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2021-03-25-accounts

REGISTERED COMPAfiY NUMBER: 08463076 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NIMBER: 1165244 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FtNAF4CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARENDED 25 MARCH 2021 FOR THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARAF4TKE) Simon Winnard & CoTnpany Redin¥ton Court 69 Church Road Hovc Easi Suss¢x BN3 2BB

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED CO)TEh'TS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEf*lENTS FOR THE YEAR ELNDED 25 MARCH 2021 Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Flnancial ACti￿tieS Bal&n¢e Sheet otes to the FIDanef#l StAtements 8 to 13 Detailed Statetllent of Financial Activities 14 to 15

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 MARCH 2021 The tnLSt£es who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of th¢ Companies Act 2006. pr¢s¢nt their report with rh¢ financial statements of the chariry for thc year ended 25 March 2021. Thc t￿Stee5 have adopted th¢ provisions of Accounting and R¢poning by Charities.. Siatefflent ol- Recon￿lended Practice applicable to charities pieparing their accounts in accordance with ihL Financial Rcpnrting 8taiidaid applicablL in the UK aiid Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective l January 2019). OBJECTtVES AND A￿1VITIEs Objectives and aims To advance education for the public benefit by thc promotion of the arts. in particular but not exclusively th¢ art of drama. Signifi¢Ant activities Operation of a building as a theatrelperfotmance spac¢ - presentation of drama and theatre performanccs conmiissioning of n¢w theatre perfomwices d¢livcring comTnuniry engagement proj¢cts Lo increase paTlicipation in theatre and perforniancc tiadin¥ activiry rclatcd tt) the hire of the buildittg, with income used to support cor¢ stsffing c05t and subsidising our theatre alld peiformance activity. Public benefit The trustees have had regard to the guidanc¢ issued by the Chariry Commission on public guidance. Volunteers Voluntc¢rs support our front of housc tcarn with stcwarding of events. - Volullreers support venue rnanagement wEtb cleaning and maintenance of (be historic building ID which we're based. ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activitl¢5 The Spire Art5, key achievements for thc period include.. Presentation of a production Myth Brighton ba￿d theatre comp(Iiiy True istory reaching a live audience of 1,200 in Dec 2020, including a complimentary ticket schem¢ for lo¢al low income fan]ilies. Maintainirtg our organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic securinsw fundiDg from Ans Council England, DCMS, Rrighton & Hove City Council, Thcatr¢s Trllst, Sussex ComTnunity Foundation for the delivtry of our Brighton Festival 2021 programmc, organisational tsverheads & a¢c¢ss improvements to thc building. Developing closer links with EaEt Brighton and Kempiomn through actsve engagement with networks and East Brighton Neighbourhood Arts Plan. The Spire Ans has m¢t audience targers for the period in light of restrictions caused by Covid-19 pandemic. Financial key perforn]ance indi¢alors are set and monitored by the rrustees. for the fu￿]cIal year The Spire exeecded its targets. Fundraising actl￿tIeS The Spire Arts has a high proportion of gu¢¢ess from ￿ant fundraising, positive results from 900/0 of bids submiited in th¢ period. FINAF*'CIAL REVIEW Financial position The Spire Arts has remained sustainable through the Covid-19 pand¢mie due to granL fu￿￿l￿g. We aim to begin trading in June 2021. wh¢n social distancing case￿. At thib stage we aim to rcturn to fit]ancial &elf-buifsLiency, cov¢ring basic ru[￿1￿8 costs with trading activity. We have maintained our unrestricted resetve of l Ok through the period. P&ge I

