IMPORTANT TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Do you want to understand how you and your organisation can benefit from commissioning? Do you need to understand better what commissioning is all about? Do you feel that you are too small an organisation to be able to get work through this commissioning process?

The Arts Council, Wiltshire Council's Arts Service and many of the WAP members believe that bringing opportunities, thus income into the arts from the very many areas now commissioning out services such as adult social care, the youth service, GP's practices etc, is a very positive way we can ensure artists and the arts continue to grow in Wiltshire.

I can not encourage you enough to come along to these sessions organised on our behalf by Grow:
Commissioning - Procurement demystified - April 28 - Chippenham - pg 5
Commissioning - Tenders Ready - May 17 - Devizes - pg 11
Commissioning - Managing Your Contract - June 16 - Amesbury - pg 12

WAP will be looking to support artists further by ensuring that you feel able to work in the ways that may be demanded of you in these arenas, evaluation, child protection, understanding the issues and complexities of the participants etc. Following these days we can identify between us what these additional support mechanisms might need to be.

Please take a look at the Grow brochure and book onto the training that you would like to attend. It would be great if you could add a comment to this blog letting me know if you are intending to attend, or any comments you might have about the commissioning process.

Thanks all

Funding Advice Day

Funding Advice Day for Wiltshire and Swindon's Community Groups: 14th May 2011

Fit for Funding - Finance Management & Governance

Saturday 14th May 2011 10am - 4pm Landsdowne Hall, Derry Hill SN11 9QY

Please click on the link for further details and bookings: http://e-voice.org.uk/fundingadvice/

Alan Davey answer funding questions

Alan Davey answers your Arts Council funding questions

Following funding and cuts announcements, Arts Council England chief executive Alan Davey took part in a live Q&A to answer some of your questions.

The big picture is this: the arts council had its budget cut by 29.6% with a condition that it could not pass on frontline spending cuts of more than 15%. It chose to take that figure as an overall figure and shake up the national portfolio. That's why 206 organisations had their funding cut altogether and 110 new organisations were brought into the mix.

All the big beasts – the Royal Opera, the National Theatre and so on – remain intact with cuts of around 11-15%.

Many have seen their cash go up such as the Arcola theatre in Dalston, London (an 82% real terms increase) while others have gone down – the Almeida in Islington, London, is losing 39% of its money.

Then there are the groups applying for first time funding who did not make it – the Rose in Kingston for example – and they're not, to say the least, happy.

There is no right of appeal for any of the arts organisations but there is the right to ask Davey, who took over in 2008, some questions.

Click on this link to see the questions asked and Alan Davey's responses. Q&A

The day is here

Many WAP members have been awaiting Arts Council England's decisions about who they will invite to be part of the National Portfolio funding scheme.

I think it's fair to say that from Wiltshire's perspective we can breathe a sigh of relief in that all of our former regularly funded organisations have proved themselves worthy of National Portfolio status, we have a couple of WAP members who had hoped to have been able to become regularly funded by ACE in this new process who were unfortunately not successful this time, but we do have a new regularly funded organisation, The Pound Arts Trust, which is fabulous news. Have a look at this link for the nationwide picture of National Portfolio organisations. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/national-portfolio-funding/

These are ACE's headlines

Total National Portfolio investment between April 2012 and March 2015:

* Grant in aid: £956 million
* Lottery: £54 million for touring. £31 million for children and young people
* We received 1,333 applications to join the National portfolio, submitting bids for a total of £1.4 billion
* The new National portfolio of 695 organisations replaces the previous regularly funded organisations portfolio of 849
* 110 new organisations have been added to the National portfolio
* 791 regularly funded organisations applied for National portfolio funding, 585 were successful
* 206 former regularly funded organisations will no longer receive funding
* Lottery and the portfolio between April 2012 and March 2015
* Touring receives major support with £18 million Lottery a year earmarked for portfolio organisations
* £10.5 million Lottery a year targeted at work with children and young people, to ensure vital educational work continues

So a huge congratulations to all of Wiltshire's National Portfolio Organisations and to everyone who adds to the diverse arts work that goes on in Wiltshire with or without public funding. Let's work together to ensure we provide the very best arts opportunities for our communities and arts professionals.

Arts Council Event - Reshaping

2011/12 will be a year of change for many organisations working in the arts sector. We are keen to help and support the sector by collating and signposting to sources of advice, information networks and intermediary bodies that can help. These will include information and links to the social purpose/social enterprise sector, to digital opportunities and information and to business models and fundraising.

We would like to offer organisations the opportunity to get together to share this information and support each other and will be facilitating this by holding four introductory events across the region to flag up current advice and provision, identify needs and particular issues facing arts organisations, and to encourage collaboration between organisations.

