Arts Provision in Ealing Borough Scrutiny Review Panel – 8th February 2012

Arts Provision in Ealing Borough Scrutiny Review Panel

MINUTES

Wednesday 8th February 2012 at 7.00pm (Preceded by a tour of Questors Theatre for Panel Members at 6.00pm)

PRESENT: Councillors: Byrne (Chair), Anjum, Ball (substituting for Rose), Ann Chapman (Vice Chair), Isobel Grant (part), Kausar, Langan, G Mann (part) and Young.

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ahmed, Joanna Dabrowska and Midha.

2. Matters to be Considered in Private/ Urgent Matters

There were none.

3. Declarations of Interest

There were none.

4. Minutes of the Meeting Held on 7th December 2011 (See Agenda Item 5)

Arising from consideration of the minutes of the last meeting the Panel considered a supplementary paper submitted by Ealing Arts Centre Limited (EAC) regarding the perceived need for a major performance venue for the arts in Central Ealing.

Whilst welcoming the refurbishment of Greenford Hall EAC had argued that there remained a need for the establishment of facilities in Central Ealing which would cater for the visual and performance arts at a professional level. In this context Panel Members noted that there was unallocated Dickens Yard Section 106 funding of £1 million which had been set aside for social, community, sports and leisure facilities in Central Ealing which could be used for the provision of community arts facilities in the area.

Resolved: (i) That the minutes of the meeting held on 7th December 2011 be approved as a true and correct record.

(ii) That the Panel has regard to the possible future uses of Ealing Town Hall and the representations received from Ealing Arts Centre Limited when it considers conclusions and recommendations to be included in the Panel’s final report at its next and final meeting.

5. Presentation from Questors Theatre (See Agenda Item 6)

The Panel received a presentation on the Questors Theatre from the theatre’s Chairman, Richard Mead; Artistic Director, Mark Fitzgerald; and Executive Director, Andrea Bath.

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Founded in 1929 the Questors Theatre Club had developed into a vibrant non- professional theatre company with an international reputation and a history of pioneering new and challenging dramatic works. Illustrious and distinguished presidents of the theatre had included Michael Redgrave and from 1985 to the present Judi Dench.

The theatre had occupied its current site in Mattock Lane since 1933, The current building had been opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1964, replacing the previous theatre building which had been converted from an old church. In addition to the main playhouse auditorium the site also contained a studio theatre – the Constantin Stanislavsky Room built as a rehearsal room and converted into a studio theatre in 1968 – three rehearsal rooms – the Bernard Shaw Room, the Michael Redgrave Room and the Alfred Emmet room – a scenery workshop and a members’ bar.

The theatre staged some 20 or so of its own productions each year with actors and backstage teams drawn from its membership. In addition the theatre hosted shows and performances by other local arts and community based groups and schools. There was a large, vibrant youth theatre at Questors which also operated an acting course in conjunction with the University of West London as well as offering a number of education and rehearsal rooms for work with young people.

Questors had been chosen by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) as its London partner venue for its Open Stages project. This project was a country-wide celebration of the work of Shakespeare and as part of the build up to the Cultural Olympiad the theatre would be putting on a number of Shakespeare productions in March and April 2012. The theatre had been running courses and workshops to select actors for these productions with Othello and Romeo and Juliet to run in repertory in March followed by a youth theatre production of The Tempest. There were currently some 250 people actively working on this project with volunteers busily engaged on producing scenery for the productions in the theatre’s workshop.

The theatre had a number of trained tutors and drama teachers. In addition to its acting courses and work with young people the theatre also hosted creative writing and other arts related courses. The aim was to give children and young people, including young disabled people, experience of the theatre either through acting or through work backstage including the scenery and costume workshops. In addition to acting experience many of the theatre’s members had professional experience of theatre, television or the performance arts, including lighting, sound and other technical aspects of production, experience that they were able and willing to share with others.

A registered charity the theatre received no direct financial support from local or central government or the Arts Council. Funding to support the theatre came predominantly from commercial and ticket receipts supplemented by additional funding from its members and other fundraising activities.

