Cullompton Arts House – Chairman ’ s Report Year 2025-26
Date: 10/05/2026
Officers of the Charity: Graham Sessions – Chairman & Treasurer Sam Summerfield - Trustee
1. AGM and Trustees
At the AGM last year three of the exisGng trustees reGred. It was with sadness that we recorded the our thanks to Jo Turner, Helen McCorrmick, and Annie Tildesley for their many years of valuable service in running the Cullompton Arts House (CAH). Annie one of the founding members of CAH graciously accepted our nominaGon as Honorary Life Member of the Arts House in recogniGon of her inspiraGonal work in starGng, and then helping to run the arts house for more than a decade.
At the meeGng Sam Summerfield was elected as a new trustee for the coming year. Accordingly, he has been added as a signatory for the charity and the necessary arrangements have made with the chariGes commission and bank. The annual Charity Commission report has been completed and filed with the commission as is required by the regulaGons.
2. Membership
We were greatly encouraged this year to expand our membership to 13 parGcipaGng arGsts! We retained membership subscripGon at £10 which includes a website page, associated links, and also an outline program of upcoming events. ExisGng members may wish to contact Graham to take the opportunity to update their content.
3. Events and ExhibiEons
Last year our events program commenced with Cullompton Arts Week in July, it included several performances, exhibits and concerts facilitated by CAH. Helen’s ceramics event, an Opera and also One-Act Plays (directed by Graham Sessions) were all very successful. The annual charity concert raised significant funds for our local branch of Macmillan Cancer Research.
Through the Summer (Aug – Oct) we staged an ExhibiGon at EDBC Honiton in which nine arGsts parGcipated. It was very well received by the public and several arGsts were successful in selling work.
In November we staged our annual Open Studio event in the Walronds. Though the fooaall was not as high as we would have wished it was generally successful and contributed significantly to CAH funding.
December saw CAH parGcipaGng for the first Gme at Mole Valley Farmers Charity Christmas Fair. Two members parGcipated and the event was well adended with several works being sold and funds were raised for Devon Air Ambulance.
It had been planned in the Spring to put on an exhibiGon of work at Cullompton Hayridge Centre but unfortunately this exhibiGon was cancelled due to the on-going reorganisaGon of County Library Services. But, we remain undeterred and are seeking a Spring exhibiGon slot at alternaGve venues for 2027. We are confident we can expand our exisGng program of events in 2026-27 to provide year round exhibiGon and promoGonal opportuniGes for our current member arGsts .
Sam Summerfield