THE SPIRE ARTS LtMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 MARCH 2021 FINANCIAL REVIEW Principal sources Trading activity stnall donation5 - Brant fiknding Reseryes polÉcy Ln agreemcllt with trustees The Spire Arts hold unrestrictrd reserves ofc. £10,000. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT GOverni￿g ducutnent The chaiiry is controll¢d by its governin￿ doLUllltnt, a dccd of trust, and constltutes a limited company, limited by gu3rantee, as defined by ihe Compani¢s Act 2006. Recruitment #nd appointment of new trustees W¢ publicly advcrtise foi new trustees and they are interviewed by the chair of the m]stees and a co-affistic director of The SpTre Arts. 50Q/o of The Spir¢ Arts trllstees are selected by thc Parochial Chlltch Council of the E¢cl¢siastical Parish of Brighton St. George with St. Anne and SL Mark IPCC), with prospective trllstees intervicwcd at a meeting ofthe PCC. Organi5ational structure The Spire Ans is l¢d by co-artislic direcLor& Ddvid Sh¢pp¢ard and Faith Dodkins. The co-anistic dir¢ctors are supported by event based stafl-working on a freelancc basis. Th¢ Spire Arts plays an active role in Brightoii & Hove's arts & cul￿ra1 netwurks wurking in clos¢ partnership ￿￿th a rang¢ of other charitie5 like Brighton Fringe, Brighton Festival and Vincent Dan¢e'fhcatre. Induction and tralnfing of new trustees New trllstees are given access to a shared folder containing access to The Spire Arts, policies, financial docurnents and foundational docutnenis Ilicence a8rc¢ment). New trustees are pxired with cxpcrienced existing ttustees for a pcriod of 6 months in order to support thern through the induction period. Related parties The Spire Arts has an ongoing relationship Thith the PCC. the freeholders ¢Jf ow vcnlle base. The PCC have thc optSOn to appoint 50¢/o of our board of trustees. REFERENCE AND ADMIYISTIL4TTVE DETAYLS Registered Comp#nJ number 08463076 (Englajid and Wales) Registered Cltarity Ull￿ber 1165244 Reglstered office Th¢ PCC of 8t CJeorge w St Anne & St Mark St Gcorgc's Church St George's Road Brighton asi Susscx BN2 IED Page 2

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE TrIAR EL¥DED 25 MARCH 2021 Trustees Mrs S M Meck Chair R¢verend A H Manson-Brnilsford Ircsigned 11412021) P M Skelly R Rahman Iiesigmed 131712020) Mrs A V¢rnon-Smith Ms E Frankiand (resigncd 71412020) M D Adams Ms L E Church P A Johnson (resigned 101412021) B Moyle Rvsscr Ms L S M Greci {appuinted 251912020) C J Thorpe-Tracey (appointed 20110120201 {r¢sign¢d 1311212020) Independent Examiller .%imon Winnard & Company Redington Coiirt 69 Church Road Hov¢ Easi Susscx BN3 2BB Approved by order of the board of Irust¢¢s on ................ and 5iglled on its behalf by- Mrs S M M¢ek- T￿￿te¥ Page 3

ll¥DEPENDENT EL4MtNER'S REPORT TO THE TRLS"fLES OF THE SPIRE ARTS LIML ITED IMdependent examiner's report to the trustees of The Spire Arts Limited ('the Company,) I report to the charity ¢n￿Le¢S on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 25 March 2021. Responsibillties and basis of report As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its dircctors for the purposes of company la￿.) you ate responsible for the preparation of the accounrs in a￿OrdanCe with the req￿Iremen1S of th¢ cO￿panICS Act 20061'the 2006 Act'l. Having sarisfjcd myself that the accounts of Ihe Company are not required to be auditLd undcr Part 16 of ihe 2006 Act and are eligible for ittdcpcndcnt examination. I ieport in respect of my eX￿￿]￿atIon of your charity's accounts. as carried out undcr section 145 0( the Charitics Act 2011 I'the 2011 Act'l. In carying out my examination I havc followed the Direciions giv￿ by the Charity Commission undcr section 145151 Ib) of tbe 2011 Act. Indepelldellt e￿mIner'S statemelll I have compl¢t¢d my examIn&iliu￿. I confirni that no matters have cO￿t to my att¢ntion in CODnectioll with the examination gil'ing cause to believe.. accountin¥ Tecords were not kcpt in respect of the Company as r¢quircd by seclivn 386 of the 2006 Act- or thc accounts do not accord with thosc records,. or the accoullt% da nat comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Acl othLr than any reqiilrernent that the a¢collnis give a t￿e ￿]d fair view whi¢h is not a matter considered as part of an independeni examination. or the accounts hav¢ noi b¢¢n prepared in acGordan¢c with the tnethods and principles of the Statenicnt of Recommended Practice for accounting and r¢porting by chaiitie5 lapplicabl¢ to charitics preparing their accounts in acLordan¢c with thc Fillancial Reporting Siandard applicable in the UK and Rcpublic of Ircland (FRS 1021). I have no concerns and have come across no othcr matters connection with the examination to which atteniion should be draw￿ in this report in order to et]able a proper understanding of the account& to be reached. Mr Lawrence Vosper MAAT Simon Winnard & co￿panY Redingion Lourt 69 Church Road Hol'e Eabi Susscx BN3 ?BB Date". Li Page 4

