The Arts Help Us Create Sustainable Communities

ISSUE

56 2009

VAN Update

March

The voice of the Voluntary Arts

Creative communities are sustainable communities Any crisis, be it at individual, community or global level, forces an urgent re-think of the way we live. This time is no different. Pressures on the environment and current financial dilemmas are forcing people to search for new solutions. It is a very difficult period to live through, filled with fear, uncertainty and human suffering. However, times like this can also bring huge potential and opportunity, promising real and lasting positive change. And the voluntary arts have a huge role to play – in creating and sustaining a new way of living. One of the biggest changes we have to make is in the area of environmental sustainability and most of us, at least in the developed world, have begun to adopt behaviours that protect and sustain our natural resources. But what we are also starting to realise is that it is not possible to separate our environmental actions from the rest of our lives. It’s like a wave of dominoes – as we change one area we find we have to change our behaviour, attitudes and values in other areas too. So, in tackling how we preserve our natural resources we are having to harmonise human and natural systems and integrate economic, environmental and social values and behaviour to make the very way we live sustainable – so that we can thrive in the long term. What’s this got to do with the voluntary arts? Well, many advocates of ‘sustainable community development’ emphasise both quality-of-life issues and the importance of group cohesion and a sense of community. They point to values such as co-operation, sharing, open dialogue and communication, creative freedom and expression, health and wellbeing, equal

opportunity and respect for difference, happiness, non-violence, friendship, self-respect, a sense of fulfilment, spiritual connection and a sense of the meaning of life. All these things are at the heart of our flourishing as human beings and as members of society. They are what sustainable life is about. And it just so happens that many of the benefits of participating in the voluntary arts embody these values and are the underpinnings of a sustainable way of living. Artists, perhaps more than others in the community, tend to be more open to questioning the status quo and to seeking new and more appropriate solutions. Essentially, this is because the arts help us to make sense of life. Exploring what life means to us touches us deeply and enables us to act on and shape our lives. Sharing this process through metaphor (i.e. artwork) contributes to our understanding of both others and ourselves. This opportunity for self-expression, self-definition and the chance to see the world from another’s point of view in turn contributes to individual, social and community growth and cohesion. ‘It is through

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Contents Report . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Case study . . . . . . . . . .3 Legal issues . . . . . . . . .4 VAN news . . . . . . . . . .4 With this edition of Update VAN Briefing 124: How to make sure your group is still here in ten years’ time VAN Briefing 125: Fostering a long-term relationship with occasional volunteers If your address or contact details have changed, please let us know. © Copyright notice: Unless otherwise stated, all material published by VAN is subject to copyright. However, we do encourage members of the voluntary arts sector to copy and disseminate this material for non-commercial purposes. Prior to doing so, please send details of your requirements to [email protected]. We also require that you acknowledge VAN wherever such material is used.

N E W S F RO M T H E VO L U N TA RY A RT S N E T WO R K

www.voluntar yar ts .org CREATIVE COMMUNITIES ARE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

engagement with culture in its widest sense that people are enabled and communities strengthened.’1 On an individual level, the enjoyment and pleasure gained from participating in arts and crafts activities creates an all-round sense of wellbeing and happiness, reduces stress and anxiety and even helps healing in times of ill health. Participation increases self-confidence and self-esteem and so improves people’s personal lives and their ability to make social connections – friendship is a vital element of fulfilled and healthy living. All these factors are cited as good indicators of quality of life. Engaging in social interaction through group arts activity is also important because it increases networking, co-operation and partnerships and enables individuals to gain new skills like team work, negotiation, communication and administration. As a result they become capable of setting up new activities and groups in the community – all of which contributes to local self-reliance and strengthens community co-operation. Significantly too, the voluntary arts provide a means for people to share their cultures with others, thereby promoting harmony, understanding, tolerance and co-operation between different communities. And voluntary arts activities can encourage sociability in areas where social connection has been eliminated by poverty, crime and mistrust – local arts groups enable people to become involved in community activities that are affordable, close to home, in a neutral and safe environment and appropriate to the backgrounds and aspirations of the participants. Similarly, engagement in the voluntary arts plays an important role in celebrating and preserving local cultures, traditions, and heritage which helps to strengthen local identity. Residents who feel good about where they live are more likely to become involved in new community schemes including environmental improvements. Participating in the arts involves creative and innovative thinking and responsible risk taking. Overcoming risks such as those associated with identity, ability and relationships creates confidence, flexibility and ‘risk competence’, attributes that enable people to deal with the uncertainties and challenges of the future. Creative citizens are more likely to recognise synergies, make innovative connections and use their knowledge and skills in ways that add cultural, social, political and economic value to their communities. Participation in the arts therefore helps to foster people’s engagement in the wider civic process and to form and develop the sort of communities they want to stay in. So, what is exciting now, as we search for new direction, is that many of the skills and gifts, artistic and otherwise, that are necessary for the shaping and creating of a new sustainable 1 2 3

