Charity Report 2020
Charity Name:
originalprojects
Charity Registration Number:
1181297
Registered Address:
1 Saint John’s Terrace, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 2NF
Trustees:
Chair: Katherine Wood Jane Bhoyroo Lawrence Leaman Rebecca May-Marston
Objects
originalprojects;’ charity objects are to promote and encourage public participation in and appreciation of the arts in Great Yarmouth and the surrounding area in particular but not exclusively by the production of public art projects, events and workshops.
Structure and Management:
originalprojects; is governed by the Trustees who meet at least 4 times a year for planning, progress and financial updates and at other times for additional monitoring,
Trustees are invited to join the board from proposals from existing board members and officers. A shadowing period is followed by an invitation to join if both sides feel appropriate,
info@originalprojects.space www.originalprojects.space Registered Charity Number 1181297 1 Saint John’s Terrace Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
© originalprojects; 2020
Charity Report 2020
2020 Projects and Review
Covid-19 impacts
Covid-19 and the associated restrictions meant that much of the activity planned for the first half the year wasn’t able to go ahead. This included a Creative Sharing Summit, due to take place in March which would explore ideas around sharing economies and models.
New Geographies
The New Geographies project which received funding from Arts Council’s Ambition for Excellence scheme reporting was completed. originalprojects; worked with Ian Giles on a series of queer rambling walks exploring hidden queer histories, and producing a structure as space for recording and documenting the project which toured to Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, Firstsite, Colchester, OUTPOST, Norwich, and Great Yarmouth Library. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery expressed interest in adding Ian Giles’ work to their collection.
one-twelfth
The one-twelfth project to commission 1:12 scale public artworks for Merrivale Model Village that will be installed there for one year then permanently sited in the public domain continued with the artwork created by Ryan Gander being installed on top of The Empire (a former theatre owned by Jays UK, who run The Hippodrome Circus). A metal structure was made to bolt to existing holes (as it’s a listed building) and the work is bolted on a plinth which is in turn bolted to the metal structure. The sculpture is now visible within the public domain.
Esmee Fairbairn Funding for project with Flipvanmoon
Nick Marcq, the Director of Flipvanmoon, was offered a discretionary TASK grant from Esmee Fairbairn Trustee, John Fairbairn, to work on a film or theatre project. Nick elected to work in Great Yarmouth and connect with originalprojects to work on this. Initial enquiries and contacts were made with local school groups and via ENJOY (Local Cultural Education Partnership) in 2020, but due to Covid-19 restrictions the project was paused until times allowed.
PRIMEYARC
In March we were invited to view a former Debenhams in Market Gates Shopping Centre with a view to taking on the lease as a charity. The invitation came from Avira, a company that sources charities to take on leases of empty retail and business units, in order to save landlords extensive rate costs. A proposal was developed around a public space presenting exhibitions, workshops
info@originalprojects.space www.originalprojects.space Registered Charity Number 1181297 1 Saint John’s Terrace Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
© originalprojects; 2020
Charity Report 2020
and associated events, and a restricted access area for artists’ studios. This would continue our meanwhile use approach to occupying and reanimating empty retail spaces in the town centre.
The proposal was accepted and we took on a 3 year lease with a 30 day break clause starting in July.
Materials from the previous occupation of Ex Marks the Spot (the former Marks & Spencers) had been saved and stored at The Empire, allowing us to construct gallery walls, and materials within the building from the warehouse area were used to construct studio spaces.
The first event was a screening of the YARMONICS showreel in September, followed by an exhibition of Abbysworld by Andrew Dibben, presenting an imagined post-apocalyptic landscape which opened at the end of October and then had to close after 3 days due to the second lockdown. We were able to open the exhibition again during December.
By the end of the year we had 6 studio spaces filled including by 2 groups (Say it with Stitch and Magic Acorns) plus further enquiries.
YARMONICS
Eastern Ear (our partners and collaborators on YARMONICS) received £8,500 in the form of an Emergency Funding Grant from Arts Council England to deliver activity that supported artists we had been in discussion with in a Covid-19 responsive way.
This resulted in a series of performances that were filmed at various locations then made available to view and listen to online, including works made in Norway, Marseille, London and Great Yarmouth. A showreel of the works was created which was presented in PRIMEYARC in September as a screening and first public presentation within the space.
We also received a commitment from The Ranworth Trust to provide £20,000 support for YARMONICS over 5 years as seed funding to support the attraction of additional funds. 2020 saw the first £4,000 grant that enhanced the funds from Arts Council England.
Designing the Real World
In August we created a Crowdfunder campaign as part of the Aviva Community Fund to develop Designing the Real World - A community-led Design Studio.
We were successful in attracting £2,500 from individual donations, £1,750 from Aviva staff members, and this was enhanced by a commitment from The Ranworth Trust to give £2,500 per year over 5 years.
info@originalprojects.space www.originalprojects.space Registered Charity Number 1181297 1 Saint John’s Terrace Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
© originalprojects; 2020
Charity Report 2020
Yarmouth Springs Eternal
We supported Genevieve Rudd in making an successful application to Arts Council England for a Project Grant for Yarmouth Springs Eternal, enhancing her successful Norfolk & Norwich Festival Creative Individuals Norfolk bid, plus funding from East Anglia Art Fund, Norfolk County Council’s Arts Project Fund and Better Together Norfolk.
The project will deliver a series of walking workshops with various artists, exploring the positive effects of Spring and nature in Great Yarmouth post-pandemic, and presenting an exhibition at PRIMEYARC in Spring 2021 along with a seminar day with the participating artists.
Magic Acorns - In-Between Spaces
We supported Magic Acorns in making a successful application to Arts Council England for a Project Grants to deliver In-Between Spaces, a project delivering a series of family workshops in PRIMEYARC plus some professional development sessions for young artists working with children.
Planning Going Forward
Taking on the lease for PRIMEYARC provides a major opportunity to support arts and education within the Borough of Great Yarmouth, and making sure that we find occupants for all potential studio spaces and start to create a community around those spaces would help further the objects of the charity.
The potential of PRIMEYARC to provide exhibition opportunities for artists is also of great benefit and securing funding to support an exhibition programme is a priority.
Being aware of Covid restrictions and ready to respond is something that will no doubt be ongoing and require continual monitoring and time to implement.
info@originalprojects.space www.originalprojects.space Registered Charity Number 1181297 1 Saint John’s Terrace Great Yarmouth NR30 2NF
© originalprojects; 2020