Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panel - Monday, 4th April, 2016 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st February 2016 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st February 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

            To receive a presentation from Mr. Barney Jeavons, Arts Centre Director, Ms. Jane Baker, Director of Communication and Development, and Ms. Jenny Stevens, Area Community Curator, on the working arrangements and activities at the West End Centre and throughout the wider Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The Panel welcomed Mr. Barney Jeavons, Arts Centre Director at the West End Centre, who had been invited to give a presentation on the working arrangements and activities of the Centre and the wider Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Mr. Jeavons introduced the presentation with an overview of the Cultural Trust set up by Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council in 2014. The Trust supported 26 arts and museum attractions across the county and delivered county wide outreach programmes that brought culture to local communities. The Trust worked with young people and targeted audiences from diverse backgrounds in all areas including visual arts, literature and local history.

The Panel noted that the West End Centre had celebrated its 40th birthday in September 2015 and still attracted many up and coming and established musicians and comedians, showcased contemporary theatre groups similar to those seen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and hosted monthly exhibitions of both local and national artists and a special open exhibition at Christmas. The Centre also ran a number of classes and workshops including stained glass, drama, sewing, beginners Nepali and ukulele; through these classes and workshops the Centre engaged with the community and became a hub for local people.  In addition, special events were held such as the Summer Westival, a beer festival and Parent Action Group (PAG) days. During the Westival large parts of the Centre were grassed, a beer tent erected indoors and artificial fires set up to create ambience to complement the live music, acts and activities which took place over the weekend. The PAG days were standalone events open only to families with children with special needs.

The West End Centre had a very strong culture ensuring that all customers were friends and that everyone was treated equally. The Panel were shown a number of testimonials from volunteers, artists and customers who showed their appreciation for the welcome/help/opportunities given to them by the staff and volunteers at the West End Centre. Mr. Jeavons stated that, ingrained in the Centre’s ethos and its staff and volunteers was the need to “want to help everyone that walked through the door”.

The Centre also had an outreach programme, working with community groups in the local area. Crafty Culture was a group of white and Nepali women who came together to create craft items and a local scout group had created a willow war horse to commemorate World War 1. The Centre was always willing to get involved with outreach projects and would find artists to fulfil the requirement of any project.

The Panel noted that core funding had remained consistent over recent years at around £150,000. Income and expenditure, however, were increasing, partly due to the appointment of an Arts Development Officer. It was also advised that a number of improvements had been made to the facility, which included the resurfacing of the car park, new theatre chairs and the redevelopment of storage rooms to creative studios. It was noted however, that some more work needed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To review the Panel’s current work programme (copy attached), and to agree priorities where necessary.

            The Panel NOTED the current work programme, and were advised that the next meeting would be a tour of the Army sports facilities.