Belfast Platform for the Arts
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees Emily Mary Louise Laverty (February 2024) - Anna Vidamour (July 2025) - Aine Crawford (June 2025)
Charity Registration Number 103457 Company Registration Number NI072553 The Charity is incorporated in Northern Ireland Registered Office Floor One, Bryson House, 28 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FE 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 2024-2025
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 intend to create safe space for the local community.
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. Majority of members are practicing artists with a commitment to develop their skills within a variety of fields. We intend to work closer with our fellow organisations and community within East Belfast
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
Platform Arts has continued to participate and manage a multitude of exhibitions, workshops, and events. Last year we were able to showcase over 10 exhibitions and supported over 40 artists. We hosted many workshops, and launched a monthly event called Late Night Art East in September. This event had 7 different organisations showcase a new exhibition or workshop, and saw an estimated 150/ 200 people attend. There was free food and beverages, a DJ, and an optional guided tour hosted by Platform Arts which brought around 50 people alone. We now have the majority of the organisations in East Belfast involved in an event which takes place on the second Thursday of the month. We hosted an open call for illustrators to produce a brochure and create the overall look of the event. The chosen illustrator was awarded a fee. This then led to a group show, exhibiting all the illustrators who applied. The event was supported by Belfast 2024.
Platform had some renovations which included our walls being newly plastered and painted. This allowed the space to have a more professional and neutral aesthetic for exhibiting artists. The team
of co-directors took time to paint, clean, and tidy the gallery which has benefited everyone, from studio holders to the public.
We had the pleasure to launch a new website with an updated and more maneuverable archive, which includes the 15 year history of Platform. Our website is now updated with our upcoming exhibitions, workshops, events, open calls, newsletter, and more.
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 11th February 2026 and signed on its behalf by
Emily Ní Laibheartaigh …………………………………………………. Emily Ní Laibheartaigh (Director and Trustee)
Áine Crawford Áine Crawford (Director and Trustee)
Anna Vidamour Anna Vidamour (Director and Trustee)
TRUSTEE REPORT
The use of studio accommodation is closely monitored and regular events are held to maintain income. Interest bearing assets and liabilities are held at fixed rate to ensure certainty of cash flows.
Credit risk
The charity's principal financial assets are bank balances and cash, trade and other receivables, and investments. The charity's credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowances for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows.
The charity has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers.
Liquidity risk
In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, the charity maintains an adequate level of cash reserves.
Small companies provision statement
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 11th February 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Director and Trustee
Emily Ní Laibheartaigh
Director and Trustee
Áine Crawford
Director and Trustee
Anna Vidamour