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED STATEMENT OF FtNANCIAL .ICTtVlTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 MARCH 2021 2021 Total funds 2020 Total fvnds Unrestricted fund Resiricted fund Not¢s INCOLME AND EYDOWMENTS FROM Donaiions and Icgacies 112,587 112,587 26.034 Other trading activities Investment income 19,628 19,628 53,80 Total 132,221 132321 79,835 EXPENDITURE ON Raising ￿lldS 18,491 18,491 20,397 Charitablt aetAidties Activities for g¢n¢rating funds Gov¢rn2nce costs 57,475 630 57,475 630 40,440 300 Total 76,596 76,596 61.137 NET INCOME SS,625 SS,625 18,698 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forwArd 26,787 200 26,987 8.289 TOTAL FuN￿s CARIUED FORWARD 82,412 200 82.612 26,987 The notes form part of these financial ststements Page 5

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITF,D BALANCE SHEET 25 MARCH 2021 2021 Total fund5 2020 Total fuDd Unresiricted fi￿d Restrictcd fund Notcs FIXED ASSETS Tangiblt assets 2J21 2J21 2,909 CURRENT ASSETS DebtOTS Cash ai bank 270 84.421 270 84,621 3,656 23,254 200 84,691 200 84,89k 26,910 CREDITORS Amounts. falling due within onc year (4,6110) (4,600) 12,832) NET CLRRENT ASSETS 80,091 200 80,291 24.078 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRET+rr LIABILITIES 82,412 200 82,612 26.987 NET ASSETS 82,412 200 82,612 26,987 FUTr*DS Unr¢stri¢t¢d ￿ndS Restrictcd funds 10 82.4J2 200 26,787 200 TOT AL FUNDS 82,612 26,987 The charirable company is cntitled to exernption frum audit under S¢ction 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 25 March 2021. The members have not required the cotnpany to obtain an audit of its financial statements foi the year ¢nd¢d 25 March 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Cornpanies Act 2006. The trustee5 arknowledg¢ thcir rcsponsibilities for lal ensuring that th¢ eharitablc company keeps accounting rtcords that ¢ornply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companie5 Act 2006 and preparing financial sLiternentb which give a irue and fair vicw i)f the state of affair5 of the charitable company as ai the end of each financial year and of ils sutplus or dcficit for cach financial ycar in accordance ￿￿ttL the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which othenvis¢ Comply with the iequirements of the Compani¢s Act 2006 relating to flnancial stat¢mcnts, so far as applicable to the charitable company. (bl The noies fomi part of these financial statements Page 6 continued...