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Donald Dewar, Scotland’s First Minister (1999-2000). Building communities from the inside out: a path toward finding and mobilising community assets. Kretzman, J and McKnight, J. www.defra.gov.uk/rural/strategy/default.htm

world are already present in our communities. Our task is to identify, develop and support these ‘arts assets’2 and encourage ways to build connections between them that will multiply their power and effectiveness. However, an essential key to the effectiveness of this process is to recognise that most voluntary artists do not work in isolation. They belong to an art or craft group. It is the social relationships that fuel local associations and informal networks, and the skills, talents and solution finding abilities that these citizen’s ‘associations’ hold, that will come to play a vital role in creating a sustainable future. Associations, less formal and much less dependent upon paid staff than formal institutions, are the very vehicles through which citizens can assemble to solve problems, share common interests and activities and create the glue that binds communities together. This in turn creates a sense of empowerment and ownership of the development process, which strengthens people’s confidence in their own capacities, inspires them to take action and enables them to shape and determine positive, and lasting, change. When this happens, people become confident that they can count on their neighbours and neighbourhood resources for support, and a sense of efficacy based on interdependence and strength develops. Most communities harbour significant numbers of associations of various kinds, not least artistic and creative. However, the depth and extent of this associational life in any community has been vastly underestimated. This is particularly true of socially excluded communities. Informal groups – those that already exist as well as new ones that will emerge – will be indispensable aids in the creation of a sustainable future, and many of them could become full contributors to the development process. Given the significance of the contribution of artistic activity to sustainable communities, and the role voluntary artists and arts groups could and will play in the big picture of the future of the planet, we must ensure that the voluntary arts are not overlooked by policy makers and funders in their attempt to create ‘a better quality of life for everyone, now and into the future’. 3

Diversity Update The VAN Diversity Panel has been looking again at equal opportunities issues in relation to our employment and recruitment of staff and volunteers, reviewing in detail the VAN Recruitment and Selection Procedure created as a result of the Diversity Panel’s last examination of these issues in November 2007. The Diversity Panel also analysed the first results from the new VAN Diversity Monitoring Form. The form was developed by the Panel to create a consistent way of collecting diversity monitoring information and processing it methodically in order to identify any areas which need improvement. All staff and volunteers have now completed the form, giving the Diversity Panel the opportunity to discuss current levels of diversity within the organisation and to start to refine how answers to the open-ended questions can be most effectively collated.

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CASE STUDY This is the ninth in a series of case studies that put UK- and Ireland-wide voluntary arts lead and umbrella bodies in the spotlight. If you would like to help raise awareness of your work among peers and policy-makers by being featured in a forthcoming issue, please email [email protected] .

SAA Society for All Artists The SAA, Society for All Artists, is for everyone with a love of painting! It believes in encouraging everyone, from complete novices and hesitant beginners to the legions of leisure painters and beyond. It has over 43,000 members in over 60 countries, making the SAA the most influential and far-reaching society of its kind anywhere in the world. With an ever growing ‘family’ of enthusiastic and eager artists, it’s not only the largest art society in the world… it’s also the friendliest! What does SAA do? The SAA is here to inform, encourage and inspire all who want to paint. We supply inspiration, information, help and advice on a whole host of practical painting issues. Anyone can learn to paint with the help of the SAA. Our members receive the bi-monthly newsletter Paint, which is filled with information, ideas and step-by-step projects, plus the Home Shop Catalogue which is filled with quality discounted materials. All our UK mainland members also receive free post and packing. When you first become a member we send you a fantastic welcome pack to get you started which includes a watercolour painting book, a set of Bockingford watercolour postcards, SAA car sticker and 500 loyalty points to spend in our Home Shop. Every year we run a number of competitions with free entry to SAA members. The most prestigious is ‘The SAA Artists of the Year’ competition which has a £2,000 first prize. How is SAA developing? The SAA is an ever-growing society, getting bigger and better every year. We are continually working to improve the society and get more people painting, making learning to paint easy and fun. As well as sponsoring ‘The Painting and Drawing Channel,’ which airs on Sky Digital channel 166 and Image courtesy of the SAA

