TRUSTEES ’ ANNUAL REPORT
Eden Place Arts Centre
1[st] April 2023- 31[st] March 2024
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Overview
Established in 1993, Eden Place Arts Centre is a thriving community arts hub located within Pilots Row Youth and Community Centre, which is situated within the Bogside area of Derry City. Historically a flashpoint area for violence during the troubles, the Bogside is an area which suffers significant social and economic deprivation. The area has many problems associated with poverty and the legacy of the past. Anti-social behaviour, sectarianism, drug and alcohol abuse and dissident activity are prevalent. Eden Place Arts Centre (EPAC) is funded in kind by Pilots Row Centre, which is itself a joint provision between Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Education Authority, and by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through their Lottery Project Funding Programme. Other income is from course fees and in-house fund raising.
Aims and Purpose
Eden Place Arts Centre Constitution 2. Objectives: 2.1: The group is established to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the arts in the northwest area of Northern Ireland by the provision of support, advice, education, training and facilities.
The primary aim of EPAC is to provide access to the arts for all sections of our community. Through the provision of a wide range of arts and crafts classes, awareness raising arts projects and regular exhibitions, we engage with individuals of all ages, both able bodied and non-able bodied, marginalised groups and groups of adults and young people with wide ranging needs. We encourage participation in the arts for those who may not normally have that opportunity. This year we have worked with groups such as: Foyle Women’s Aid, The Act Group and Praxis Care Connects. Each year we focus on projects for Human Rights Day and International Women’s Day.
Our core activities normally consist of arts and crafts classes offering tuition in different art forms such as: Painting, Woodcarving, Pottery, Printmaking, Sketching, Photography,Spinning and Weaving and Mosaic Art. We normally run these classes throughout weekdays and evenings for 26 weeks in the year, over 3 terms - Winter, Spring and Summer. These classes are funded by highly discounted fees from participants (on average £5.50 per two-hour class) and by our ACNI grants. The classes attract participants of all ages, including those with a range of disabilities, from the immediate Bogside area, as
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well as from Derry City and counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. In addition, we normally run extra courses and workshops (free admission) for specific marginalised groups such as Aware, The Act Group, Praxis Care Connects, Youth Clubs and Foyle Women’s Aid. Our ‘Art for Good Health Course’ runs for 26 weeks throughout the year. It is free to anyone suffering from any type of health issue, that feels art would enhance their life.
Our space within Pilots Row, as well as its use for classes, is also a gallery space which we use to promote and support local artists, some of whom may not otherwise have the opportunity to access exhibition space. On average, we have a different exhibition each month. We also use this space to exhibit work by international artists, charities and local groups and to showcase projects undertaken during the year. At the end of each term we have an exhibition of work by the participants in our courses.
Purposes and Benefits
The direct benefits from our aims are the reduction in stress, anxiety, isolation and loneliness of our participants, through their involvement in creative activities, as well as boosting confidence and self-esteem as a result of achievement in new skills and knowledge along with awareness and appreciation of the arts. These benefits are demonstrated through positive end of term feedback from course participants and from their continued interest in enrolling for our classes.
We continue to educate the public on issues through our arts projects throughout the year. We encourage young people to use art as a tool to effect change in the world around them. Examples of these are our Human Rights arts workshops that we run in conjunction with the local branch of Amnesty International. We actively reach out to marginalised groups to work with on these projects.
Public Benefit
Eden Place Arts Centre aims to bring Art to the Heart of the community.
Eden Place Arts Centre contributed to positive mental health and increased sense of wellbeing within the community by providing 2 terms of recreational arts courses throughout the reporting period. These courses are open to all in the community at a very low cost to enable access to the arts for all. We find that these courses provide:
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A life line to people suffering from loneliness and isolation.
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A safe space for creative expression.
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A place to make new friends.
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A time out from the stresses of life.
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Access to an arts community
At the end of each term, we provide a platform for each individual who took part in our term time courses to showcase their work. The showcase proves to be a major confidence boost for all participants.
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Below is an outline of activity from 1[st] April 2023-31[st] March 2024 . Please note some of our projects are ongoing until the end of June 2024.
