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Bernstein in Chichester: Trustee report
Registered Office: Highlands, Poplar Hill, Shillingstone, Dorset DT11 0SE
22nd January 2024 (note: delayed submission)
Trustee Annual Report
Reporting period up to 5th April 2023
Background: Bernstein in Chichester was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and entered the Register of Charities on 4th October 2017.
The objects of the CIO were to advance the public education in, and appreciation of, the arts and culture within the City of Chichester and Chichester District, through the celebration of the work and life of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) and his close links with Chichester by way of concerts, recitals, workshops, reviews, talks, film shows and exhibitions.
Bernstein in Chichester’s festival programme launched with its first event on 27th March 2018 (Bernstein Triple Bill screening at Chichester Cinema at New Park) and continued throughout the year, culminating in a performance on 27th November 2018 of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in Chichester Cathedral with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop and the joint choirs of Chichester, Winchester and Salisbury cathedrals.
Following the success of the Bernstein in Chichester Festival events that took place throughout 2018 a decision was made by the trustees to continue its efforts to establish a permanent memorial to Hussey/Bernstein and the Chichester Psalms within the vicinity of the Cathedral and in a location that will be of interest and intrigue to the public and visitors to the city.
July 2021 saw the tragic passing of trustee Richard Elwes.
The trustees, thanks to the great forethought of Alan Thurlow, invited Canon David Nason to replace Richard Elwes’s position on the committee and this invitation was accepted. His details
Bernstein in Chichester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission No.: 1174988
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Bernstein in Chichester: Trustee report
were corrected on the Charity’s Commission website in late July 2021. David will be treasurer and additional signatory on the the Bernstein in Chichester bank account.
We were also thrilled that in July 2021 Dame Patricia Routledge accepted to become patron of the plaque project. She was a personal friend of Leonard Bernstein’s, he cast her as the leading lady in his musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Dame Patricia joined us in person for a trustee meeting on October 12th, 2021 during which we reviewed the wording for the plaque. Otherwise we made slow progress with the cathedral, seemingly finding it very hard to elicit responses from the Dean’s office.
During this reporting period there was no income to the funds with expenditure at £97. With year balance from previous reporting period of £3,060 the total unrestricted funds in Bernstein in Chichester’s accounts stand at £2,939.
Ongoing: Bernstein in Chichester continues to move the project of the plaque installation forward.
ENDS.
Written by: Emma-Jane Wyatt
Approved by trustees: Alan Thurlow, David Nason
Bernstein in Chichester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission No.: 1174988