MORE bums on seats and less reliance on grants are key to the future survival of The Witham.
At the annual meeting of Barnard Castle’s arts centre, chairman Bob Garton conceded trustees had “taken their eye off the ball” as the complex continued to lose cash during 2017.
Revealing The Witham had made a loss of almost £65,000 in 2017, Mr Garton said he would be standing down as chairman of the trustees by Christmas. The balance sheet showed income for last year was £323,824, however, expenditure was £388,810.
A move to bring the cafe back in-house, along with “paying the going rate” to others meant staff costs were £194,401 – an increase of 15 per cent compared to 2016.
And while ticket sales were up on 2016, generating income of £130,000, Mr Garton conceded that various events barely broke even.
“High arts stuff and films were haemorrhaging money,” he said.
Mr Garton said crisis point was reached when a grant bid to the Arts Council, which would have secured the long term future of the venue, was turned down.
“Up to June 2017 we we highly optimistic of getting Arts Council funding. Then we were in firefighting mode.
“Failed grant funding bids, including to the Arts Council, and a number of other serious, time consuming distractions both with staff and board, meant we took our eye off the ball. I hold my hand up.”
Mr Garton did not elaborate on what these “distractions” were.
But he said the board of trustees was going to have to be “cleverer” with getting the best out of the complex in future.
“We entered 2017 in a precarious position and we entered 2018 in a precarious position,” he said.
“It is only very recently that we have gained a clear perspective to say what we have to do to make it viable.
“The difference this time with grant applications is that we have a better insight into what we are doing.
“We do know it is incredibly hard to get grants and that is changing our thinking. We are looking to be less reliant on grants – it would be ideal if we are totally non-reliant on grants.”
The meeting was told a new business plan for The Witham was being developed along with a three-year financial strategy. A new organisation for friends, patron and other supporters would be created, while efforts would be made to attract volunteers, including those who can offer skills useful to the maintenance of the building.
Mr Garton said introducing some different programming and events aimed to get more bums on seats.
Although the centre is currently losing about £10,000 a month, Mr Garton said the £42,000 raised by the “£30k in 30 days” public appeal would not be “frittered away” on day-to-day running costs, but would be put into the centre's reserves, which he said was key to impressing prospective funders.
“The appeal money is going to be the basis of future sustainability. It could be pivotal to the bids and discussions we have,” he added.
While announcing his resignation as chairman, Mr Garton offered to remain as a member of the board of trustees.
He also announced that the recently retired former chief executive of Darlington Borough Council Ada Burns was joining the board.
