OPEN ARTS TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. Structure, Governance and Management Governlng document The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The company was established under Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the company and is governed under its Articles ofAssociation. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 Recrultment and Appolntment ot Dlrectors The trustees of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the directors are elected to serve for a period of three years after which they must be re-elected at the nextAnnual General Meetlng. The trustees of the company have a mix of business and artistic skills. In the event of particular skills being lost due to retirement or resignation, suitable individuals are approached to offer themselves for appointment as trustees. Trustee Inductlon and training Most new trustees are familiar with the work of the charty. New trustees are encouraged to attend suitable training courses to familiarise themselves with both the work of the charity and their responsibilities as trustees. They are also made familiar wilh the Open Arts, Governance handbook. Rlsk management The trustees have carried out a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and were appropriate have put in place systems and controls to mitigate the effect of those risks. Objectlves and actlvltles The principal activity of the company is to promote and co-ordinate arts activities of all kinds by and with disabled people in the area of benefit, in accordance with the principles as laid down in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Open Arts. Achlevements and performance From April 2022 untll March 2023, we delivared 413 creative workshop sessions that engaged 554 indivlduals. In April 2022, we re-inststed our core programme to pre-pandemie levels. This included increased In person capacity by removing social distancing and allowing more movement around rooms e.g., for drama where participants had mainly remained seated. Where classes were kept shorter beeen September 2021 and April 2022, we increased the length of time back to the pre-covid times. On a weekly basis, throughout the year we delivered.. 3 x visual classes including one for blind and visually impaired Monday Players drama Open Arts Community Choir Creative writing Gamelan Group Luminous Soul dance On Thursday 16th June we launched Words Out, a new anthology of poetrylcr8ative writing, which featured work from participants across our core programme. The event was part of the Belfast Book Festival and featured readings, music, and dance from Luminous Soul. The Open Arts Community Choir have been perfomiing again. In April 2022 they competed in Bangor International Choral Festival where they won 2 awards. On 25th August they performed at the Belfast Mix Tape event in the Vwdterfront Hall with Ferna. They perfomied the song 'At Home, that was written during sessions with our participants and Ferna in early 2022.
OPEN ARTS TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Achlevements and performance (continued) On 29th September they also performed with local band Blackjack at the Arts & Business Awards. . Throughout April to June, we delivered workshops in partnership with Belfast Abbeyfield Society, funded by ACNI Arts & Older People. DanrS and musicians worked with residents of 5 residential homes in mindful nK*vement and dance. The project culminated with outdoor perfomiances at each of the houses, the creation of lyric books and movement prop packs that were left with residents. Over July and August 2022, delivered nearly 20 sessions as part of the Solas Summer Schemes for children with autism and additional complex needs. We conts'nued to deliver our In Tune project (funded by Children in Need). There were regular sessions for both partner organlsations.. Angel Eyes- Tiny Tots, Primary age group, Teen Hub and 1..1 sessions for children with additional complex needs. Autism Initiatives - group and 1..1 sessions. 'Thls programme has b88n invaluable for K's mental well-b8ing and personal growth. It has provlded him with an opportunity to socialise and learn important skills, h8lping to build his confidence in a s8f8 8nd understanding setting. K always leaves the music programme chatting and happy (this is usually a very raTr occurrence when he has been in a social setting). Take Away Theatre, funded by Bank of Ireland Begin Together, is our interactive, fun performance that happens at home for disabled people and their families. We delivered mults'ple visits throughout the year from Belfast to Bessbrook, Ballynahinch to Bangor. .1 cannot thank you, and your team, enough for the amazing time we had today,. Jessic8 8nd St8phen 8r& wonderful and brt)ught so much joy into our home. I must say I was 8 little concemed as A had been in a bit of a 'twist' all moming and it was hard to know how engaging he would be. Howevar, Ihe p8ir were 8ble to tum him around and their palience and cr88tive Imaginations weTr amazing. We 811 h8d a really great time. Thank you all so much 8g8in, best wish8S.' In October 2022, we produced Weaving Threads, a performance as part of Bounce Festival. We facilitated 3 of our participants, who had developed their own work with funding from IDA, to collaborate and perform. The feedback from the emerging artists involved in this process demonstrates how Open Arts nurtures and supports artistic talent.. "I never thought my disability could be something Ihal made me unique and enabled me to create art in a new and IntestIng way. This new confidence and accgptance of myself empowered me to think about myself as a performer." °Open Arts is my creative and social lifeline and being part of the organisation has helped me 8nom70usly over the past couple of years, the Open Arts team has also helped me to access my own funding. I now have mentors who are helping me to create my own woth that explores my feelings about my diagnosis of autism later in life.. As part of the opening of Bounce Festival 2022, we performed a flashmob in Castle Court with Open Arts Community Choir and Luminous Soul dancers. This was written in The Neurodiverse Review, a UK wide, thdicated review site for neurodiverse, autlstic, and disabled-led work. .1 dont know if flashmobs afp usually reviewed, but I feel in this c8.Sè, it .%hniJld be. It was gr8at to see disabled danrS taking up space unapologetically, perfomiing without permission, not caring if anyone was watching or not. It was empowering and beautifully done."
OPEN ARTS TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Flnancial revlew The company is a noTrprofit making organisation. The results are set OLrt in detail on page 5. The company had net expenditure for the year of £26,539. The principal funding SoUrS of the charity are by way of grant, principally from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by way of charging fees to various groups for services render8d. Reserves pollcy The trustees have axamined the charty's requirements for reserves in light of the. main risks to the funding of the organisation. Unrestricted free reserves are currently £82,340, as detailed in note 14, and this level of resetves would be sufficient to fund the organisation's running costs for a period of six months at current levels of spending and cover redundancy payments for the current staff. The trustees consider this level of reserves to be adequate to meet the needs of the charlty. Statement of trustees, responslbllltles The Trustees, who are also the directors of Open Arts for the purpose of company law, are responsl ble for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdjm Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which gwe a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the and of the incoming resourc88 and application of resources. including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year, In preparing these finanaal statements, the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; obs@e the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., state whether applicable UK Accountlng Stsndards have been followed, subject to any material departures dlsclosed and explained in the financial statements- and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the will Continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any lime the financial position of the and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees, report was approved by the Board of Trustees. l H Lindsay Trustee S Finnegan Trustee Date..