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED BALAP4CE SHEET - continued 25 I¥IARCH 2021 These financial statetnents have been prcpar¢d in accordance with Ihe provisions appli¢able to charitable companies bubj¢¢t to thc small companies regime. rh¢ fll]ancial stateIriEELts wcr¢ approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue alsd were signed on its bchalf by.. on S M Meck- Trustee The notes forni part of these financial statcmenis Page 7

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 MARCH 20ZI ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basls of preparing the financlal statements The financial statements of the charirable ¢ompany, which is a publi¢ bcncfit cntity under FRS 102, have beEn prepared in acLordan¢e with the Charities SOIIP ITrRS 102) 'Accounting and Rcporting by Charities.. Statetnent of R¢commended Practice appli¢abl¢ to charities preparing th¢ir accollnts in accoTdancc with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Rcpublic of Jreland IPRS 102) {effective l Januarv 2019}'. FinaHcial Reporting Staiidard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard &pplicable in the UK and Repiiblic of Ireland, and (he Compani¢s Act 2006. The financial statements have been pr¢pared under the histori¢al cost Convention. Income All illcome is recognised in the Ststement of Financial Activities once the charity has entidem¢nt to the funds, it is probablc that the income will be receiped and the atnount can be mcasur¢d reliably. F.xpendithre Liabilities are recogniscd as expendI￿re as soon as th¢re is a legal or constructive obligation cummitting the chariry to that expe11ditu￿, it is piobablt that z transfer of economi¢ b¢nefits will be required in settlcmenl and the amount of thc obligation can be rneasurcd r¢li2bly. Expeiidituie is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all CQbt rclalcd io thc category. Where costs callnot be directly allr]but¢d to particlllar headings they have been &llocated to activitieb on a basis consistent wIth the use of resources. TangÉble r￿ed assets DtpitCi<ltiort is provided at the following annual rates in order to wite off cach asset over its eStiMa￿d useful life. Plant and tnachincry Fixtures and fittiiigs Computer ¢qllipment 25 /0 Oli COSt 250/4 on cost 250/0 on ¢ost Taxation The charity is cxcrnpt frotn corporation tax on its chatitable activities. Fund accounting UAtestrEcted tiinds can be used in accordance with the charitablc objectives at the discretion of the t￿stee$. Restticted funds can only be used for particular restricted PU￿05£5 WLthLn the obj¢¢ts of the cbarity. Restrictions aris¢ when specified by the donor or when ￿ndS are raised tor particular restricted purposes. Further explanaiion of the natllre and puq)ose of cach fimd is includcd in the notes to the financial statements. Hire purchase and leaSifEE commltments Rcntals paid under operatin8 l¢ascs art charged to the Staiement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the leasc. Page 8 continued...

THE SPIRE ARTS LtMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 NIARCH 2021 OTHER TRADING ACTtvrFIES 2021 2020 Event Income and Room Hire Parking & storage rent 13,210 6.418 50,740 3,060 19,628 53,800 INVESTMENT INCOME 2021 2020 Deposit account inter¢st NET INCOMF.I(F.XPENDITURE) Net incom¢l(cxpenditllTel is stated after charginyJ(¢rediringl'. 2021 2020 Depreciation- owned Jsse Other op¢rating leases 1,097 1,200 970 1.200 TRUSTEES, REMUNERA TION AND BENEFITS There were no trnstees, remuneraiion or other b¢n¢fits for the year ended 25 March 2021 nor for th¢ yeaT ended 25 March 2020. Trnstees, eipenses Th¢r¢ were no trllstees, expenses paid lor the year ended 25 March 2021 nor for the yeai cnded 25 March 2020. COMPAIL4TIVES FOR THE STA TEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fwid Regtricted fund Total funds INCOME AND ENDOITrThIENTS FROM Donations and legacies 26,034 26,034 Othcr trading activitics Inve5tmellt income 53,800 53.800 Total 79,835 79.835 EXPENDITURE ON Raising thnds 2(k.397 20.397 Charitable actiTrryties Activiiies for ¥eneraling fvthds Governance costs 40,440 40.440 300 Page 9 continued...

