OUTBURST ARTS FESTIVAL DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The directors present their annual report and financial ststements forthe year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial slatemenls and comply wth the chartty's Memorandum and Articles of Association the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing Iheir accounls in accordance with Ihe Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102)" las amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 20191 Objectives and activities The company is established exclusively for charitable purposes. namety for the production of the annual Outburst Queers Arts Feslival in Belfast. Outburst Arts Festival Ioutbursll is a chartty organisation and community platfom for sharing and exploring queer experiences stories and ideas through theatre. film. music. wrtting, workshops, visual art and other creative disciplines. Our aim is to challenge, to entertain, to surprise, to support and develop new talent and raise awareness of queer experiences through Ihe Arts in Northem Ireland. We are particulady interested in bold new ideas and engaging voices, offering a platform for innovative new that is not available elsewhere. The directors have paid due regard to guidan issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. Achievements and perfonnance 2022123 saw Outburst's first full year Sin 2019 of working beyond covid related restrictions, leading us into newly invigorated but also deeply altered arts and business landscapes. Changing audience demographics and behaviours, a diminished arts workforce and new priorities for funders all created new challenges. Despite this, Outburst saw an increase in business interest. partnership development and fresh opportunities for strategic gr0h with a nevly appointed Executive Director leading on business developmenl. A new business relationship with Bullitt Hotel enabled us to secure a hotel partner for the firsl time in six years, also offering physical space for us to run our new Salons and other small gatherings throughout the year. We secured fvnding for our first formal tour of OutburSt-produd work (Richard O'Leary'5 Border Fairies) through the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund, while an exciting new support partnership wilh Jerwood Arts enabled us to run our first dedicaled Artist Development programme. Bolh helped us to fulfil a long-standing strategic target around sustainable development for queer artists. Building on our year-round work, we continued with our innovative Transforming Stages programme for trans writers. Our new one-to-one artisl clinics were an instant success, with artists able to avail of support and practical advice from our arts team through online appointments. We also started our new Salon, a regular open space for critical discussion and sharing ideas. This too was an instant hit. with plans to develop the programme through skills building in 2023124 Along with ongoing development with eslablished arts partners like QFT. Black Box and Queen's University, we developed new creative partnerships and relationships wth Paperxdips Bookshop, St. Joseph's Church venue, Queer History Nl, CatatystArts and many more. Working wilh organisations in the LGBTQ+ sector, Outburst led on Belfast City Councikfunded research into arts and culture provision for LGBTQ+ people in the cty. the findings and recommendations of which will aim to lead to more strategic and equitable provision in the city-
OUTBURST ARTS FESTIVAL DIRECTORS. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 International Research Develo ment and Partnershi With the British Council International Collaboration Fund support secured in lale 2021, throughout 2022 we developed our T-Kuir collaboration with Ri5co festival in Brazil and FAQ in Argentina. with three artists and producer residencies in Brazil, Argentina and Nl and a perfornian of developed work at Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2022. Following on from our British Council EU festival delegation in 2021. we were invited to Transfom feslival in Marseilles, France. to meet with the delegation again and further explore future neOrkIng and co-development possibilities belween European artists, feslivals and companies. European connections conlinued lo expand beyond British Council, thanks to our presentation to a wide range of cultural ambassador5, agencies and attaches at the EUNIC UK neOrk gathering in Belfast. This led to inrtial partnership conversations with embassies in Lithuania and Finland that will be further developed in 2023124. Juntes, our ambttious Nebula-funded inlemational partnership wtth ILGA and CFFP to explore trans and feminist solidarity building through the arts with policy makers and activists. began in late 2022 and will continue until the end of 2023, leading to ground breaking research, perfomances and gatherings in Brazil and Northern Ireland. The 2022 festival saw participation and delegations from Palestine, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey and Ukraine, with Ukrainian artist Anton Shebetko supported to exhibit work through the Briiish Council's UKI Ukraine Season. anisational Develo ment and Wider Partici ation A milestone in organisational development was reached in April 2022, wrth the appointment of the company's first Executive Direclor, Sarah Williams, Ihrough PHF supporl. Recruitment for this post was delayed through the covid crisis and the appointment has enabled us to finalty move forward with ambitious strategic business planning. The appointment supported us to finalise our new organisational strategy, to be released later in 2023, along with updaling of policies and procedures and building on business development. In other slaffing developments, our Assislanl Producer Marc Gregg resigned in January 2023 lo lake up a new opportunity, which enabled us to review and renew the role and anticipate recrurting an experienced event producer early in the new finanual year. 11 was a busy year for wider parlicipation beyond Outburst's own work. with strong interest in the organisalion for participation in extemal events. As part of the Unboxed prograrnme's Our Pla in Spa, our artistic director hosted a conversation with artist and environmentalist Daniel Lismore, also programming some works for Gaze Inlernational Film Festival. We also participated in events for the Arts & Business company network. Our Director also supported the development of other arts leaders, through ongoing informal mentoring for Kale O'Donnell (Director, Trans Vegas) and Naoise Callan (Programming and Outreach, Northern Ireland Mental Health Festival).
OUTBURST ARTS FESTIVAL DIRECTORS. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Financial review The directors consider that the unrestricted funds of the charity have sufficient reSoUrS and assets available which are adequate to fvllfill their obligations. The results for the period are as set out on pages 11 to 26. The charity returned net outgoing resources of £86,29512022 net incoming resources of £45,329) of which Ihere were nel outgoing unrestricted resources of £44612022 net incoming reSoUrS of £8,331) and net outgoing restricted reSoUrS of £86,295 {2022 - net incoming resources of £36,998). Al 31 March 2023 the balance of unrestricted resee$ were £73,074 {2022 - £73,520) and restricled reserves of £66.511 (2022 - £152.8061. 11 is Ihe policy of the charity that unreslricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to beeen three and six month's expendtture. The directors consider that resetves at Ihis level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able lo continue the charity's current activities while consideration 15 given to way5 in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year. The directors have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Structure, governance and management The charity is a company limited by guarantee and a registered chartty for tax purposes. The direclors who served during the year and up to the dale of signature of the financial statemenls were.. Ms K McAleese Ms E Murphy Mr M Eaglesham Ms C Mccusker Ms C Campbell Ms F Carolan Mr D Codling Mr E Dara (Resigned 17 August 2022) Key Management Personnel Remuneration The Board consider the board of directors and the artistic director as comprising the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the chanty on a day to day basis. All board members give of their time freety and no board remuneration was paid in Ihe year. Board members are required to disclose all relevant conflict of interests and register them at each monthly board meeling and in accordance with the charity's policy withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
OUTBURST ARTS FESTIVAL DIRECTORS. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Slatement of directors. responsibilities The directors, who also act as trustees for the charttable activities of Outburst Arts Festival, are responsible for preparing the Directors, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Slandards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Praclice). Company Law requires Ihe directors to prepare ffnancial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming reSoUrS and application of resources. including the income and expenditu, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these financial statements. the directors are required to= select suitable accounting policies and then appty them consistentty.. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 {FRS 102) make judgements and eslimates thal are reasonable and prudent., stale whelher applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in Ihe financial slatements.. and prepare Ihe financial stslements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume Ihal the charity will continue in operation. The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Acl 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Ihe charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Disclosure of inforniation to auditor Each of the directors has confinned that there is no infomation of which they are aware which is relevant lo the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confimed that Ihey have laken appropriate steps lo identfy such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information. This report has been prepared in accordan with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies, exemption. The direclors, report was approved by the Board of Directors. Mr D Codling Director Dated.. 28 September 2023