Trustees' Annual Report for the period
From
Period start date Period end date 04 06 2020 06 2021 To[04 ]
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name USURP ART
Other names charity is known by Usurp, Usurp Art Space, Usurp Art Gallery & Studios
Registered charity number (if any) 1183720
Charity's principal address 62 Wilson Gardens
Harrow
Postcode HA1 4DZ
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poulomi Desai | Trustee | |||
| Simon Underwood | Trustee | |||
| Denesh Bhabuta | Chair | |||
| Margaret Trotter | Trustee | |||
| Manjit Rooprah | Trustee | |||
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
March 2012
TAR
1
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Foundation Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods Appointed by a resolution passed at trustees meeting
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
-
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
-
relationship with any related parties;
-
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
For public benefit to promote and foster the understanding and appreciation of diverse, multi - media art, and creativity. To advance education and learning in creative practices, in particular but not exclusively, by providing programmes, events, training, tours, residencies, talks, exhibitions, performances, publications, screenings and collaborative projects. To further such other purposes which may be charitable according to the law of England and Wales as the trustees see fit from time to time.
March 2012
TAR
2
The year continued to be full of challenges, changes and developments due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that exposed the inequalities and fragility in our communities. Many of our Usurp community have lost loved ones, jobs and their creative livelihoods. With the various in and out of lockdowns, we prepared and implemented measures across our programmes to prevent the spread of infection and to ensure the health and safety of our volunteers, artists and participants, shifting from in person projects to online participation, mentoring and funded commissions. We continued to review and respond to the situation, with delivery of food and supplies to some of the most vulnerable BAME LGBTQ+. We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Main activities and Projects: “The New Normal Memorial” Commissions – beyond a plinth and a headstone. Our major project responded directly to the pandemic, globalisation and decolonisation debates. Eight new funded commissions with mentoring, supported over 20 QTPOC artists / collectives. It Summary of the main explored the ideas and ecologies of future change - Where is the activities undertaken for the “we” and who are our communities? How do we create these to public benefit in relation to have an action of agency, justice, persistent will, power and these objects (include within sustainable resources? How might we be together as a community this section the statutory in the future? declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance Commissioned artworks: www.usurp.org.uk/commissions issued by the Charity Black Venus: New video art project and designed t-shirts, tote Commission on public benefit) bags with information booklet. Daniel Braithwaite Shirley: A set of 10 x 3D sculptural artworks - Black Trans memorials. Lyall Hakaria and Momoe Tasker: Hand block printed material created and made into a Poutama dress, four hand printed textile pieces. Raju Rage and Nad Ma: 46 hand silk screened folded poster prints in English, 46 hand silk screened folded poster prints in Spanish, a metal engraving, 10 art prints, 10 x Fabriano prints. Say It Loud Club - community group for LGBTQ asylum seekers and refugees: Workshops with 10 participants produced six large scale hand painted banners to use for their events. Tanoa Sasraku: A1 Lino print - unique artwork. The Mollusc Dimension: pencil and pen poetry zine, spoken word and music video, seven experimental poems, four digital artworks. Umber Ghauri: Short story, photographic project, postcards. “I’ve never had this type of support before, to discuss ideas and being sign posting for technical advice and ways of thinking. It’s been a very difficult time for me for a while and also being in hospital. Normally, I just have to produce something to order so this project has opened up new ideas about my own creativity, given me confidence about future possibilities and my relationship to communities”. Umber Ghauri.
March 2012
TAR
3
Further outcomes:
Cultural Communities – supporting Usurp Art to survive and thrive as an organisation that fosters cultural exchanges in communities, improving lives. This project inspired us to further the model of directly supporting creatives to make and reflect for public benefit. It also initiated new networks for intergenerational and skills exchange. A new relationship was created with The Bartlett College of Architecture who produced the 3D sculptures under COVID lockdown.
A Creative & Cultural Country - Sustaining communities. The Usurp Art community supports BAME LGBTQ+ creatives and people – as marginalised and invisibilised voices are still undermined unless they fit with a dominant narrative of what culture is. Usurp Art will continue to contribute and expand the sustenance of these communities by progressing the project to include an online portal for the outcomes produced and will use this project as a future model to support cultural activities in a meaningful way.
Together Project
Our initial community project that began last year expanded further, partnering with Harrow Arts Centre, highlighting a crisis that hit minority communities hardest of all. We worked with South Asian LGBTQIA+ communities and commissioned artists to produce a brand new film featuring a vibrant, reflective and joyous mix of performances from a variety of artistic disciplines, including comedy, dance, songs, storytelling and poetry. The film celebrates the power of the human spirit to overcome hardship and shines a spotlight on communities most affected by COVID-19. We have been supporting Black and Asian LGBTQIA+ communities since Covid-19 struck through food, advice, and mental health support since the start and this is one of the outcomes through bringing people together. The film premiered online with a live audience. Artists commissioned: Andy Kumar, Teenasai Balamu, Raheem Mir, Sabah Choudrey, Abhijeet Rane, Neelu Bhuman, Seema Mattu. More information and watch the film: www.usurp.org.uk
Consultation and academic partnerships.
