the Gaer and Malpas estates.
Regular classes in French, crea3ve wri3ng, poetry, watercolour pain3ng and oil pain3ng con3nued in Cwtsh throughout the year.
The membership scheme con3nued to be a success with a healthy membership giving advantages of support both financial and physical.
Jim Calvert
Trustee
Cwtsh Community and Arts Centre Accounts 2024 (Charity number 1157225)
Introductory notes
These accounts cover the period from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
Income Income source Amount Murenger Open Mics 461.50 First Fridays etc 678.63 First Friday sponsorship 440.00 Cwtsh room rental 3,450.00 Gallery income 316.55 Coffee money 33.50 Donations 358.50 Membership 630.00 Refund from insurance company 9.64 Total 6,378.32
Expenditure Amount Rent (Newport City Council) 1375.00 Welsh Water / Dwr Cymru 211.00 Virgin (WiFi Rental) 777.60 Electricity (British Gas) 1,508.16 Insurance 614.60 Webber Design (website hosting) 168.00 Annual Premises Licence Fee 70.00 Posters 319.50 Contribution to Art on the Hill 50.00 Bank charges 97.18 Printer ink 110.18 Reimbursement of FF fee (Ben Wildsmith) to DO 30.00 Reimbursement of a member for overpayment of membership fee 90.00 Amp, microphone, stand 183.99 Supplies for exhibition launch (JB) 17.62 Printing for children’s exhibition (JB) 25.98 Total 5,648.81 Bank Reconciliation Opening balance 2,259.87 Add income 6,378.32 8,638.19 Subtract expenditure 5,648.81 Closing Bank Balance 2,989.38
These accounts are a true and accurate record.
David Osmond (Treasurer, Cwtsh Community and Arts Centre) October 9th 2025