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Freesat channel 406, this summer we will also be holding our very own show ‘It’s all about Art’ at the Business Design Centre in Islington between 23 and 25 July 2009. Here you can meet and be taught by professional artists such as Terry Harrison, Geoff Kersey, Fiona Peart and Jeremy Ford to name just a few. What makes painting so special? Painting is so much more than an enjoyable pastime – it makes you feel good, it’s a fabulous way to relax and be at one with nature. It’s a great way to build self confidence, improve your skills, meet like-minded people and make new friends. Painting brings a fantastic sense of achievement when you complete a painting, whether you’re a complete beginner or a professional. How would you advise someone to go about joining a painting group? Art groups are for everyone, so don’t be put off joining an art group if you are a complete beginner. Many people don’t join art groups because they believe they aren’t good enough, but art clubs welcome all ages and abilities. If you are brand new to painting, the best way to find an art group is to contact the SAA on 0800 980 1123 or simply visit the SAA’s website www.saa.co.uk, click on the ‘local groups’ tab and search for art groups in your area. If you don’t feel confident enough to join an art group yet, join the SAA and learn to paint at home. Standard membership starts from as little as £25 a year, so why not join? You’ve nothing to lose… and so much to gain! For further information on SAA, visit the website at www.saa.co.uk.

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LEGAL ISSUES Charitable Incorporated Organisations The Charities Act 2006 set out a new legal form of incorporation due to be introduced in England and Wales in 2009 – the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO or Welsh equivalent SEC). At present, charities can be registered companies – but this means that they have to comply with two sets of regulations, and provide accounts and returns to two regulatory bodies. The CIO is designed to combine the advantages of a company structure (such as reduced risk of personal liability) and charitable status without the burden of dual regulation. Other potential advantages of the CIO are that it is meant to have fewer onerous requirements for preparing accounts and reports, a single annual return, and lower costs. Before the new form can come into effect, secondary legislation in the form of Regulations (which will set out how CIOs must be established and operate) is required. As part of this process, the Office of the Third Sector issued draft Regulations in a consultation that closed on 10 December 2008. The Charity Commission and the Office of the Third Sector are currently considering the consultation responses and a report on the results will be available on the Office of the Third Sector’s website (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx) in March 2009. Voluntary sector consultant Sandy Adirondack suggests that unincorporated charities that need the advantages of incorporation should consider becoming charitable companies now, rather than waiting for the CIO to become available. Sandy publishes a very useful legal update newsletter via email, which you can sign up to through her website (www.sandy-a.co.uk).

Sign up to the new-look VAN E-news! The VAN E-news has been redesigned! We have taken into account all the feedback we have received over the past year to create the new design. If you are a regular E-news subscriber, let us know what you think by emailing [email protected]. If you have recently stopped receiving the E-news, please check your spam folder in case the new design has been identified incorrectly by your email system. If you have not yet signed up for the E-news, you can do so today at: • UK – www.voluntaryarts.org/news • England – www.vaengland.org.uk/news • Ireland – www.vaireland.org/news • Scotland – www.vascotland.org.uk/news • Wales – www.vaw.org.uk/news The new E-news design also features a weekly showcase image from a voluntary artist or craftsperson. If you are a member of a voluntary arts lead or umbrella body and would like your work showcased in a future edition, please email a good quality image to [email protected]. If you are an individual voluntary artist or craftsperson, or member of a voluntary arts or crafts group, please email the VAN office that represents your nation (contact details available on the VAN website at www.voluntaryarts.org). The VAN websites also now feature RSS feeds for users who wish to subscribe to news, jobs, funding, events and training items – for more information and to subscribe visit the website and select ‘Subscribe via RSS’ from the left-hand menu.

