Welcome to the first social enterprise link community arts network newsletter. Thank you for signing up to the network we hope you will find it useful.
So what’s this network all about?
The community arts network is one of ten industry specific networks funded by Social Enterprise Link. The purpose of the networks is to support social enterprises and drive forward the sector.
The networks success will be dependant on the member’s level of involvement. The networks are an opportunity to learn from others, share your news and information, and discuss the issues that affect you on a daily basis with your peers.
The community arts network is open to any social enterprise working in the arts sector, whatever your medium or speciality, we want to hear about what you’re doing, and what issues affect your organisation. We’ve already got over 50 organisations signed up, including photographers, theatre companies, sculptures, artists and musicians, if you know any other organisations who aren’t yet members encourage them to sign up. All they have to do is to go onto http://www.sesc.info/ and sign up under the newsletter/network section.
Member News
Artstra are working with BBC Leeds on a project which will beam projects from local talented film makers who have a keen interest in illustrating the lives of people who live and work in Leeds. All the information is on their new website, check it out on http://www.arts-stra.co.uk/
Sharing Best Practise
Tony Liddington, our cluster leader last week facilitated a conference with Bradford NHS and Bradford Action for Community Care on community consultation. They used a creative exercise which other members might find a useful visual tool for emphasising negotiation. Teams were given a problem which was represented by a small box. Teams made suggestions to the solution which were tied to a balloon, representatives then worked with the teams to look at how viable their solutions were. Ideas that weren’t workable were popped and through negotiations enough solutions were found to float the box.
Send your organisation’s news to Rachel.oddie@sesc.info
Sector Information
Social Enterprise Link has recently carried out research into the economic impact of the community arts sector. Here is a summary of the findings:
On average each organisation has 4 members of paid staff and 7 volunteers, the majority of organisations felt these numbers would increase. On average annual turnover was £155,000 which was made up of 14% from public sector contracts, 36% trading revenue and sales and 50% from grants. The national average for income from grants is 25%.
Did you know the region has its own digital satellite channel ? Propeller are a not for profit organisation who work to support and showcase emerging film and television talent. It’s on SKY Channel 195. They are looking for short films (horror, experimental, comedy, romance, animations, documentaries, unsigned music videos, student films, film trailers, outtakes, TV programmes and features.) For further information visit their website on http://www.propellertv.co.uk/ , telephone 0113 2368240 or email john@propellertv.co.uk. To submit your film send a DVD to John Offord, Propeller TV, C/O Screen Yorkshire, 46 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7EY.
Screen Yorkshire is able to offer business, production, training and funding support. Screen Yorkshire is the strategic agency for film, broadcast and interactive media for Yorkshire and Humber, for further information visit their website on http://www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/ or telephone 0113 236 8238
Events
Date for your Diary
Next community arts network event is planned for February 8th 2007, please send us suggestions for discussion topics.
Launch Event
For those of you who weren’t able to make it here is a quick summary of the first community arts network event held on 4th October 2006 at the Carlisle Business centre in Bradford. For those of you who did attend, it was great to meet you and we hope you found it useful. It was certainly an event that fired up lots of discussion and plenty of suggestions for the network members to work together to come to a solution.
The event was co-ordinated by our cluster leader Tony Liddington of Prom-Prom, who firstly introduced Casey Morrison who gave an overview of the opportunities with the Big Lottery Funding. There followed a choice of two workshops the first being on young people and the other was on working abroad. Discussion groups were held on the issues of charging, marketing and promoting quality. There was also an interactive talk on getting the best out of community consultation and even a song …check it out on our website http://www.sesc.info/
Useful links from the event were:
http://www.biglottery.org.uk/ – Funding opportunities with The Big Lottery
http://www.systrans.com/ – Translation service
http://www.britishcouncil.org/ – When working abroad The British Council provide useful links. Also each Embassy have teams dedicated to the arts.
http://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ – UK Trade & Investment can provide business support for organisations who want on working abroad, alternatively email Melanie.tait@blwy.co.uk who is one of the International Trade Advisers.
WYCAS – tel: 01132 706269 – Accountancy service (in particular full cost recovery)
Multi-cultural Arts & Crafts Market
Sunday 26th November and 10th December – Between 11am and 4pm
Chancellors Court, Leeds (Behind the corn exhange)
The market is run by Mosaic who also run a project to support individuals and small groups who are already artistically skilled or have a craft and are developing as a social enterprise. For more information contact Jennie Beaumont or Joy Hart on 0113 2162367 or email info@mosaic-arts.org
Cluster Leader Support
The networks cluster leader is able to provide mentoring support to organisations in addition to the business advice provided by the Social Enterprise Link advisors. This has proved very popular and Tony Liddington is currently helping 11 organisations across the region on a variety of issues.
This is not the only way to access help from the networks if you have a problem and need some advice email Rachel.oddie@sesc.info who will ask members to share their experience and knowledge regarding the issue.
Forum Topic
Every newsletter one or more topics will be raised for you to comment on, to make your comments either email them to Rachel.oddie@sesc.info or go onto the forum section under the networks heading on http://www.sesc.info/
Is it a grant or a commission?
Are grants just grants or are they commissions and what impact does this have on the sector. Research shows that 50% of the sectors income is generated through grants, as these decrease what can be done to develop sustainability? What do you think?
Don’t forget keep us updated with your news, information and suggestions
Best Wishes
Rachel Oddie
Enterprise Network Manager