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE ITAR EE4DED 25 MARCH 2021 COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - contlDued Lnrestricted Resirictcd fi￿d fL￿d Tothl fi￿dS Total 61.137 61.137 NET INCOME 18,698 18,698 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought fonward 8,089 200 8,289 TOTAL FUM)S CARRIF.D FORWARD 26,7S7 200 26,987 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Fixtures and fittings Plallt and machinery Compllter equipment Totals COST At 26 March 2020 Addition$ 642 509 3,032 205 3,879 509 At 25 March 2021 3,1132 205 4,388 DEPRECIATION At 26 MaTch 2020 charge for year 161 287 7S8 758 51 52 970 1,097 At 25 March 2021 448 1,516 103 2,067 NET BOOK VALUE At 25 March 2021 703 1,516 1112 2,321 Ai 25 March 2020 481 2.274 154 2.909 Page 10 Continued...

THE SPtRE ARTS LIMITED NOTES TO THE PINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ETriDED 25 MARCH 2021 DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONI E 2021 2020 Trade debtors 270 3,656 CREDITORS: AMouNfs FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 21121 2020 Trade creditors Other creditors A¢cNed expenses 3,580 420 600 2.022 420 390 4,600 2.832 io. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net overnent in timds At 2613120 At 2513121 Unrestricted ￿ndS G¢n¢ral fvnd 26,787 55,625 82,412 Restrltted funds South Gard¢n Fund 200 21MI TOTAL FUNDS 26,987 55.625 82,612 Nct movement in funds, included in the above are as follows.. Incoming resource5 Resourccs expended Movement in fi￿d5 Unrestricted funds General tutid 132.221 (76,596} 55,625 TOTAL FUNDS 132.221 (76,596) 55,625 Pa¥ell ¢(Fntinllcd...

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL ST ATEMEYTS- contlnued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25 MARCH 2021 io. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- eontinued Comparative5 for mOve￿ent In funds Net tnovement in funds At 2513120 2613119 Unrtstrieted funds General fi￿d 8,089 18,698 26,787 Restricted funds South Gard¢ll Fulld 200 200 TOTAL FUNDS 8.289 18.698 26.987 Comparative nei movement in fiEnds, included in the above arc as follows.. Incoming r¢soutces Re%ources expcndcd Movement in fi￿dS Unrestrleted funds Gencral fiDd 79.835 161,137} 18,698 TOTAL FLT4DS 79.835 (61,137) 18,698 A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined p051tion is as follows.. Net At 2613119 movement ill fimds At 2513121 nrestricted funds Gen￿al fi]nd 8,089 74,323 82,412 Restricted funds South Gardeti Fund 20 200 TOTAL FUNDS 8,289 74,323 82,612 Page 12 continued...

THE SPIRE ARTS LtMJTED NOTES TO THE FtNANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ETr4DED 25 ￿lARCH 2021 io. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued A current year 12 months and prior year 12 tnoi)ths cornbined net movement in funds, included in the above ar¢ as follows: Tnioming resouiLCb Resources ¢xp¢ndcd Movement in fi￿d5 Unrestricted funds Gen¢r<il fund 212,056 1137,733) 74.323 TOTAL FUF4DS 212.056 1137,733) 74.323 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES There were no related party trallsactions for the year ended 25 March 2021. PabFe 13

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMITED DETAILED STATEMENT OF Fif¥ANCJAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YF.AR ENDED 25 MARCH Z021 2021 2020 INCOME ENDOWMENTS Donations #nd legacies DonatIons Grants 946 111,641 -3,393 22.641 112,587 26,034 Other tradlng activities Event Incomc and Roorn Hire Parking & storage lent 13,210 6,418 50.740 19,628 53,800 Ivve5tmetLt illcome Deposit account int¢rebt Total ineomlttg resources 132.221 79,835 EXPENDITURE Other trading #¢tlvities Purchases Other dircct Costs 309 18,182 7,814 12,583 1&491 20,397 Support Costs Management Maiiagement fees Reni Raics and watrr lllsurance Light and heat T¢lephone Postage aiid stationery Advcrtising Sundries Subscription5 Propetry repairs Clcanillg & ￿'3￿le removal Cotnputer & website expcnses Training 24,606 1.200 l B,629 1,200 180 4,446 1,998 973 4,957 3,453 837 479 233 30S 11,929 5,635 2.294 450 1.259 26 305 5,2S9 4,839 207 56.378 39.464 This page does not forni part of the statutory financial statements Page 14

