10/01/2012
Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Culture Company 2013
Held Building 71 Ebrington on Monday 19 September 2011 at 3.00pm
Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Culture Company 2013
Held Building 71 Ebrington on Monday 19 September 2011 at 3.00pm
PRESENT
Martin Bradley (MB - Chair), Anna Cutler (AC), Brett Hannam (BH), Charles Lamberton (CL), Gary Middleton (GM), Gerard Diver (GD), John Meehan (JM), Maeve McLaughlin (MMcL), Mary Hamilton, Michael Cooper (MC), Roisin McDonough (RMcD).
IN ATTENDANCE
Shona McCarthy (SMcC – CEO), Áine Gallagher (AG – Director of Operations), Garbhán Downey (GD – Director of Marketing & Communications), Graeme Farrow (GF - Executive Programmer), Martin Melarkey ( MM - Senior Programmer), Valerie Breslin (VB – PA to CEO & Chair), Mary McNamee (MMcN – Board Business Manager).
APOLOGIES
Aideen McGinley (AMcG), Ana Leddy (AL), Brian Dougherty (BD), Claire McColgan (CMcC), Declan McGonagle (DMcG),
Action
1 The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Alderman Gary Middleton to the Board and by acknowledging the contribution of his predecessor Drew Thompson. Apologies were noted as above.
2 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the meeting of 27 June 2011 were adopted and signed by the Chair.
2.1 Matters Arising
- 4.2 CL requested standardisation of a framework for ongoing presentation of programming updates to the Board.
2.2 - 4.3 MML requested that minutes of the Physical Infrastructure group convened by DCC be made available to Board members.
3 CHAIRMAN’S BUSINESS:
3.1 The Chair advised of the selection of Sharon O’Connor as DCC CEO – date of appointment is to be notified.
3.2 The Chair is to write to Sir Roy on behalf of the Board to thank him for his support in winning the UK City of Culture accolade and in establishing Culture Company 2013.
3.3 The Chair is to invite the First & deputy First Ministers to attend a joint briefing with the British Council and Culture Ireland in Culture Company. British Council CEO Martin Davidson and newly appointed Director of Arts Graham Sheffield will attend the NI Advisory Council‘s first meeting outside Belfast in Culture Company on 28th September 2011.
3.4 The Chair and CEO are to meet the Minister for Culture Arts & Leisure Carál Ni Chuilin on 21st September.
3.5 The DCAL Minister has invited the Chair to the launch of the Irish language campaign ‘Liofa 2015’ and also invited the Company to participate in this campaign by encouraging the communities with which the Company works to also become involved.
4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT
Highlight Items
4.1 Management & Administration
Recruitment – The Director of Operations, Senior Programmers and Programmers posts are now filled and with the exception of the Financial Controller and Partnership Manager posts the core delivery team is now in place.
Accommodation & Infrastructure – The refurbishment of Building 71 Ebrington is almost complete and today hosts its first Culture Company Board meeting.BT IT infrastructure installation is also nearing completion.
A Culture Office/Shop space has been tendered with the intention of retaining a city-side presence.
Governance – the Company’s draft Business Plan previously circulated in the papers for today’s meeting was presented by the CEO and Director of Operations and adopted by the Directors.
Appendix B of the draft Business Plan showing partners responsibilities is to be posted on the City of Culture website subject to approval. The business plan has been developed to clearly map the Company’s business functions and to use in pursuit of funding opportunities. The Board commended the authors on the draft.
Audit and Professional Advisory services are currently being tendered.
The Board approved the resolution in respect of banking services for Culture Company 2013 covering overdraft facility, authorization for completion and signature for internet banking, confirmation of authorized bank signatories and signatures and supplies and services approval limits.
The Board approved the resolution presented in respect of Directors and Officers liability, corporate legal liability and employment practices liability insurance.
Work is underway to ensure that the Memorandum and Articles of Association satisfy the requirements of HMRC to secure charitable status and to determine the Company’s VAT position. Successful attainment of charitable status for the Company would result in an additional 20% funding available for programming activities.
The MoU between DCC and Culture Company 2013 is in development by DCC.
Board Members were invited to attend fortnightly Team Meetings or weekly Update Meetings with MB and SMcC.
4.2 Cultural Programme
The CEO confirmed that effective next meeting updates will be provided on all programme areas approved at the June Board meeting: Children’s Music Promise, Celtronic Music Festival, Field Day, Disobey Gravity, Fleadh Ceoil Bid, WOMAD Festival, City Walls Commission and the Celtic Media Festival.
Updates were provided on:
Children’s Music Promise – significant research has been conducted by interim team prior to programmers’ appointments with key partner WELB, Music Service.
Purposeful Inquiry – CL and BD have been active in developing this theme within their respective communities. An open engagement event is planned for 26th October at the White Horse Hotel, Limavady Road (c200 participants).
All Ireland Fleadh – SMcC has written to Comhaltas organizing committee seeking announcement of host venue prior to Christmas 2011 ahead of the scheduled date of Oct 2012.
MH suggested inclusion of a pipe band competition and will provide details.
Broadcasting – Head of BBC network is visiting the Company w/c 26/9/02011.
