## **Belfast Platform for the Arts** ## **Reference and Administrative Details** **Trustees** Amy Gibney Devlin (appointed February 2023) Ekaterina Solomatina (appointed April 2022) Hannah Rose Gilbert McMurray (appointed August 2023) **Charity Registration Number** 103457 **Company Registration Number** NI072553 The Charity is incorporated in Northern Ireland **Registered Office** Units 37-38 Connswater Shopping Centre Bloomfield Avenue Belfast BT5 5LP **Independent Examiner** Hopper & Co Chartered Accountant & Registered Auditor 6 Doagh Road Ballyclare Co Antrim BT39 9BG **Bankers** HSBC Royal Avenue 25-29 Royal Avenue Belfast Co Antrim BT1 1FB ## **Trustees' Report** The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements for the financial year 2022/ 2023 Legal and administrative information is contained on the company information page at the front of this report. ## **Structure, Governance & Management** Belfast Platform for the Arts is a company limited by guarantee which is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Executive Committee members are nominated and elected annually by full members at the AGM. Existing Committee members are eligible for re election. Office Bearers are elected by the Committee from among their number at the first full Committee meeting after the AGM. ## **Objectives and Activities** Belfast Platform for the Arts was established as a Registered Charity, in May 2009, by a group of concerned individuals who desired to advance the education of the public in the promotion and appreciation of the arts in Belfast. We are managed by an Executive Committee, including a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom have practical working knowledge of the arts. Our Board Members come from a wide range of organisations connected with the arts, and are well qualified and experienced in their fields. ## **Mission Statement** Belfast Platform for the Arts is a voluntary organisation established to assist persons with artistic talents to promote themselves to the general public and to broaden in general the education and understanding of the public with regard to the arts. We seek to achieve this by holding regular exhibitions and run a programme of events designed to meet these objectives. ## **Achievements and performance** On the 1st of November 2019 we were made aware by the Landlord that we had to vacate our premises of 1 Queen Street, Belfast by 1st March 2020. We met this deadline and have moved premises to the Connswater shopping centre where we have made a strong connection and established ourselves as part of the community and ecosystem there. East Belfast has seen a creative gentrification initiative which Platform Arts has also played a part in. With “in” person exhibitions finally resuming to post Covid ‘normality’ in March 2021, we decided to go back from virtual exhibitions to opening the gallery once again fully to the public and continue with shows similar to prior of Covid 19. With being placed in a new premises this was the time to establish our mark in East Belfast with the support from centre management and other local galleries around. In November 2021 we hosted Platforms first Salonathon Exhibition which was an open invitation for local artists to submit work to be exhibited. This open call has seen 70 artworks, from both professional artists as well as novice artists. The exhibition gauged a huge amount of interaction and interest as well as donations to the gallery. The Exhibition was filmed and documented by local TV channel NVTV which put our stamp on our new home in East Belfast. With a newly established residence and the ability to have in person shows again the space has also welcomed three new artists in residence which has helped support the gallery with admin/ maintenance costs. In 2021-2022 the gallery has seen exhibition applications from both local and international artists which is now helping build Platforms status as an established Belfast Artist run, artist led gallery. In 2022-2023 Platform Arts has focused on building a stronger community spirit and collective mindset among members of the arts organisation. We brought up the numbers of studio holders filling all 6 residencies. We had a number of collaborative meetings about the overall direction the venue is going to develop which included co-directors and studio holders. We held the first community Christmas event inviting over 200 people to come through our doors daily. We had a spring call out for young artists aged 3-12 years old. Our regular graduate exhibition took place in June. We introduced new artist voices to the general public, exhibiting Beth Fox, David Younglove, Hattie Godfrey and many others. We brought more established artists like Patrick Hickey, to keep up the fine art standards. This year we focused more on engaging with locals and held a number of artists talks and some workshops. In the future Platform Arts is planning to grow its co-directors board and find ways to attract more arts council support. ## **Small company provisions** This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006. The Annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 7th of February 2024 and signed on its behalf by ……………………………………………….. Amy Gibney Devlin (Director and Trustee) …………………………………………………. Ekaterina Solomatina (Director and Trustee) …………………………………………………. Hannah Rose Gilbert McMurray (Director and Trustee)