Watersmeet Review 2018/19 www.watersmeet.co.uk Watersmeet Review 2018/19 • Vision, Mission, Priorities and Values • Pantomime Welcome • Own Programme • Filmsmeet • Venue Hire • Artistmeet • Community & Engagement • Capital Projects & Building Improvements • Key Numbers & Financial Performance • Looking Ahead and Future Plans Vision To be recognised as a vibrant arts and entertainment venue, serving the community and inspiring a love of arts and culture. Mission Our goal is to support the wider work of Three Rivers District Council through art and culture, and as a venue for hire. By developing partnerships with local businesses and community groups we hope to encourage a wide range of people to visit us and be inspired, whether that be as a young person performing in their first show, an artist being given the opportunity to showcase their creations, or an audience member escaping everyday life. We strive to be a safe and welcoming place where anyone and everyone is able to come, socialise with their friends and experience the arts. Vision & Values Core Priorities • To provide a financially sustainable and affordable arts entertainment and hire facility for the residents of Three Rivers and beyond. • To be welcoming, friendly and to provide the community with a venue they can be proud of. • To provide an efficient and reliable service that exceeds expectations. • To be accessible to all. Values • We are respectful to, and honest with, our customers, ourselves and the people we work with. • We work as a team to overcome challenges to succeed in everything we do. • We are proud of Watersmeet and the service we provide. • We constantly strive for ways to improve. Pantomime 2018 • Pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starred Sam Attwater (EastEnders, Dancing on Ice) & Marvyn Dickinson (CBBC) • Second year working with producers Jordan Productions • 14,305 tickets sold • 42 performances (including 10 schools shows) • Juvenile chorus of dancers made up of local talented children Theatre Own Programme (co-promoted shows) • The first full year of co-promoted shows • 3,333 tickets sold over 11 performances • Average attendance 303 • Best seller – The Little Mix Experience selling 465 tickets • Other shows included: Walk Like Man, One Night of Elvis, Alice in Wonderland & Frankly Sinatra Films • 33 Films screened (including 9 children’s films) Filmsmeet • Best seller - Bohemian Rhapsody selling 957 tickets over 3 screenings • Average attendance - 93 people per screening Live Theatre Screenings • 11 Live Screenings • Best seller - The King and I selling 220 tickets • Average attendance - 94 people per screening Hires Venue Hire Venue • Local Theatre Groups • Youth Theatre & Dance Schools • Charities • Local Schools • Commercial Businesses • Private Celebrations Artistmeet is the gallery space in the lower foyer to display local artwork, curated by the Arts Development Officer – Elaine Johnson Artistmeet Young Masters - Secondary Schools Exhibition A Rainbow Ride - Mary Ann Day (Open Studios) 5 June – 4 July 2018 Finding Chapters - Anji Made in Three Rivers - 10 September – 28 Archer and Jo Howe Community Arts September 2018 Programme Exhibition 10 July – 29 August 2018 4 May – 30 May 2018 Natural Histories - Jonathan 50th Anniversary Exhibition - Emmerson Ebb and Flow of Life - Anna Behind Every Stamp was South West Herts 8 November – 31 Schofield a Letter - Anne-Marie Astronomical Society December 2018 8 January – 26 February 2019 Stijelja 9 October – 3 November 2018 5 March – 25 April Learning, Engagement & Community • Work experience opportunities • Opportunities to perform in the pantomime • Artistmeet workshops • Community toilet scheme • Keep safe scheme • Library drop box Accessibility • Wheelchair access • Infrared induction hearing system • Audio describe facility for up to 10 patrons • Touch tours Volunteers • 71 volunteers ‘on our books’ Community & Engagement Community • Strong and dedicated team • Essential to Watersmeet’s business model • Friends of Watersmeet • Friends of Watersmeet Film Society • Daybreak Nursery • Sharpe Academy Close working groups Close working • Jordan Productions Over the past year the Council has continued to invest in Watersmeet building and has included: 2018/19 • Converting the old catering store room into a volunteer room The Building • Redecoration of the three ground floor dressing rooms • Redecoration of the Colne room 2019/20 (to date) • Refurbishment of the main public toilets to include an additional toilet cubical in the Ladies toilet • Replacement of the hot water pipework backstage to include refurbishing the shower and dressing room sinks Events 82,000 total visitors £629,000 110 hires (over 169 days) Gross ticket sales 11 8 Artistmeet exhibitions 11 Co-promoted FOWFS shows films 42 11 Bar and Catering Panto Live theatre performances screenings 3,576 teas & coffees sold In NumbersIn 55,010 33 Tickets sold Filmsmeet 5,911 ice-creams sold films BOX 1,638 boxes of popcorn sold OFFICE 3,338 bottles of water sold 4,102 glasses of wine sold • £863,580 total net turnover (£1,036,296 gross) • £8,063 net direct cost surplus Staffing • £31,828 support service charges 4,139 volunteered hours • £23,765 cost of service (including support service charges) 71 volunteers • £14,410 capital costs 7 permanent staff 38 casual staff Sponsorship Rents 1% 6% Venue Hire 15% Licenses & Services 3% INCOME Ticket Sales Secondary Sales 60% 11% Box Office Charges 4% Support Service Charges 4% Cost of Secondary Sales 5% Cost of Sales Repairs & Maintenance 49% 6% Income & Expenditure Income Licenses & Services EXPENDITURE 2% Rates & Utilities Staff 5% 26% Marketing 3% Pantomime – Peter Pan 2019 • Tender new contract for 2020-2024 Develop the programme of co-promoted shows • Comedy club • Music tributes • Dance • Children’s shows Looking Ahead Consolidate films and live screenings • Expand variety of live screenings • Introduce Saturday film and coffee mornings Hires • Maintain regular hires • Attract new commercial hires Capital Projects & Building Improvements • New cinema screen (budget in place) • External staircase for roof access (subject to approval) • Theatrical lighting replacement with LEDs (subject to approval) Learning, Engagement & Community • Develop work experience offering Looking Ahead • Establish Watersmeet membership scheme • Maintain current schemes Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 • Launch event – 23 September 2019 • Open air film screening – August 2020 • Arts based workshops throughout the year • Provide free creative space at set times Thank you www.watersmeet.co.uk Appendix Monthly Themes January – Try Something New February – Skills Development and Volunteering March – Access to the Arts April – Go Somewhere Local May – The Big Outdoors June – Big Ideas July – Cultural Olympiad August – Families and Friends September – Heritage and History/Meet the Maker October – Be Inspired/Get Back Into November – Creative Minds and Creative Industries December – Celebrate and Illuminate.