2023-03-31-accounts

Annual Report and Unaudited Accounts

1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023

MeshWorks is a CIO committed to advancing understandings about the social role of art and performance, through producing and promoting contemporary art for audiences around the world via artist residency, research and performance platforms.

Charity Name : MeshWorks

Charity Number : 1185702

Registration Date : 9[th] October 2019

Trustees:

Amanda Hill-Dixon (Chair) Peter Macdonald (Treasurer) Helen Nicholson

Registered Address:

3 Sovereign Crescent, Lexden Road, Colchester. CO3 3UZ

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Governance and Management:

With no paid staff, MeshWorks is a volunteer led organisation, currently run by a small board of trustees who receive no renumeration for their participation. The board of trustees are supported day-to-day by researcher and producer Dr Poppy Spowage.

Current trustees include:

Amanda Hill-Dixon (Chair) Peter Macdonald (Treasurer) Helen Nicholson

Objectives and Activities:

MeshWorks’ objective is to is to promote art for the benefit of the public by the production of contemporary East African performance and art projects in particular but not exclusively in Sub-Saharan Africa and England and Wales. To advance understandings about the social role of art and performance, MeshWorks produces and promotes contemporary art for audiences around the world via artist residency, research and performance platforms. This has included collaborating with international partners and supporting the development and delivery of the artist residency, research and performance platforms, including East African Soul Train (EAST) and Lost+Found. As well as providing training opportunities for East African artists, MeshWorks activities have a range of benefits for the public, including connecting and engaging local and international audiences with international contemporary cultural practice and advancing understanding about the social role of contemporary arts and performance practice.

Off/Track (https://www.off-track.xyz/)

Between 01 April 2022- 31 March 2023, MeshWorks provided in-kind support to Off/Track, a newly established collective of artists from around the world which evolved out of EAST - a 7-day pop-up residency centered around a journey on East Africa’s historic railways, which brings artists and people working in the creative sector together to explore their identity and collaborate – and Lost&Found – a hybrid residency and research programme where artists are guided through and invited to co-create a process virtually that inspires them to play, to share perspectives, to challenge their peers, take risks and create new collaborative work, for on and offline audiences. In-kind support has included production, administration and fundraising support – namely led by Poppy Spowage, with support from the board of trustees. Together with MeshWorks, Off/Track successfully secured grants from the British Council and Pro Helvetia for a second edition of Lost&Found which will take place between May-September 2023, creating opportunities for 16 artists from around the world with online and live performances in London, Gaberone and Bangalore. MeshWorks will continue to provide support throughout delivery.

Fiscal Support

As Off/Track are not a registered or legal entity, and all project grants are currently having to run through individual members of the collective, MeshWorks have been working with the team on a number of funding applications, acting as a fiscal sponsor to provide mentorship, governance and financial support. This has included open applications to The Miller-Zillmer Foundation, The Supporting Act Foundation and Moleskin Foundation. We are also in the process of finalising the opening of our community interest

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bank account with Metro Bank which will allow us to also have a paypal donation site. Finally, over the next year we are looking forward to increasing our public visibility investing in a new website, having an operational bank account and continuing to support the team at Off/Track with the next year’s programme which will include Lost&Found23, EAST goes South and The Compass.

Financial Review

Income in the period 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023 from voluntary donations and fundraising activities was zero. All activity in this reporting period was in-kind, outgoing expenditure was also zero.

Statement of Financial Activities 1[st] April 2022 – 31[st] March 2023:

The Trustees are satisfied that MeshWorks is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain and audit under Charities Act 2011, section 145. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for complying with Charities Act 2011 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

Annual Return and Financial Accounts Approved by Board on: 9[th] January 2024

Luisa-Amanda Hill Dixon Helen Nicholson Peter Macdonald Trustee, MeshWorks Trustee, MeshWorks Trustee, MeshWorks [phone] [phone] [phone] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

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