Spring Term of Courses
Our Spring Term ran for 10 weeks in April-June 2023, in the following media:
Painting, Ceramics, Wood Sculpture, Mosaic, Landscape Painting, Spinning and Weaving, Inner Landscapes Abstract Art, Recreational Art, Sketching, Plein Air Painting Workshop, Palette Knife Painting Workshop.
Art for Good Health ran a 6 week crafts course, April-June 2023.
Exhibitions April 2023-March 2024 :
Easter Students’ Exhibition 3[rd] -5[th] April 2023. This exhibition contained work created in the term running up to the exhibition.
‘Without Borders’ Exhibition by Barry Turton 18[th] May-8[th] June 2023
Summer Students’ Exhibition 27[th] -29[th] June 2023. This exhibition contained work created in the term running up to the exhibition.
‘Where the Heart Is’ Exhibition by The Rossville Group 19[th] -26[th] October 2023, an exhibition of paintings and prints by a group of students with special needs.
‘Iona Art’ Exhibition by Paul Kelly 2[nd] - 16[th] November 2023
‘ Christmas Students’ Exhibition’ 13[th] -15[th] December 2023, this exhibition contained work created in the term running up to the exhibition.
International Women’s Day Exhibition by 3 local female artists, 7[th] -15[th] March 2024
Autumn Term of Courses
Our Autumn Term of 10 week courses ran from September -December 2023 in the following media: Woodsculpture, Ceramics, Oil Painting for Beginners, Inner Landscapes Painting, Landscape Painting, Recreational Art, Iconography, Printmaking, Mosaic Art, Spinning and Weaving.
Art for Good Health ran for 10 weeks from Sept-Dec 2023: The students created Arpielleras. This is a free course offered to people suffering from ill health to alleviate isolation and promote mental health and wellbeing.
Projects
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Cross Community Painting Workshops based on The River Foyle theme took place on 4[th] July and 1[st] August as an outreach programme in The Tower Museum.
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The 4 week Comic Style Card Making Workshops ran in Nov/Dec 2023 with Pilots Row Youth Club. The cards were then sent to prisoners of conscience supported by Amnesty International.
Painting Workshops with Foyle Women’s Aid took place over a 10-week period between October-December 2023.
Christmas Crafts Workshops with Praxis Care Connects ran 12 sessions from OctoberDecember 2023.
The Christmas Waste Trees Project ran over 8 sessions with 2 youth clubs from Nov-Dec 2023 and were displayed over the festive season in two Tesco stores.
The Gaudi Style Bench Project with the ACT group ran from March through to the end of June 2023.
The Mural project with the young people from Pilots Row Youth Club ran from Feb-May 2023.
New Year Term of courses continued from Jan-March 2024 in the following media: Woodsculpture, Ceramics, Oil Painting for Beginners, Inner Landscapes, Landscape Painting, Recreational Art, Painting in Egg Tempera, Printmaking, Mosaic Art. B&W Photography.
The Art for Good Health Course continued with a 10 week term in: Sketching and Painting from Jan-March 2024.
Crosóg Bride/ St Brigid’s Cross Making Workshop took place on Wednesday 31[st] January 2024.
– Our yearly programme comprises three main areas 1. Term Time Courses, 2. Workshops and Community Projects, 3. Exhibitions. These are planned with reference to previous years’ experiences. Term Time Courses are a response to community demand. The term time courses also provide the Arts Centre with important revenue. Times and dates for every part of our project are planned a year in advance and a budget worked out accordingly with agreement between Pilots Row Centre Manager and Eden Place Management Committee so that as soon as we receive confirmation of our grant aid we can start advertising. We plan our projects with the needs of our local community in mind and we target marginalised groups to
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help give a voice to the voiceless in our community. We build on previous relationships while also forging new partnerships thus providing quality arts experiences for all.
Eden Place Arts Centre’s Management Committee, comprised of 8 local representatives, has a wealth of managerial, artistic and community experience. It meets bi-monthly. At Management Committee meetings reports are presented by the Chair, Arts Centre Coordinator and Treasurer. The Chair reports on general organisational matters. The Coordinator reports on the progress of courses, workshops, events and exhibitions, tutor involvement, audiences and student participation. All aspects of the Arts Centre are discussed and future events approved. The Treasurer presents income and expenditure spreadsheets and bank and petty cash reconciliations. A sub-committee of the Arts Co-ordinator, Finance Officer, Chair and Treasurer meet on a regular basis to deal with day-to-day running of the Centre. Three times a year the Management Committee is informed of the results of a satisfaction survey carried out by staff. Each project is managed by the Arts Centre Coordinator and overseen by the Management Committee. Eden Place has an established constitution with which all committee members are familiar. Many members of EPAC Management Committee and our Arts Centre Co-ordinator have received NICVA governance training.