Field Day – Field Day is commissioning 3 plays and additionally trying to break barriers between communities and education and art i.e. workshops will be run by visiting performers trying to create links to where strands crossover and so deliver programme legacy.
The Peace One Day concert will take place on 21st June 2012 and the 21st June will be designated Music day annually going forward.
The CEO commended the programme elements already positioned, given the short period programmers have been in post. The focus has been to try to interpret ideas received to date and broker partnerships eg “Fashion in the City” – Form & Fusion (Invista, Foyleside, NWRS, UU). This is a challenging process given the wealth of ideas received and the tension is how to balance the ideas and manage expectations.
CL sought and received assurance that processes are in place to ensure that programmes are accessible to all communities, that there is citywide engagement and that the feedback received from and legacy of last years’s 30 consultation meetings is factored into programme design. Assurances were given on these and that an open call had gone out to all to participate in the Purposeful Inquiry event of 26 October.
The overall aim of the programme will be to inspire citizens to try something ‘cultural’ they haven’t tried before, more than a programme of events.
MMcL suggested that Purposeful Inquiry should include Bloody Sunday/Saville as a theme.
Other directors suggested that a paper articulating the process of engagement would satisfy all and obviate any need for the Board’s close involvement in programme development.
Action –Paper on process of engagement to Board at next meeting.
4.3 Physical Infrastructure
There was agreement that an audit is required of the city’s venue needs against the planned programme. The demountable pavilion and other infrastructure requirement conversations are ongoing. The Physical Infrastructure remit sits with DCC to support the 2013 programme. There was agreement that better communications and working relationships are required to manage emerging frustrations re linkages and responsibilities with other agencies.
Action – Physical Infrastructure group minutes to be circulated to Board
Transport – ‘Into the West’ – MB attending this lobby group meeting on 21st Sept regarding withdrawal of funding for the planned upgrade of the Coleraine to Derry line. The implications of this decision in the context of 2013 are significant.
4.4 Fundraising & Corporate Engagement
Recruitment – Eva Grosman and Jennifer Neff have been appointed as Partnership Managers with the key role of securing funding and in-kind support from the private sector.
CEO tabled 2 papers, 1 showing projected public sector and foundation income sources 2011/2012 to 2014/15 with a total of c£9m and 1 showing private sector projected income for the same period with a total of c£3.5m. The Board recognized the good work that has been done in developing leads but emphasized the imperative to convert interest into firm commitments.
6th October 2011–The Taoiseach’s office has convened a working group with representatives of key national arts and cultural organisations and will hold its inaugural meeting in Dublin. The Taoiseach will also host a dinner for representatives of key businesses that evening.
18th October 2011 - A similar corporate engagement event will be held in Stormont hosted by the Office of the First & deputy First Minister.
Plans are underway to establish working groups in London and the USA (Boston, New York, Washington).
4.5 Marketing & Communications
Gráinne Devine has been appointed as Communications Executive.
A Press Forum with representatives from local print and broadcast media is being established to maximize openness and transparency and to secure engagement and support.
The Company is providing a column to the Derry Journal weekly and fortnightly to the Londonderry Sentinel - stories welcomed for inclusion.
Facebook continues to be used to engage the public and campaigns are planned to increase involvement and activity.
A survey is planned to seek input from those with Learning Disabilities in respect of desired outcomes from 2013. The importance of inclusion of all abilities and disabilities was emphasized.
A Print Media Tender Briefing Day has been held on 2nd Sept ahead of the competition which will close on 14 October. There was a strong attendance and we aim to have partner in place by Christmas.
It was clarified that Derry City Council retains responsibility for marketing/dressing the city for 2013, Culture Company is responsible for marketing the events and activities programme. The dressing programme is in development currently and sees the 2013 Billboard erected at City of Derry Airport next week.
5 MATTERS ARISING
5.1 MC raised the issue of NITB funding streams which only seem to be open to larger groups with the ability to meet match-funding requirements and thereby disabling community organisations from participation. The Programming team is to explore this with NITB.
5.2 The number of vacant/derelict properties in the city is a matter of concern and is to be raised with the City Solicitor’s Office with a view to remedial action and potentially securing premises for exhibition space.
5.3 The Board was advised of the planned visit of the Independent Assessment Panel (the judging panel which made the designation award) within the next few months. Efforts are underway to align diaries and secure a date.
5.4 The Board endorsed the ‘Liofa 2015’ Irish language campaign as requested in the correspondence from the DCAL Minister.
5.5 The CEO commended the following reading to the Board :
Impacts 08 (Liverpool)
http://www.liv.ac.uk/impacts08/
5.5 John Myerscough Report Glasgow 20 Years On http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/policy-research/pages/Glasgow-Cultural-Statistics.aspx
Bob Palmer Report on European Cities of Culture: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/pdf/doc654_en.pdf
Hard copies can be made available on request to MMN:
Brett Hannam volunteered and Joe Campbell was nominated for the Board audit committee. Brain Dougherty volunteered post meeting. A further member is sought to seek to ensure quorum.
Date of next meeting – 14th November 2011 at Ebrington 3:00pm - to be confirmed.
The meeting finished at 17:15.
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