Andrea Bath explained that Questors was the only non-professional theatre that had been engaged by the RSC as a partner on the forthcoming Open Stages project, which attested to the theatre’s achievements and its current status amongst the theatrical community. There was a growing emphasis within Questors on reaching out to other organisations both locally and further afield and on developing

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partnerships with other drama studios and with Ealing Studios, the University of West London and Ealing Council in its role as facilitator. The aim was to build on work and progress to date to develop culture and art in Ealing and to make people more aware of what was going on in Ealing. The theatre already had close links with the Council and used rooms at Ealing Town Hall both for acting classes and rehearsals for young people. However further support from the Council in terms of advertising and promotion was sought. Currently some 80% of people attending drama and shows at the theatre came from the local area. The theatre only had a small marketing budget and more work was needed to raise its profile in the wider community.

Richard Mead stated that the theatre was seeking to develop better communication with the Council’s Halls and Events Team in order to promote links with local arts groups that were looking to put on events in Ealing, not all of which could be accommodated at Questors Theatre.

Inter alia, it was felt that improved access to ‘Around Ealing’ and the advertising boards outside Ealing Town Hall could help to promote the theatre and its productions. In this context Panel Members agreed that the Council should look at how it could help Questors Theatre to raise its profile both in West London and beyond.

Arising out of the presentation Panel Members identified the following possible recommendations for consideration for inclusion in their final report: namely that the Marketing and Communications Team should be asked to work with the Questors Theatre to look at how the theatre could be better promoted in a cost effective way through the Council’s ‘Around Ealing’ publication; that the appropriate Council officers should look at improved signposting to highlight the location of the theatre close to the centre of Ealing; and that the Council give consideration to having a designated Arts Officer to act as a facilitator and point of liaison with local arts and community groups.

Resolved: (i) That the Panel notes the presentation and commends Questors Theatre on its impressive work both to promote excellence in the dramatic arts and to engage with young people and encourage youth involvement in the performing arts.

(ii) That the Panel notes and has regard to the following suggested recommendations when it considers conclusions and recommendations to be included in the Panel’s final report at its next and final meeting: namely that the Marketing and Communications Team should be asked to work with the Questors Theatre to look at how the theatre could be better promoted in a cost effective way through the Council’s ‘Around Ealing’ publication; that the appropriate Council officers should look at improved signposting to highlight the location of the theatre close to the centre of Ealing; and that the Council give consideration to having a designated Arts Officer to act as a facilitator and point of liaison with local arts and community groups.

6. Strategy for Arts and Culture – Scope for Discussion (See Agenda Item 10)

The Panel received a report from Carole Stewart, Assistant Director, Arts, Heritage and Libraries, setting out a draft scope for a new arts and culture strategy for Ealing. The new strategy would seek to reflect the diverse and culturally vibrant nature of the borough with an emphasis on partnership working and providing increased opportunities for more people to get involved in the arts. It was noted that work would

3 Arts Provision in Ealing Borough Scrutiny Review Panel – 8th February 2012 now proceed on refining the scope and priorities of the new strategy and that officers would be consulting widely with the local community and key stakeholders as part of that process. It was anticipated that the new strategy document should be ready for consideration by the Cabinet at its meeting in December 2012.

The emphasis within the new strategy, which was predicated on the premise that the arts had an intrinsic value and a vital and culturally enriching role to play in the local community, would be on the Council as an ‘enabler’ and ‘facilitator’ rather than as a direct ‘provider’ of the arts. To this end the Council would seek to work with local partners and arts organisations to help identify and provide space and facilities for arts and cultural activities.

At their last meeting Panel Members had agreed that a definition of the arts should include both the visual arts, i.e. painting, photography, sculpture, etc. and the performance arts, i.e. theatre, dance, music (all genres) and film. It had further been proposed that the Council’s current heritage strategy should be incorporated in the wider cultural strategy. As noted above Carole Stewart’s paper to this meeting set out a draft scope for the new strategy. It did not provide strategic priorities for specific art forms. Rather the focus was on key priorities that could contribute to the development of generic opportunities for arts and culture.