Dates and venues:

Monday 6th June – Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol

Wednesday 8th June – iDat, University of Plymouth

Friday 10th June – The Genesis Centre, Taunton

Wednesday 15th June – The National Sailing Academy, Weymouth

The events will run from approximately 10:30am – 3:00pm, lunch will be provided.

Please could you respond to this message if you would like to attend one of the events letting me know your first and second choice of date and venue. We expect a high level of interest, so please reply by 21 April.

Kind regards

Catriona

Catriona Hunter

Assistant, Regional Planning

Arts Council England

Direct line: 01392 229209

Email: catriona.hunter@artscouncil.org.uk

Web: www.artscouncil.org.uk

Notes from our last Full Meeting

Please do have a look at the notes that Magic Parsnips made following our full membership meeting earlier this month. I've drawn up a plan of action from all of the planning meetings held over recent months and will be looking at speaking to the Arts Council and writing a Grants for The Arts Application within the next couple of weeks!

Open publication - Free publishing - More full members

Managing The Fundraising Function

Invitation to a one-day CEO / Director-level masterclass on 'Managing the Fundraising Function'
on 22 March, 14 April or 19 May in London

Download brochure

We would be delighted if you or a colleague could join us at our next CEO / Director - level masterclass, which will address a central challenge for many charities - how to develop a strong and broadly based fundraising function which can help offset cuts in statutory funding.

Led by David Saint, Chairman of Action Planning and an adviser to many of Britain's leading charities, the masterclass is designed principally for those chief executives and recently appointed fundraising directors who do not have a specialist background in fundraising. Finance directors wishing better to understand the fundraising process may also find it helpful. The masterclass will give you an understanding of:

* how to develop a fundraising strategy which meshes with your organisational strategy
* how to ensure you have the right people, doing the right things
* what to expect of those in each fundraising role and the key questions to ask in order to assess performance
* the principles involved in fundraising from all sources including major donors, communities, statutory sources, trusts and foundations, legacies, lottery distributors and companies
* how to assess and develop the opportunity to generate earned income
* what level of investment you should commit to each type of fundraising, and what return you should expect
* your role in managing relationships with key funders
* how to motivate your trustees and other key supporters to help you secure major gifts

The participation fee of £225 includes VAT, lunch and all course materials. If you would like to join us, simply enter your details here we will register you and send an invoice. Alternatively, you can complete and return the form on the brochure. Here are some comments from those who have attended this masterclass in the past:

"Attending this course has been an excellent investment. It is one of the best courses I have been on for a long time."
Mike Wilkerson, Head of Fundraising and Support Services, St Wilfred’s Hospice

"The session on how to select and manage a Fundraising Director was particularly instructive."
Terry Huxtable, Chief Executive, Dr Hadwen Trust

"Excellent and so useful."
Carol Stone, Chief Executive, Ellenor Lions Hospice

A major new commission – a call for Expressions of Interest

DARK MATERIALS - A major new commission for Tattershall Castle – a call for Expressions of Interest

Entering into the world of 'commissioning' is something that has become a key part of WAP's work, working closely with a number of members to help ensure that the arts can benefit through commissioning. If you individually, or somebody you now would like to look at applying for this commission and would like some support in doing this or finding partners to work with on a submission, please do let me know!Here's the detail!

This first National Trust curated commission in the Midlands, is part of a new programme of contemporary art in England and Wales in partnership with Arts Council England, under the banner of Trust New Art http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trustnewart

Exploring an unlikely alliance between heritage, contemporary art and biker communities, Dark Materials offers a mix of playful, irreverent and challenging events, casting a new light on this incredible site.

Who: all visual, inter-disciplinary artists and designers
What/when: temporary artwork commissioned by National Trust, September 2011
Fee (including materials): £20,000
Where: Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire
Find out more: To receive full application details please email either kate.stoddart@nationaltrust.org.uk or jane.greenfield@nationaltrust.org.uk

How to apply: please submit a CD with 10 images of your work, a CV and short statement (max 500 words) about why you are interested in the commission and your practice (written or audio). Three artists/makers will be short listed, each receiving an all inclusive fee of £400 to work up a full proposal

Deadline for expressions of interest: 11 April 2011

http://artsmatrix.plymouthart.ac.uk/index.php?q=node%2F295

Tattershall Castle, Sleaford Road, Lincolnshire LN4 4LR

Dialogue - Call for Submssions

TheatreWorks is calling for writers based in the South West to submit a 10 - 20 minute extract of new writing for performance.

A selection of the most promising and interesting will be chosen by our professional panel for a script-in-hand evening performance on Thursday 11th May in the Salberg Studio, Salisbury Playhouse.

This is a great opportunity to have professional actors and directors develop your writing for performance, and to hear what an audience has to say afterwards.

Deadline for applications to be received by Salisbury Playhouse is the 11th April. But you must have requested your application by the 31st of March.