THE SPIRE ARTS LIMrrED DETAILED STATEMETr4T OF FINANCIAL ACTtVlTIES FOR THE YEAR EN'DED 25 MARCH 2021 2021 2020 Management Finance Bank charges Other Plant and machincry Fixtllres and fittinus CLimpuier cquipment 288 758 51 51 1.097 970 Governance eosts Accountancy 630 300 Total resources expended 76,590 61,137 Net Ineo]ne 55,625 18,698 This page does not forni part of the ststutory financial statements Page 15

SPIRE ARTS LIMITED TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT as at 09 August 2021

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Spire Arts Ltd was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 26 March 2013 (Company number 08463076) and registered as a charity on 20 January 2016 ( Registered Charity Number 1165244) . Its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The Board

The Spire Arts is governed by a Board of Trustees; these volunteers are trustees of the charity and members of the company. The minimum number of trustees is three and, unless otherwise determined by a General Meeting, a maximum of twelve. Twelve trustees served in 2020/21.

The Board meets at least four times a year, at quarterly intervals, and the Annual General Meeting precedes the October board meeting.

There are three permanent sub-groups of the Board; Operations, Buildings and Infrastructure, and Community Development and Engagement. The sub- groups meet at regular intervals, usually in advance of trustee meetings, and are convened when necessary outside of these times to support specific projects or advise the Co- Directors on issues that may arise.

In 2020/21 the Trustees were:

Susan Meek (Former Headmistress of St. Mary’s Hall School) Fr Andrew Manson-Brailsford (Vicar of St George’s Parish Church), Alison Vernon-Smith (Radio Producer), Paul Skelly (Fundraiser), Paul Johnson (Property Manager), Martin Adams (Technical Manager), Lauren Church (Producer), Rasheed Rahman (Arts Marketing Manager), Emma Frankland (Artist) and Beresford Moyle Rosser (Community Worker).

One third of the Trustees retire annually at the AGM but can be reappointed. The composition, development and capacity of the Board are regularly reviewed. Potential trustees are attracted either by advertisement or word of mouth and are selected based on their experience of life (personal and professional), skill and capacity. Candidates are interviewed by at least one trustee and one of the Co-Directors before attending a Board meeting as an observer. If both parties are keen to proceed, the trustee is elected at the next Board meeting they can attend. New trustees can be elected at any point in the year and are confirmed in office at the AGM.

Risk Management and safeguarding

The Spire Arts has a risk management policy and practice which helps us to anticipate risks to the organisation, assess their likely impact and plan how to reduce them and manage them.

The Spire Arts has a Safeguarding Policy, which is reviewed on a yearly basis.

Staffing

The Spire Arts is led by Co-Directors Faith Dodkins and David Sheppeard, both working one day per week on a freelance basis. Faith and David are jointly responsible for operations and building, finance, artistic programme, participation and audience development.

David and Faith maintain external freelance careers and this way of working has reaped rewards in attracting new projects and activity for The Spire Arts.

In addition to the Co-Directors, the staff team is made up of freelance subcontractors covering front of house duties, administration and marketing and repairs and maintenance tasks when required.

Volunteers

In 2020/21, The Spire Arts our work with volunteers was severely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which made it unsafe to engage volunteers in front of house and maintenance tasks It is a priority for the new Operations sub- group to investigate the role of volunteers within the organisation and work wit the Co- Directors to build capacity to support a greater number of volunteer roles as we emerge from the pandemic

Partnerships

Funded partnerships: At a local level The Spire Arts retained and developed partnerships with TrueStory, contributing £2000.00 to the organisation’s income.

In 2020/21 The Spire Arts continued to receive support from its main stakeholder the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Brighton St George with St Anne and St Mark in the form of a peppercorn rent agreement on our premises, which underpins our activity.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In shaping our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have given consideration to the duties set out in section 17 (5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit. The Trustees have considered how the planned activities will contribute to the overall aims and objectives that they have set.