The financial running of Eden Place Arts Centre is in the first instance undertaken by the Finance Officer and the Arts Co-ordinator and supervised by the Treasurer on an ongoing basis. As detailed in the attached Financial Policy, best practice is followed in the handling of all financial transactions, in making payments to staff, tutors and suppliers, and in the maintenance of appropriate financial records. Monthly reconciliations are made of the bank account and petty cash. The financial records are examined by the Management Committee at the bi-monthly meetings. At the end of the financial year (31st March), all records are passed for checking to the Centre’s accountants, who then produce an official Receipts and Payments Statement for production at the Annual General Meeting. The AGM is normally held in late April each year.
Achievements
This year we have grown audiences in the arts and introduced many new participants to our arts activities. Due to our increased online presence, through our website and social media we are attracting more and more participants. We have also introduced new tutors and artforms to our arts centre through our many activities and projects. We have provided a platform for young artists to exhibit their work, helping them to grow in confidence with their artistic careers.
Our exhibitions have been varied and have inspired many.
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Eden Place Arts Centre Management Committee Established April 2011
Majella Heaney Chairperson (Trustee)
Retired Further Education College Lecturer and course co-ordinator with 34 years experience .
Aileen Mac Manus Treasurer (Trustee)
Retired Company Secretary/Director-Derry Journal Ltd
Stephen Ross Secretary
A former Quantity Surveyor with more than eleven years professional experience
Aideen Corr
Former P.R and Events Manager for Derry City Council
Members:
Gus Hastings
Former manager of Pilots Row Centre
Mary Kennedy
Local Artist
Loraine McElhinney (Trustee)
Retired primary school teacher, lecturer, counsellor
Dr Helen Shiels
Management lecturer at University of Ulster
Eden Place Arts Centre
Pilots Row Centre, Rossville Street, Derry
Tel no: 07902172080
Email: info@edenplaceartscentre.com
Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland : NIC 100591
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Eden Place Arts Centre is in possession of the following groups of assets: Office Furniture
Workshop Furniture Darkroom and Camera Equipment Pottery Equipment Workshop Tools
Review of Financial for Year 2023-2024
Total Receipts on unrestricted funds were £23901 of which £22275 were course fees. Restricted funds of £35392 were funded by Arts Council Northern Ireland.
Expenditure on running term time courses and community projects was £62453.
This is because Repair and Maintenance costs including new pugmill for pottery, were much higher than previous year.
The net result for the year was minus £3160.
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Statement of receipts and payments - Year Ended 31 March 2024
| Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024 | Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024 | Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024 | Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024 | Statement of receipts and payments- Year Ended 31 March 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds |
Last Year |
|
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |
| Receipts | ||||
| Grants | 35,392 | 35,392 | 35,087 | |
| Donations | 754 | 754 | 207 | |
| FundraisingIncome | - | 459 | ||
| Course fees | 22,275 | 22,275 | 19,265 | |
| Other income | 872 | 872 | 590 | |
| Total Receipts | 23,901 | 35,392 | 59,293 | 55,608 |
| Payments | ||||
| Wages & Pensions | 22,843 | 22,843 | 21,408 | |
| Tutor fees & Materials | 29,581 | 29,581 | 25,886 | |
| Galleryexpenses | - | |||
| Exhibition expenses | 921 | 921 | 583 | |
| Volunteer expenses | - | |||
| Other costs | 9,108 | 9,108 | 5,763 | |
| Total Payments | 10,029 | 52,424 | 62,453 | 53,640 |
| Net Receipts/(Payments) | ||||
| Transfers to/(from)funds | -3160.00 | 1,968 | ||
| Surplus /(deficit) for theyear | ||||
| Reconcilation 31.3.2024 | ||||
| Cash at bank & in hand 31.3.2023 | 33,840 | 31,872 | ||
| Surplus/(deficit)thisyear end | 3,160 - |
1,968 | ||
| Cash at Bank & in hand 31.3.2024 | 30,680 | 33,840 |
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