For an application form and guidance notes please email Aimée Holmes at the address below. Please note that you must have requested your application form before 31st March 2011:

contact aimee@theatreworks.org.uk

Somerset: National Arts Protest

Somerset: National Arts Protest

Event: Theatre Uncut at the Brewhouse Studio Friday 18th March 5pm & 8pm

(This event is free & no booking is required)

The Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre in Taunton is hosting a Theatre Uncut Session to support the national campaign against the cuts.

Theatre Uncut is a national theatre event in response to the cuts in public spending. The people of Taunton can show their support by attending a series of short plays by Mark Ravenhill, David Greig, Dennis Kelly, Jack Thorne, Lucy Kirkwood and others…

The evening will also include performances by West Somerset Community College, Court Fields Community School and a very special appearance from The Brewhouse's very own Director and Chief Executive Robert Miles…

Do go along to show your support and, of course, to enjoy an evening of great theatre!

“Taunton's Brewhouse leads Somerset in national arts protest” (This is Somerset.co.uk Friday 11th March 2011) http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/Brewhouse-leads-Somerset-national-arts-protest/article-3317397-detail/article.html

For more information about the performances please visit http://www.thebrewhouse.net/studio/1018/theatre-uncut

For more information about the Theatre Uncut please visit http://www.theatreuncut.co.uk/

Securing Major Donors

I had this information sent through to me that may be of interest. I have been to one of Action Planning's days and it was really useful well presented raining.

Invitation to 'Securing Major Donors' - a practical two-day course on major donor fundraising
29-30 March or 13-14 April, both at Hamilton House, London

We would be delighted to welcome you or a colleague to our two-day workshop on 'Securing Major Donors'. This intensive and practical training programme has already helped over 400 charities to build the in-house capacity to engage in major donor fundraising, a fast growing source of charity income which can help you diversify away from reliance on statutory funding.

The course runs every month and has been enthusiastically received (see participants' comments below). It is limited to 20 places to allow participants to practise their skills and is led by Virginia Fisher, Senior Consultant at Action Planning, who has helped a wide range of third sector organisations successfully to develop major donor fundraising programmes. The training provides:

Day 1

* guidance on how to identify and profile potential major donors amongst your supporters, and secure new names of rich people potentially sympathetic to your cause
* group exercises on how to analyse major donor motivations and plan an effective approach
* advice on how to attract the attention of major donors and prepare your organisation for effective major donor fundraising

Day 2

* extensive training and practice on making an effective ask, with constructive feedback from the trainer and the group
* a briefing on the leading UK philanthropists
* advice on how to sustain major donor relationships and build their emotional and financial support to the organisation
* interactive group work and practice on donor care techniques

Book online and request invoice

Your participation fee of £360 includes all course materials and lunch both days. Should you wish to join us, please enter your details here. You will be able to either request an invoice or book online. Alternatively, you can book by completing the form on the brochure. We can also deliver the training in house, and please let us know if this would be of interest.

Workshop Brochure

We would like to thank Barclays Corporate for supporting these events.

You have been invited to 'Festable'

It is my pleasure to invite you to get involved in 'Festable' our festival of diversity which celebrates the lives and achievements of people with a learning disability across the South.Festable is Taking place on Saturday 7th May at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton.


There are three ways for you to take part in this fun filled pioneering
event:

1. If you are a service provider run by for or with people with a learning disability *you can hold a workshop or stall free of charge* by filling in and returning the attached application pack.

2. If you're interested in putting on entertainment such as dance, drama, or even an activity for visitors to take part in such as Yoga or an interactive activity stand - the more creative the better then call me on 07760 764 050.

3. Enter in the art and photography competitions* (exclusively for entrants with a learning disability) see application forms attached. *The closing date is Friday 15th April*

4. Come along and take part, entry is free so invite your friends and family. There is already a fantastic line-up of entertainments featuring performances and workshops from FRB,
The Blue Apple Theatre , Poi Passion circus skills and many more.

The event promises fun to be had by all the family, it is an wonderful opportunity to see what is on offer for people with learning disabilities as well as a chance to promote positive attitudes and inclusion.

Sarah Jones Nash
Activity Support Worker
The Stable Family Home Trust
Phone: 07760 764050

Open publication - Free publishing - More invitation

The Arts in Education

I have just spent 11 minutes watching not only a very creatively shared talk but a very interesting one exploring how the education system is working, or not for our children today! I was watching this with my school Governor hat on but it actually raises some very interesting points about the part that culture, the arts and creativity has to play in given a far more effective experience to children. Do stick with it until the end because it gets more arts focused then. So why not go a grab a cup of tea and spend ten minute watching, (Do check the volume is up on the You Tube video as I watched it in silence for five minutes and it was somewhat harder to follow).