VOLUNTARY ARTS NETWORK NEWS People keep asking me how the voluntary arts will be affected by the recession: the answer is that no one really knows. It has been interesting, in meetings I have attended recently at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Community Sector Coalition, to look Robin Simpson – at the impact of previous recessions on VAN CEO the voluntary and community sector. The evidence is mixed and often confusing, but there are some clear lessons from the extensive research undertaken. One fairly reliable indicator is that there is usually a nine to twelve month lag effect in relation to charitable giving, so the voluntary sector typically starts to feel the bite of recession later than other sectors. Although financial downturns always result in the demise of some charities, the overall size of the sector does not seem to change very much – there are both winners and losers within the voluntary sector. Research by the

Charities Aid Foundation into the effects of the recession of the early 1990s shows that one third of charities experienced a decrease in income, one third saw an increase and one third stayed the same. There is significant evidence that levels of volunteering increase during a recession, both with newly unemployed people seeking to develop skills and make worthwhile use of their time and with a general trend towards people valuing their communities and society more highly. Interestingly, while there has been extensive research into the effects of recessions on the voluntary sector, there appears to have been very little comparable work done on the effect on arts organisations. Intuitively it seems likely that, while attendance at some professional arts events may fall (particularly with people less willing to travel large distances to attend), local arts participation may actually increase as people look to stay closer to home and play a more active role in their communities. Writing in the Making Music magazine Highnotes, Chief Executive Robin Osterley said: ‘Unlike the professional sector, amateur groups rarely rely extensively on external funding –

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www.voluntar yar ts .org VOLUNTARY ARTS NETWORK NEWS

primarily because they have a regular and guaranteed source of income (membership subscriptions) and much lower costs. Although many do fundraise, it is often for special events or discretionary activities, so difficult times are more likely to cause a cutback in their activities than threaten their very existence.’ In November 2008 the Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan, chaired a Voluntary Sector Recession Summit, organised by NCVO. We asked national voluntary arts umbrella bodies how the economic downturn was affecting them and their members and we fed their responses to NCVO ahead of the summit. The umbrella bodies told us they had seen little or no effect on their income so far but those with investments were naturally concerned about falling interest rates which had significantly reduced the value of their reserves – and this might affect budgeting for the coming year. The Voluntary Sector Recession Summit resulted in a Government commitment to working with the sector to develop an action plan. This £42.5 million plan was launched at the beginning of February. While we wait to see how the voluntary arts copes, the one thing we can be fairly certain of is that this recession is likely to be different from any of its predecessors in all sorts of ways – and no one really knows what that will mean. Robin Simpson, Voluntary Arts Network CEO [email protected]

Voluntary Arts Ireland Another way in – was launched in Downpatrick in January. Speaking at the launch, DSD Minister, Margaret Ritchie, said: ‘There is a real need to increase the number and diversity of volunteers. These innovative projects will help to do just that. They are the first of their kind on the island of Ireland.’ Both Minister Ritchie of the NI Department of Social Development and John CurranTD Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (RoI) attended the launch of this new initiative which their departments are jointly funding. Partners in the project are the Church Of Ireland (Diocese of Derry and Raphoe) and the Ulster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Voluntary Arts Ireland’s Isobel Cleary, based in Fermanagh, is project officer for Another Way In. She is currently recruiting arts and crafts groups in Fermanagh, Donegal and Sligo for the first phase of the project. If you would like more information about the project contact Isobel at [email protected] . Participation guide – directing people to where they can make or do art in their own local area is the idea behind our internetbased guide to opportunities to participate in Northern Ireland. We are currently collecting contact information from all those who offer people the chance to participate at whatever level and in all art or craft forms. If you would like to know more contact Emma Whitehead at [email protected].

Voluntary Arts England Become a registered supporter – show your support for the voluntary arts in England by becoming a registered supporter of Voluntary Arts England. In addition to receiving a certificate from us and having your name displayed on our website, as a supporter you will also have the opportunity to vote in our Chair elections and most importantly you will joining the swell of people already supporting our promotion of practical participation in the arts and crafts. You can download a form from our website at www.vaengland.org.uk or request one be emailing [email protected] . It’s free to register – we’re raising recognition of your work, not money for ours. Website – like all of the VAN websites, www.vaengland.org.uk features a wealth of information and resources for the amateur arts and crafts. There are now over 120 free VAN Briefings available to download covering a range of topics that will answer most of the questions and problems your group may encounter. The Running Your Group section offers a step-bystep guide to those already running or those wanting to set up their own group, answering some frequently-asked questions as well as highlighting other sources of information that may be of use. Groups and organisations can also use our free eventslisting service to not only include their arts events or workshops on our website but also have the details sent out in our weekly e-newsletter (see page 4 for more details) to thousands of readers.

