TWO weeks into her role as The Witham’s new director, Amy Hughes, says she intends to be “a very visible” leader of Barnard Castle’s arts centre.
Ms Hughes, who was unveiled as the new director last week, moved to Barnard Castle with her family last year, and is hoping her background in business will help ensure the centre remains on a firm financial footing.
She said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. My family in the past have been very artsy – singing, dancing and being in bands. I have always wanted to do something in the arts but that never happened and I went into business. When I saw this [role] come up, I thought it was a good balance and that I would be good at it.”
Shelagh Avery, chairwoman of the arts centre’s trustees confirmed it was Ms Hughes’ range of transferable skills from her business experience and a genuine passion for a role that would take her into the heart of our community that had resulted in her appointment.
Having attended a variety of events as a customer, including The Witham’s free summer festival of music in the garden, Ms Hughes was already familiar with the venue when she saw the director’s role advertised.
However, Ms Avery said that like many residents, Ms Hughes had not been aware of the full range of cultural and community events The Witham provides. Nor had she been fully aware of the financial challenges associated with the care and development of a heritage building.
“However, Amy has a property-related background and her knowledge will help to feed into fundraising bids.”
As centre director Ms Hughes will see to the day-to-day logistics and decision making as well as providing structure and leadership for the centre’s staff and large team of volunteers.
Ms Hughes said she recognised the pivotal role that volunteers play in delivering The Witham’s offer.
In the coming few weeks she will take time to fully understand the range of skills and knowledge within the volunteer group and to know how they would like to help with future developments.
She added: “My main priority will be fundraising and understanding what the customer in Barnard Castle and the wider area wants to see here.”
Ms Hughes will have a particular focus on customers The Witham doesn’t currently attract.
It is no secret The Witham has struggled financially in the past, and Ms Hughes said trustees briefed her on the art venue’s travails – including the public appeal to raise £30,000 in 30 days- before she took on the role.
She said: “Hopefully, The Witham is in a very different place now and my role will also be about making more people aware of the venue.
“We just need to get out there and say what is available and get people understanding how The Witham is run and that fundraising isn’t necessarily about us being in trouble, it is just how we are run.
“I’m very new to this and it is just sharing observations at the moment, but I think it is nice to see that there is something for everyone and we are pushing forward with that.”
She said the centre’s staff and volunteers had already made a big impression.
She said: “Everyone seems to be married to The Witham and it’s in their blood. I’m very positive coming in. People seem to live and breathe The Witham. They do it for a reason and it is very positive.”
Ms Hughes added that she looked forward to building on what already exists.
Learning how things work at The Witham is the immediate priority for Ms Hughes.
She said: “This is a personal goal for me. I do come from a different background so I can probably see things that others don’t, but it could be tweaks to make it work better.
“It is very new and exciting and I intend to be a visible director. I love people and learning what makes people tick and being involved with customers and staff and I feel I can make a difference and that’s why I came.”