University of Greenwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich and in partnership with The Greenwich Hospital, Museum of Walking and School of Noise.
Usurp Art participated in the Greenwich SOUND/IMAGE festival, a series of exhibitions, workshops, talks and activities showcasing leading audio-visual art that investigated relationships between sound and image. The University's School of Design has hosted a SOUND/IMAGE conference since 2015, inviting international worldleading artists to share their work and practice, in an open and accessible environment. Usurp Art participated in interviews, and created audio-visual installations, transforming the windows of a shop unit within historic Greenwich Market into a contemporary, outdoor exhibition, that explored the interplay of sound and light.
March 2012
TAR
4
Studio Voltaire Art Space – Desperate Living C-19
Usurp Art was invited to lead an online mentoring workshop as part of a Studio Voltaire project hosted by the artist and activist, Raju Rage. The project was part of a series of five focused research, conversation and sharing sessions working in collaboration with a group of fifteen people found through an open call. These constructive sessions unpacked the context and intersections of ‘community’, explored the history of queer movements, Black Lives Matter, and planned positively for the present and future.
Tate Britain Winter Commission and archive
We were delighted that the celebrated artist, Chila Kumari Singh Burman was awarded the Tate Britain Winter commission. Her celebrated, magnificent, illuminated installation ‘remembering a brave new world’ lit up the dark days and nights. Usurp Art curated her first retrospective in 2010 at our art space and we are very pleased that our posters and leaflets produced for the exhibition are now part of her archive at Tate Britain.
Associate artists and support group. Our artists associates and group continued in their own successes, and raised funds to support two black women’s groups that support women who face domestic violence: Sistah Space and Southall Black Sisters.
We supported volunteers economically during this time to enable them to continue their work for small charities and continued our participation in the Greater London Authority’s Civic Futures Programme, sharing strategic knowledge and guidance.
As an active and vibrant arts organisation Usurp Art continues to create opportunities for artists and communities. We encourage volunteering opportunities and network with community groups and arts organisations to increase arts provision and public participation. We also continue our partnerships with a variety of strategic bodies and agencies engaged in direct provision in the arts and education, to provide activities that promote diverse, experimental artistic and cultural practices.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
March 2012
TAR
5
We thank our volunteers, grant funders and our communities for their ongoing support.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
-
policy on grantmaking;
-
policy programme related investment;
-
contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
March 2012
TAR
6
Section D Achievements and performance In spite of the ongoing tumultuous times, the team at Usurp Art Summary of the main achievements of the charity continued to provide essential, practical support to artists, creatives during the year and communities, and share ways of mentoring and peer support networks. Through direct commissions and working with partners, we were able to extend our broadcasting methods to share new works with audiences and foster collaborations. The feedback we have received from participants, artists, creatives, funding bodies, institutions and audiences has been very positive and places us in a stronger position for the future.
March 2012
TAR
7
Section E Financial review
Usurp Art has a reserves policy to maintain a prudent level of Brief statement of the reserves to protect it’s future and in case of closure, ensuring that charity’s policy on reserves wind up costs are covered.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
-
the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
-
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
-
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Poulomi Desai Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Trustee etc)
Date 1 / 04 / 2022
March 2012
TAR
8
TAR March 2012
| Charity Name | No (if any) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USURP ART | 1183720 | ||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||
| For the period from |
Period start date 05/06/20 |
To | Period end date 04/06/21 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 500 - - - - - 500 - - - 500 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 500 - 2,664 3,164 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 20,200 8 - - - - - - 20,208 - - - 20,208 7,380 - - - - - - - - 7,380 - - - 7,380 12,828 - 24,643 37,471 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 20,200 8 500 - - - - - 20,708 - - - 20,708 7,380 - - - - - - - - 7,380 - - - 7,380 13,328 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Projectgrant | - | |||||
| Investment income | - | - | ||||
| Activities forgeneratingfunds | 500 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 500 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| Charitable activites | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| 500 | 12,828 | - | 13,328 | - | ||
| - | **- ** | - | - | - | ||
| 2,664 | 24,643 | - | 27,307 | - | ||
| 3,164 | 37,471 | - | 40,635 | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
02/04/22
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Cash at bank Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 3,164 37,471 - - - - 3,164 37,471 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name POULOMI DESAI |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval | |||
| POULOMI DESAI | 01/04/22 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
02/04/22
2