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Tuesday 9 November 2004
Arts Promotion Trust (Northland)
For the Year Ended 31 March 2004
The Trust has a mission “To create an environment in which Northland artists thrive and the community benefits from their success” while pursuing a vision that “Northland is New Zealand’s most dynamic and vibrant Arts community”.
The mission and vision clearly give the Trust a Regional focus. The focus of the Trust’s activities in the past 12 months are aligned with this in the development of Art of Northland and the negotiation of new partnerships and contracts which support the development of artists within the region. Whangarei District Council has been the founding supporter of the Trust and has been kept well informed of our strategic direction.
The Trust still needs to pursue projects which support it financially and allow for growth. We as Trustee’s need to note that the Trust needs our active support and input. The past 12 months has seen the beginning of several community projects. These projects require the interactive participation of everybody as the Trust is not resourced with enough staff to take on these projects, as well as managing the out-sourcing of our contracts and projects which will contribute to achieving the Trusts plan of achieving self-sustainability.
Initiatives which the Trust continues to develop are:
• Enhancing the identity of Art of Northland as a regional art marketing brand, separately or in conjunction with complimentary business sectors, eg tourism
• complementing the promotion and marketing initiatives of individual artists and galleries
• promoting a positive Northland regional identity for residents and visitors
• building on the existing strengths of business, arts and culture in Northland
• increasing the return on existing investments in the Arts
• increasing awareness of the contribution the Arts makes to Northland, both in terms of economics as well as social and cultural well-being.
Contractual arrangements which the Trust has entered into are:
• The provision of facilities and services which add value to the Arts in Northland
• The stimulus for and the support of the development of emerging Northland artists
• The support and enhancement of the efforts of other Arts enterprises
• The creation of opportunities for Arts employment and enterprises within Northland
• The generation of income for the operating costs of the Trust to make it independent of operating grants.
The move away from major event coordination has seen a reduced turnover of funds through the Trust. However this has also left the Trust less at risk from the vagaries of such events in Northland. The Trust will continue to support other events occurring in the region as required.
I acknowledge the contribution of Whangarei District Council operational funding for the year. While good progress has been made in securing contracts and developing activities which contribute to these costs, we are still dependent on a substantial operating grant. Whangarei District Council invited Arts Promotion Trust to make application for a 3 year contract in December 2003. This will go to the Council for decision making in June 2004. I applaud the initiative of the Council for recognising the need to support agencies such as ours for more than the usual 12 month period, which lends itself to uncertainties for growth paths.
I also acknowledge the financial contributions of Creative New Zealand, Ministry of Education, NZ Fire Service, Lion Foundation, Pub Charities, Southern Trust, as well as support from Destination Northland, The Radio Network and The Radioworks - to projects managed by the Trust.
Over the past 12 months there have been changes to the Trust. We have seen the completion of several Trustee’s terms: Victoria Daniel, Irene Durham and Richard Cranenburgh. Mac Gordon retired early from his term due to ill health. My thanks on behalf of the current Trustees to all these people who made considerable contribution to the Trust and its activities.
I would also like to welcome new Trustees; Candy Kay, Liz Nelson, Christine Druce and John House. We also welcome back Ian Reeves who is embarking on his second term.
Of course I need too to acknowledge Chris Neill, who completed his contract as CEO in September 2003. Chris was the founding staff member of the Trust and his strategic management established a platform for the Trust to springboard from.
On a personal note I would like to advise of my resignation from the Trust at the end of this calendar year. Personal commitments mean I am moving away from Whangarei and therefore am not available to support the Trust and its many activities with the time that is required.
Dennis Davidson
Chairman
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