The following paragraphs, 'Objectives and Activities' and 'Achievements and Performance', detail the benefits that The Spire Arts provides to the public.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The Charity's objectives are to ‘advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of drama.’

The Spire Arts supports the development and presentation of theatre and performance for the former listed church it occupies in East Brighton. It encourages an open dialogue between professional artists and local people within our space and produces a programme of audience development activity that strives to remove barriers to access, engagement and understanding.

The Spire Arts Programme comprises three interlinked strands of activity. These are:

● A rolling programme of artist support through the provision of free or low-cost development space for artist and companies

● At key moments in Brighton & Hove’s cultural calendar we present a programme of events in partnership with other organisations (e.g. Brighton Festival, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Pride and at Christmas and Halloween)

● Advocacy and advice for local artists and companies comprising one-to-one sessions with the Co-Directors

In summary, The Spire Arts is working to:

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE In 2020/21, The Spire Arts delivered:

● Our public programme was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the venue being closed for a large period of the year and with use severely restricted for others by social distancing guidelines.

● The Spire Arts' programme consisted of a limited run of 10 socially distanced performances of TrueStory’s A Christmas Carol (this includes provision of 50 tickets for local people on low incomes to attend performances of A Christmas Carol free of charge).

● 4+ artist residencies with seed commissions with local artists supporting the development of new pieces of theatre and performance for future presentation at The Spire.

● Supported the development of The Candle Project by Abigail Conway, a new participatory artistic commission for Brighton Festival 2021.

Online Visitors and Social Media

The Spire Arts increased its online content and visitors. The Spire Arts social media followers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram increased from 2872 in 2019/20 to 3126 in 2020/21.

Investing in Local Artists and Creative Development

In 2020/21 The Spire Arts worked with 4+ artists and companies, which is significantly fewer than a usual year due to the Covid 19 pandemic The Spire Arts continued to champion the value of the arts, contributing to local and regional strategy, policy and provision of services through involvement with East Brighton Hub, What’s Next Brighton & Hove and during the Covid-19 pandemic the ABCD plan for cultural recovery led by Brighton & Hove City Council

Venue Hire and Income Generation

Our ability to hire the venue in 2020-21 was heavily curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During 2020-21 £6418.43 in car parking and storage charges. Donations to the charity totaled £914.80.

Priorities and Policies

The Spire Arts has made successful applications for project support from Sussex Community Foundation, and People’s Postcode Lottery to support our artistic programme

To support the ongoing capital redevelopment we secured funding from Sussex Community Foundation/Rampion Fund and the Theatres Trust to support energy efficiency and accessibility improvements.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

To ensure the survival of The Spire Arts through the pandemic we secured funding via Arts Council England’s Emergency Fund, central government's Small Business Grant and DCMS’s Cultural Recovery Fund. These funds have allowed us to maintain our core administrative function, artistic programme and essential building maintenance.

The level of reserves is monitored by the Trustees at its quarterly meetings and is currently considered to be reasonable, given the nature and scale of our activities. Our aim is that the level of free reserves (that is those funds not tied up in fixed assets and not designated or restricted) should be in the region of £10,000, which has been achieved successfully during 2020/21

The charity uses Lloyds Bank for its banking purposes.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

During 2020/21 The Spire Arts worked towards the objectives contained in our business continuity plan developed in response to Covid-19 by the Co Directors and the trustees. This articulates our strategy to ensure the survival of the organisation during Covid-19, programming plans and the principles behind our approach to audience development. The plan reflects our continued ambition to increase access to, and understanding and enjoyment of, theatre and performance. Designed to increase the quality of experience at The Spire Arts for artists, audiences, participants and partners, the plan positions the building as an everyday place, putting creative processes at the heart of people's daily lives.

Signed Dated 24th Sep 2021

Susan Meek Chair of Trustees