Neoartists weblog

Not much progress to report this week, we’re still playing the waiting game. 

We’re still waiting for confirmation that the company has been registered.  It’s been delayed because we are registering as a Community Interest Company and that is much more complex than just setting up a normal company.

When we are formally registered we need to open a new bank account, but we can’t do that until we get some formal confirmation from Companies House.  Therefore, unfortunately, we’re still  not in a position to tell members our new sort code and account number for them to set up their standing orders.   This should be resolved next week though.

It’s the same with the funding applications.  We need the confirmation that we have been registered before we can submit the applications.  

We’re also waiting to hear from Wigan Council as to whether we need planning permission  for the building work we are planning to do in Howe Bridge Mill.  That’s needed for the funding applications as well.

It’s not all doom and gloom though.  We have allowed for these delays in our project plan and so we are still on track to open in March 2009.

We’re still not getting any response to these updates.  It would be nice to know that people were interested in progress (or lack of it as the case may be!).  Please can you let us know you are reading them, even if you haven’t got any comments or questions?

Good news and not so good news this week.

First, good news - our meeting with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust went very well and their North West manager was very positive about our project.

Not so good news is that we discovered that the premises rent, service charge and buildings insurance are going to be subject to VAT.  This will increase our costs quite a lot so we are trying to work out how we can absorb those costs without increasing the studio rents.

Meanwhile we’ve started getting in touch with local community groups and schools to tell them about our project and asking them to write us letters of support.  We need these to go with the funding applications to show that we have involved the local community in our project planning.  So far the response has been very positive.

We’ve also had a very nice letter of support from Martyn Lucas at the Turnpike Gallery, quote:  “I am looking forward to your project succeeding and adding to the cultural life of the area.  I am particularly pleased at the prospect of professional artists establishing themselves in a permanent base at this end of the borough.  I see potential in extending the local pool of artists from whom we employ to deliver our services at the Turnpike.  I also see ways forward to establish productive links between yourselves and local schools, community groups and other organisations.  Yours will be a welcome addition to local creative industries”.

Think that’s it for this week.  If there are any VAT experts out there please let us know!

We’ve got all the building quotes in now.  Considering they were all given the same spec, we don’t really understand why there is such a big difference between them, with the most expensive one being nearly 100% more than the cheapest one, but then we’re just artists. 

We still haven’t seen a copy of the premises lease yet due to holidays but, much to our surprise, they’ve started to replace the windows on the 4th floor of the Mill this week. The new windows make a huge difference, it’s even lighter than it was before.

Andy Burnham, local MP and Secretary of State for Culture, has written letters of support to go with our funding applications.   We’ve got a meeting with the Arts Council on 3rd September to find out what we need to put with the application because we are a building project, and we’ve got a meeting with the Coalfield Regeneration Trust on Monday to find out if we are eligible for their funding.  Depending on what they say, we may also apply to the Foundation for Sports & the Arts.

Meanwhile, we had another viewing at the Mill this week and more studio spaces were reserved - the window spaces are proving very popular!�

We’re currently in a bit of a limbo state. The property agent for Howe Bridge Mill is on holiday so there’s not much happening with the contracts.

We were hoping to submit the Arts Council funding application this week but now that we’ve had the official letter from the Arts Council giving us permission to apply for funding it says we have to have a meeting with them to discuss what needs to be included with the application.  So it’s going to be delayed a bit longer.

We have heard from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust though, as a result of our preliminary application, and their North West manager is coming to see us on the 18th August, so that’s a bit of progress.

In the meantime we’re still waiting for a couple more building quotes to come in.

While we’re waiting we’ve been tackling the subject of a Child Protection Policy, or Safeguarding Policy. We need one of these if we want to offer workshops or demonstrations to members of the public (an opportunity for members to earn some money) or, for example, let school groups into the gallery.

That’s it for this week, hopefully more to report next week.  We don’t seem to be getting any feedback on these updates – is there anybody out there or are you all on holiday?

It’s been a busy week!

We’ve had a meeting with our solicitors and Neoartists Studios Ltd is being registered as a Social Enterprise not-for-profit company.  Jason, Lisa, Stuart and myself will all be directors of the company.  Just in case anybody has visions of fat cat directors I should it make it clear that we won’t get any money for doing this - we just get all the hassle and responsibility.

We’ve had a meeting with the property agent for the Mill and he is now drawing up contracts so that renovations can begin.  This will involve replacing windows and lights, installing a secure 9000 sq ft unit for our use, and installing toilets on the same floor (but not in our unit).  The owners of the Mill are paying for all of that and it’s going to take about three months.

When that’s done, assuming we’ve got some money, we can start fitting out the unit.  The internal floor plan has been agreed to include 35 spaces, a print room, workshop, dark room, and gallery.  Jason has had five building firms in to measure up and they are currently working on quotes.  We will have to fund that building work, and all the equipment that we need.  So, where will we get the money from????

When we have the final figures we will be applying to the Arts Council, the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, and the Foundation for Sports and Arts.  Because building work is involved we have had to get prior permission from the Arts Council before we can even apply.  That’s taken three months, but we finally got that permission this week which was cause for great celebration.

Studio prices have now been worked out.  These will depend on size and location of studio, e.g. studios with windows will be more expensive than those without.  The price quoted will include rent, rates, electric, water, service charges and insurance + associate membership benefits.  Existing members have been invited to view the floor in its current derelict state and seven studio spaces have already been reserved -there are 35 in total.  Reserving a space doesn’t cost any money - you just have to join as an Associate Member and then you get the benefits of a web page  and submission-free exhibition opportunities immediately.

Existing members will have two more weeks to reserve a space then we will be issuing invitations to graduates from other universities.

If things go according to plan, the studios will be opening in March 2009.

We’ve had press coverage in the Bolton News, Leigh Reporter and Leigh Journal this week as a result of the Neoartists exhibition at Bella Bistro.  All of these articles mentioned the Studios which we hope will result in new members.

The website has been updated to give details of the new membership scheme and it is now possible for new members to join via the website, and for existing members to rejoin via the members area of the website.

Think that’s it for this week, but if you’ve got any questions just press the comment button below and we’ll do our best to answer them.