THE full extent of The Witham’s financial plight has been laid bare by officials who say they must raise £30,000 in 30 days to avert its closure.
This week saw the launch of the Investing in The Witham appeal to raise enough money to keep the doors open.
Trustees say their goal is £150,000 before the end of the year, but most immediately, they need £30,000.
And in a further blow for the complex, it can be revealed that Gaye Kirby, who was due to take over as director in September is no longer taking up the post.
Instead, interim director Shelagh Avery has agreed to stay on until December.
Full details of the situation at The Witham were due to be outlined at the launch of the autumn programme of events on Tuesday evening (August 7).
The venue has struggled with day-to-day funding issues since it was reopened in 2013 after a £3.2million refurbishment.
To coincide with the completion of renovations, an initial appeal for £350,000 was launched to provide fixtures and fittings and help cover running costs.
More than £280,000 poured in, ranging from £10 donations to grants of up to £25,000.
However, the centre has continued to struggle.
At the 2015 annual meeting, trustees outlined how a £25,000 anonymous donation had saved the complex from closure.
And in 2016, the centre received a £100,000 bequest, three-quarters of which was put into a contingency fund, which masked an operational surplus of £14,000.
However, by the annual meeting in September 2017 – when the most recent set of financial results were published – The Witham was in the red, with trustees reporting a deficit of £86,297 for 2016. This was put down to a drop in grant income and fewer donations.
Total income was down by almost a quarter, from £366,909 to £280,297 in what trustees described as a “challenging year”.
The centre remains popular. In 2016 – again the last year for which figures are available – 8,505 tickets were sold for 145 events. However, the current board of trustees has recognised the need for The Witham to shed its reputation as a venue for middle-class arts enthusiasts and offer a broader range of events. Speaking ahead of this week’s programme and appeal launch, trustee Jill Cole said keeping The Witham open was important for the local economy.
“The Witham is a vital facility for the small market town of Barnard Castle and its rural hinterland and is likely to be increasingly so,” she said.
“We need reasons for people to come together. The Witham attracts people and draws them into town. It’s s crucial for the local economy.”
Trustees say that in return for people digging into their pockets again to support The Witham, they will provide:
A venue where everyone is welcomed
Entertainment of a quality that is normally only available in large urban centres
A broader programme to include modern jazz, and a wider range of bands while continuing with events that people already value
A venue for friendship and community involvement.
The trustees say they will listen and respond to people about what they want to see at the venue and will give regular updates about the progress of the campaign.
To support The Witham campaign, donations can be made online to https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/thewitham