Trowbridge Area Board

Hi all, just to let you know that the next Trowbridge Area Board is to be held at the Wiltshire Council Offices in Bradley Road, on Thursday March 17 at 7pm. There are a couple of items on the agenda I though might be particularly interesting and provide some opportunities.

There is to be a presentation n Section 106 in the Trowbridge Area. Section 106 is where money needs to be invested as part of a development to meet the needs of residents, these can be for schools, recreation facilities, art for example)

There will also be a presentation on the Child Poverty Reduction Strategy which may be of interest to anyone working with hard to reach families.

There will also be a section looking at the Community Area Plan which the Area Partnership have been developing. There is a section on Arts and Culture within this. The main focus is to look at what the theme groups have identified as the needs of the Trowbridge area, what the partnership have said is happening in response to these needs and those at the meeting will be asked to help identify the indicators needed to monitor success.

I do go on about it but local area boards are a really useful forum to engage with so do go along to your local one if you can and if you think there is anything on the agenda or discussed at the meetings that may be of interest to the wider network please do let me know and I'll add it to our blog.

I have put a link to the Local Area Board section on Wiltshire Council's Website on our website LAB link

Salisbury Playhouse is inviting applications for new trustees

Take a look at this link if you would like to consider supporting Salisbury Playhouse's work as a Trustee.

http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com/index.php?pid=60

The application deadline is Friday 15^th April.

For further information please contact Vivienne Franklin or Kate Mills

01722 320117 or Vivienne.Franklin@salisburyplayhouse.com

Kate.Mills@salisburyplayhouse.com

Want to promote your work in the Trowbridge Area

BA14 Culture, a theme group of Trowbridge's Community Area Partnership, have sent out this information about their newletter. Do send anything you would like to market to the Trowbridge audience directly to Vicky.

I am writing on behalf of BA14 Culture, as we are looking to update the website with newsletters of current events as they happen. If you, or your organisation, have/has an event of some kind happening within the next couple of months - which you would like to be included in the newsletter - please could you email us the details? We will be grateful for any news to contribute.

Kind regards, Vicky de Lang

E: vicky.delang@trowbridge.gov.uk T: 01225 765072

Post It's Galore!

A huge thank you to all of the WAP members new and older who joined us at Salisbury Playhouse yesterday to look at what WAP has achieved in the past year and what it hasn't, how WAP works and areas we need to look at further to help our network work more effectively, and what we should do next.

Janet and Sally joined us from Magic Parnsnips, to help guide us through the day and I have to say they did a stirling job as we did rather digress from the plan but they very generously helped us to find the best way to getting the most out of the little time that we had, you can find out more about Magic Parsnips here

Ian Martin of The Pound Arts Trust very kindly agreed to take on the rolling chair roll from our outgoing chair Maria Bota at the core groups pre meeting, so I must say a massive thank you to Maria for all of her help and support over the past 6 months. Ian has kindly agreed to work closely with us on creating the right Grants For The Arts application to support our Network from July. I will be in contact with Ian and those who also kindly offered to support this process within the next couple of weeks when we have all of the notes back from our time meeting.

Practice

TheatreWorks presented it's 6th Practice event on Saturday evening, for the first time at the ICIA, all previous events having been held at Salisbury Arts Centre. Practice is an opportunity for emerging artists to share a work in progress and then have time to seek feedback from an audience.

On Saturday night we were treated to 5 pieces of very different performance, take a look at http://theatreworks.org.uk/showcase/practice-at-icia-26th-feb-2011 for more information on the performances.

I think my favourite was the one pictured here, I've seen Sylvia perform at a previous Practice event and this felt like a very different piece of work really showing a great, unforced humour. I am challanged by these events as my background is in marketing and programming so I can't help but ask 'what would an audience make if this' or 'could I sell this' a lot of the work that Practice brings to us is not mainstream work and has really helped me to understand the process and motivation of artists creating this sort of performance.

A few of our fellow WAP members were there, Deryck Newland, Dom Somers and it was lovely to see Dave Buxton of Devizes Carnival, there for the first time. I do try to get out to as many events as I can (I do this outside of my WAP hours), not only is it rather nice I think it's really important to keep in touch with what's going on and it means I can keep the WAP message out there.

The next Practice is at Salisbury Arts Centre later this month, I'll find out when and let you know.

Salisbury International Festival Launch

It wasn't a tough day in the office to go along to Salisbury International Arts Festival's launch hosted by Salisbury Arts Centre. It was a lovely affair where the SIAF team get to spoil the festival's very supportive friends and share this years exciting festival programme. There was a real sense of expectation the events being kept a well guarded secret before we were guided through them by Maria Bota (WAP's current Chair) and her team. Do take a look at the festival's website http://www.salisburyfestival.co.uk/home.aspx there is, as ever, a huge array of the very best music, dance, theatre, literarture and art from around the globe!