BARNARD Castle’s arts centre has survived the Covid crisis and is looking to the future with “renewed optimism” and an extensive programme of events in the coming months.
That was the message from trustees at The Witham’s latest annual meeting.
Covering the 12 months ending December 31, 2020, the centre reported a trading surplus of £84,113, up from £33,386 in 2019. In addition, the centre has built up reserves of £100,242.
Reviewing 2020, Shelagh Avery, chairwoman of trustees, said the year had started well, with the centre in a sound financial position after the 2018 public appeal for cash to save it from closure and a year of consolidation in 2019. Sadly, on March 20, 2020, The Witham closed in accordance with the government response to the Covid-19 epidemic,” said Ms Avery.
“The pandemic introduced the draining activity of cancel, reschedule and cancel again. This continued each time the regulations changed throughout the late spring and summer months and again in the late autumn.”
To help The Witham through the crisis, staff were furloughed and successful applications for cash were twice made to Arts Council England and the government’s retail, hospitality and leisure grant.
“Continued loss of box office and the impact on trading created significant financial disruption,” added Ms Avery.
“Uncertainty impacted decisions on the development of the cultural programme as it did for staffing decisions.”
Ms Avery paid tribute to the efforts of staff throughout 2020, who, she said, were “alert to possibilities to continue trading” such as setting up a take-away service in the cafe.
“Volunteers were unstinting in their generosity, seeking all opportunities to provide their time and energy to underpin any possible service to the community.”
Efforts to restart a number of activities from September were scuppered in November when Tier 3 restrictions were imposed on County Durham, and as a result, planning for 2021 was put on hold.
“The trustees kept the financial situation and reserves under constant review with a view that The Witham would be able to reopen fully once restrictions were lifted.
“Through access to grants, use of the job retention scheme, cost reductions and self-help by generating catering contributions where possible, the trustees have carefully safeguarded the financial position of The Witham so that it continues as a going concern.”
Since restrictions were lifted earlier this year, some changes have been introduced to the way The Witham operates.
An agreement was reached for arts charity Northern Heartlands to produce the cultural programme, and the continued uncertainty as to what the future holds has meant The Witham has stopped producing a brochure of events.
Trustee Hazel Spencer said this had saved money at a time when many more people had become internet-savvy during the periods of lockdown, looking to the web as a source of information.
In its place, a weekly e-newsletter is widely circulated.
Jill Cole, director of Northern Heartlands, said the summer busking sessions had proved extremely popular, attracting a number of first-time visitors.
“So many people came and found The Witham for the first time. That was extraordinary – but great – so let’s get them back again.”
She highlighted some of the dozens of events lined up at the centre during the coming months, ranging from spoken word and music to film and comedy.
The Turrets, the Castle Players and the newly-formed Teesdale Operatic Society will all bring theatre shows to The Witham this autumn, while December will see the centre host its first panto.
Peter Dixon, who runs Funny Way To Be Comedy, said that while some of his shows that attract a predominantly younger audience – such as Chris Ramsey and Jason Manford – had sold out, an older audience was proving more elusive and still had to be convinced it was safe to return to the auditorium.
Concluding, Ms Avery said trustees had approached 2021 with a “renewed sense of optimism” despite Covid-19.
“We got through 2020 in a position to confirm the business as a going concern which was great when you think back to August 2018 when we were thinking how we were to continue,” she said.