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Voluntary Arts Link Online voluntary arts photo gallery – we have launched a new online photo gallery using the image hosting website Flickr. Having a bank of photos of voluntary arts groups in action – to illustrate our own publications and pass on to the press and government departments – will raise the profile of the organisations involved and the voluntary arts in general. Taking part in the gallery is easy. Simply click on the link on the left-hand side of our homepage at www.voluntaryarts.org for more information and a step-by-step guide on submitting your images. We do the actual task of uploading your images onto the gallery and you have total control over the level of copyright and licensing on your image. Link Events – the next Safety Audit: Children and Vulnerable Groups event will be held in London in May. We will also be running an event for those wishing to create low-cost, sustainable websites later this year. For the latest details, sign up to the VAN E-news at www.voluntaryarts.org/news. Case studies of national voluntary arts umbrella and lead bodies – as part of our work to raise the profile of umbrella and lead bodies over the last three years, we have compiled a series of case studies on our website at www.voluntaryarts.org/13389. If you are a umbrella or lead body and would like to be featured, please contact [email protected].

www.voluntar yar ts .org VOLUNTARY ARTS NETWORK NEWS

BriefingXtra – national umbrella and lead bodies are receiving an additional item in this quarter’s Update mailing. BriefingXtra is a one-off supplement to the usual VAN Briefings, allowing us to provide additional content of benefit to the sector. BriefingXtras will also be available for anyone to download for free from the Briefings page of the website at www.voluntaryarts.org/briefings and in the Running Your Group section. The first BriefingXtra is on making your group even more environmentally-friendly.

series of information and awareness-raising sessions supported by a small grants programme. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Volunteer Development Scotland, Demos and Greater London Volunteering to take forward People Making Waves, which aims to connect thousands of volunteers across Scotland with the ideals of the Olympic movement. ‘Make a Splash’ will help you encourage greater participation in your activities and grow your audience. More details will be available soon.

Voluntary Arts Scotland New work – following the appointment of two new members of staff – a Sector Development Officer and Support Networks Development Officer – VAScotland is about to embark on an exciting new programme of work. Thanks to money from the Big Lottery’s Dynamic Inclusive Communities Fund, we are now able to run a number of initiatives, including a Scottish Arts Ambassador scheme. This will tie in heavily with Scotland’s Community Planning partnerships, and will involve volunteers ensuring the voice of the arts and crafts is heard loud and clear in all 32 local authorities. We will also be running a series of seminars across Scotland on how to make the best use of information technology within your group. These will be based on a similar programme successfully run by Voluntary Arts England. Further information on our new staff members, and how they’ll be spending their time, will appear in the next Update. People Making Waves – as announced on 12 March 2009, People Making Waves is part of The Scottish Project, the Legacy Trust UK’s Scottish regional project, supported by Scottish Arts Council National Lottery fund. As part of People Making Waves, we have secured funding to create and deliver ‘Make a Splash’, a

Voluntary Arts Wales Cynffon y Ddraig – we had a very good response to our bilingual newsletter, published in November 2008. The next issue, due out in spring 2009, will focus on the impact of the recession on voluntary arts organisations, implications of the Licensing Act and an exciting project based in West Wales called ‘Diwylliant Bro’ (Culture in the Community). Welsh Language Scheme event – twenty-five participants, mainly from umbrella arts organisations in Wales, registered for this event which was held in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay in February 2009. Experts and practitioners explained who needs a Welsh Language Scheme and why, and how to go about preparing one. The Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones AM, spoke at the event. Recession and the Third Sector – an issue increasingly focusing people’s minds in the sector in Wales – particularly on searching for financial support, dealing with the impact on services and activities and possible staff redundancies. VAW has contributed to work being done by Wales Council for Voluntary Action on this issue.

Information contained here may go out of date and you are therefore advised to check its currency. Updated information may be available on the VAN website: www.voluntaryarts.org Disclaimer: Reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the information in this document is accurate. However, it is not intended to be legally comprehensive; it is designed to provide guidance in good faith at the stated date but without accepting liability. We therefore recommend you take appropriate professional advice before taking action on any of the matters covered herein.

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The Voluntary Arts Network, Ground floor, 121 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9PH T: 029 20 395 395 E: [email protected] W: www.voluntaryarts.org The Voluntary Arts Network is registered in Scotland as Company No. 139147 and Charity No. SC 020345. VAN acknowledges funding from the Arts Councils of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Registered office: 2nd Floor, 54 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7EH. VAN Update is published quarterly and is distributed to all national regional and horizontal umbrella bodies working with local amateur and voluntary arts groups throughout the UK. VAN Update is also distributed to local authority arts officers, the four national Arts Councils, ACE regional offices in England, and selected MPs and Government Departments across the UK and ROI. ISSN: 1357-504X

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