Sarah Constable from the Youth and Connexions Service introduced five young people from Ealing Youth Action and A.P.P.L.E. who gave a presentation on young people and the arts. Amongst their suggestions for promoting the arts and engaging young people were the funding of locally based arts projects and improved communication and publicity using the internet and new social media such as ‘facebook’ and ‘twitter’ which would make it easier for young people to find out what artistic and cultural activities were going on in their area.

Panel Members recognised that there was a need for the Council to respond to the needs of young people and to ensure that there were more opportunities locally for them to participate, learn and get involved in the arts.

Sara Raybould, Acting Head of the London College of Music at the University of West London, also addressed the meeting. She stressed the importance of building stronger links between key local groups and organisations which were active in the promotion of the arts in Ealing, including the university, Questors Theatre and the Council’s Youth Service. As part of this process of reaching out into the local community the University of West London collaborated with Questors Theatre on the provision of drama courses and was working with the Council’s Youth Service on building links with young people via the Horizons Centre. The university already made substantial use of rooms in Ealing Town Hall not only for examination purposes but also for teaching and acting and dance classes. The university also hosted free events each week that were open to the public and these were advertised in the Ealing Gazette and via the internet.

Councillor Young expressed the view that the Council’s new arts strategy should seek to strengthen the links that existed between the four key elements that comprised the existing artistic hub and centre of excellence in Central Ealing, namely Questors Theatre, the University of West London, Ealing Studios and Ealing Town Hall. Notwithstanding the recent refurbishment of Greenford Hall Ealing Town Hall

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had a continuing vital role to play as a major venue for the arts at the very heart of Ealing.

Panel Members highlighted the importance of promoting the arts across the borough as a whole as well as building on links between existing centres of excellence including those in Central Ealing. It was further suggested that other components of the new arts and culture strategy should include promoting diversity, work with people with disability, a new strategy for the use of Ealing Town Hall and improved communication and liaison between the Council and other local groups, agencies and institutions active in the area of the arts.

Resolved: That the Panel notes the draft scope for a new arts and culture strategy and requests officers to bear in mind the views and comments expressed by Panel Members and others at this meeting when preparing a revised draft of the strategy for further consultation with local community groups and stakeholders.

7. Update on the OPEN Ealing Project (See Agenda Item 7)

The Panel received an update report from David Bowler, Chair of West Ealing Arts, and David Highton, Project Manager for OPEN Ealing.

The Panel heard that the lease on the project’s current premises in West Ealing was due to expire at the end of March 2012. However agreement had now been reached in principle to take a 5-year lease on the St. James Annex in St. James Avenue in the heart of West Ealing. In the longer term it was still hoped that OPEN Ealing would be able to move to more permanent premises on the Green Man Lane Estate.

OPEN Ealing had proved to be a dynamic, evolving community arts project and was continuing to develop and expand its range of activities and events with over 5,300 visitors to date visiting galleries or attending classes and other events held there. The OPEN Ealing Board was looking to build on the good work that the project had delivered at the Uxbridge Road premises and to develop the project’s reach to provide greater access to the arts for the residents of Ealing. To this end the OPEN Ealing Board had developed a comprehensive business plan to realise its vision. This had identified three options to maintain and develop its vision, including an option to remain at the new premises in St. James Avenue should the Green Man Lane facility not become available or transpire not to be a viable business option. This would mean that OPEN Ealing was not dependent on the development of one facility, such as the centre at Green Man Lane, for its continuity.

Each of these options had been constructed as independent business models which formed the basis of OPEN Ealing’s current live business plan. The business models were designed to be largely self-financing with only 15% of income projected to come from grant assistance. This was vital to ensure the financial and artistic sustainability of the projects and to maintain continuity of service to the local community.

OPEN Ealing had now resolved to seek charitable status and to form itself as a not for profit company limited by guarantee. This should help the project to obtain further funding to support its business plan and realise its artistic vision. The project’s business plan was based on two key funding assumptions, namely the availability of Section 106 funding from the Green Man Lane development to underwrite the development of the OPEN Ealing vision, and the raising of significant funding through

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sponsorship or grants, say 50% of the total costs, to meet the capital costs for the fitting out of the Green Man Lane arts centre, with the remainder of the cost of the centre to be financed by way of loan or by further fundraising activities. The possibility of applying for Arts Council funding would also be explored. The need for additional funding should the anticipated Section 106 funding not prove forthcoming or be delayed was acknowledged and would be factored into future financial modelling.

