last report

TERRINGTON ARTS

Voluntary Arts for

the Howardian Hills

ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 (page 1 of 3)

Working Group: Lesley Bradshaw (Chair), Ali Wilson (Minutes Secretary), Michael Baker (Membership Secretary), Gerry Bradshaw (Treasurer), Val Allen (Poetry), Anita Barber (Show Promoter), Julie Cowdy, Elaine Hubery (Textile and Craft Group), Shirley Drury, John Hubery (Tiefrung Gleemen Band), Jennie Potter, Gerard Naughton (Visual Arts), Terry Strickland (Assistant Treasurer), Elaine Taylor (Film Society)

Our 12th year saw three new activities and a revival. Elaine Taylor led a small group of film buffs to set up the Howardian Film Society, showing monthly films in the Committee Room (much more comfortable than the main hall), and Val Allen set up a flourishing Poetry group. (details of these below). The 3rd was a one off celebration of the 250th birthday of Robert Burns with a splendid Supper with piped in haggis and Scottish dancing. The revival was Terrington Players whose rehearsals through the summer led to an enthusiastic first event for 2009/10.

You will see from the Working Group list that most people have a particular interest and take responsibility for planning, leading and publicising their events. The whole Working Group meets bi-monthly to generate help and come up with new ideas. We would welcome more people with ideas and expertise in the arts or administration, especially publicity. Some of us are feeling 12 years older than when we started, and we would welcome further new blood.

Shows (promoted by Anita Barber)

Anita has given us a stunning range of shows. Some great drama - from North Country Theatre’s Prisoner of Zenda, to Dominic Goodwin’s April in Paris by John Godber, and the more intellectually demanding Vita and Virginia. Musically, we had boogie-woogie from Bob Hall, and, at our Members’ Evening, Music Hall from John Wallis. And, of course the Fake Jakes’ tribute to Jake Thackray. We also had what is becoming the annual trip to see Oddsocks take on Les Miserables in York at Christmas.

Unfortunately, we were not able to work with the Rural Arts On Tour programme this year, but hope that normal service will soon be resumed. This means that Anita has had to find and book every show to the last detail, and we have had NO subsidy of any kind, and we still just about broke even.

In looking to the future, we are wondering whether five shows and more may be stretching our resources, given the fixed potential size of our core audience, the sheer work required to set them up and other shows in the village.

Textile group (report by Elaine Hubery)

On reflection the past year seems to have passed by so quickly that some of us have had little time to produce very much. We have, however, had many lovely times together ( with an average attendance of 14) and many diverse experiences. The Autumn was taken up with preparation for our Christmas Exhibition at The Helmsley Arts Centre. We were delighted and honoured to be asked to do this and had many encouraging comments from the visitors.

After a felt making workshop with Jackie Lunn we made felt items and we 'revisited' papermaking and tried further quilting techniques. Some lovely pieces were made using Kantha stitching.

(more)