All three options referred to in the report to the meeting were designed to be commercially viable and self-sustaining with the respective business models all showing a move into profit between years 3 and 6.

It was anticipated that current hirers of the facilities in Uxbridge Road, including the Zumba classes, etc. and the users of the artistic space and artists’ studios, would move to the new premises, giving the project a continuing strong revenue flow and ensuring its longer term commercial and artistic future.

Resolved: That the Panel notes the update report.

8. Update on the Usage of the Refurbished Greenford Hall (See Agenda Item 8)

The Panel received an update report from Mark Newton, Director of Business Services Group, on the usage of Greenford Hall since it re-opened after the recent £1 million refurbishment. The Panel heard that the refurbished facilities had proved popular for weddings and with local community groups. Bookings to date indicated that the building was on target to meet its goal of increased income generation for the forthcoming year.

Responding to queries from Panel Members regarding the price structure for room bookings Mark Newton advised that there was some flexibility with lower rates charged for community groups and for regular bookings as opposed to commercial bookings. The current price structure reflected a fine balance between the desire to generate income to cover costs and the aspiration to create a community orientated facility which would be accessible to, and well used by, local community groups.

Resolved: That the Panel notes the update report.

9. Update on the Cultural Olympiad (See Agenda Item 9)

The Panel received a report from Carole Stewart, Assistant Director, Arts, Heritage and Libraries, updating Members on the Cultural Olympiad.

The culmination of the Cultural Olympiad would be the London 2012 Festival, the largest ever UK wide festival featuring dance, music, theatre, film and the visual arts. The London Outdoor Arts Festival would be a core part of the UK wide London 2012 Festival and would stretch across the length and breadth of the city, bringing to life squares, parks and town centres in all 33 London boroughs. Funding support from the Mayor of London would help the development of a number of major local events across the borough that would complement the Council’s existing outdoor activities programme for the summer.

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The aim of the Cultural Olympiad would be to showcase the arts and promote engagement and involvement in a way that would leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Panel Members noted that officers would be preparing a further report on the proposed programme of events in Ealing for consideration by the Cabinet at its March 2012 meeting.

Resolved: That the Panel notes the update report.

10. Panel Operations Including Drawing Conclusions and Making Recommendations for the Final Report (See Agenda Item 11)

The Panel received a report from Harjeet Bains, Scrutiny Review Officer, to which was appended an updated work programme for the current municipal year. In addition the report included details of feedback from Panel Members’ visits to arts and cultural events attended since the last meeting and further information received from local people and groups active in promoting the arts and culture in Ealing.

Also appended to the report at Appendix C was a preliminary draft of the Panel’s final report and lists of suggested conclusions and possible recommendations.

Councillor Ball proposed adding to these recommendations the additional recommendations discussed under Minute Item 5 above, specifically those relating to Questors Theatre.

Panel Members also agreed to add to their report the proposed recommendation to have a dedicated Arts Officer who would liaise with and support local arts and cultural organisations. It was further agreed to recommend that the currently unallocated Dickens Yard Section 106 funding of £1 million which had been set aside for social, community, sports and leisure facilities in Central Ealing should be used for the provision of community arts facilities in that area.

With regard to the ongoing debate about the future use of Ealing Town Hall and its possible increased use for arts and cultural activities, most specifically the proposal that the Victoria Hall should be upgraded for use as a major performance space for drama and live music, it was recognised that further research was needed to establish the level and nature of demand for such an enhanced facility. It was accordingly agreed to include a recommendation to undertake such research in the Panel’s final report.

Resolved: That the Panel notes the report and requests the Scrutiny Review Officer to prepare a further amended draft final report, taking into account the additional recommendations and comments arising from this meeting, for consideration by the Panel at its next and final meeting.

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11. Date of Next Meeting

It was noted that the next and final meeting of the Arts Provision in Ealing Borough Scrutiny Review Panel was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 28th March 2012 in Committee Room 3 in Ealing Town Hall.

COUNCILLOR THERESA BYRNE (Chair).

The meeting concluded at 9.20pm.

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