CROWBOROUGH ARTS COMMITTEE
Minutes of AGM held on Friday 27th February 2015 at Green Cottage,
Green Lane Crowborough, East Sussex at 7.30pm
Present: Angela Vernon Bates, Ivor Quinn, Kat Pond, Susannah Petszaft, Christine Roberts, Julia
Ball, David Tate, Lesley Boase, Elizabeth Wood, Anne & Peter Jackson, Doug & Angie Pickstock,
Nicky Hansen, Peter Jones, Ray Hennessey, Mary Harris, Marguerite Tinley, Beverley Johnstone,
Christine Terry, Carmel Yearwood
Apologies: Thank you to those who sent apologies
Re-election of officers: Current committee to remain. Sue Petzaft and Angela VernonBates co-chair the committee. Ivor Quinn as Treasurer. Kat Pond as Membership Secretary.
Gaye Jee and Christine Roberts for Literary Group. Angela Vernon-Bates for Music.
Elizabeth Wood nominated and Anne Jackson seconded.
Minutes of last meeting: Agreed by David Tate and seconded by Doug Pickstock.
Chairs Report: Angela welcomed everyone and thanked Ray and Ivor for their
contributions as Treasurer. She spoke of the death of Deanna Hennessey in January 2014.
Deanna contributed an enormous amount to the growth and success of Crowborough Arts
and her loss is deeply felt. Angela mentioned the great successes of the year including From
Sussex Weald to Flanders Field, Open Studios and TWIYCA to name a few. Angela thanked
David and Jenny Tate. Angela also mentioned the importance of needing more help on the
committee and if anyone can spare any time at all, to come forward. Angela ended with
thanking everyone for their continued support.
Treasurers Report: (See attachment). Ivor reported that annual membership income was
increasing steadily - £1,400 in 2012, £1,600 in 2013 and £1,800 in 2014. From Sussex Weald
to Flanders Field was the biggest success both meaningfully and financially. A proportion of
this profit was donated to St Denys Church. The current balance is approximately £7,000 as
at January 2015.
Visual Arts Report: Sue introduced Mary to speak about the success of the Station
Posters/Cards. An initially expensive (cost of printing and redesigns etc.) project but slight
profits in both Posters and Cards was reported. Mary thanked Dave Brooker for his work
on photographing 3 of the original posters. Some shops have bought stock outright with the
library owing monies to Crowborough Arts for sales. Town Hall are donating total sales to
Crowborough Arts. Beverley Johnstone said how lovely it was for Crowborough Arts to be
part of the project. Open Studios was again very successful and will return this year bigger
and better. Penshurst Exhibition was a lovely venue and artists did well with sales. Painting
for Pleasure has been withdrawn for the time being as Caroline’s husband John is ill. Life
Drawing continue to attract a number of people and some paying in advance is a helpful
commitment. Three people have joined Crowborough Arts from these groups and receive a
member’s discount. Art Workshops have continued with Christine carrying out some of
Deanna’s ideas and one by Deborah Thompsett who received a bursary from Crowborough
Arts.
Continued on page 2
Literary Group Report: Christine reported that the most part of 2014 was consumed by
the major event From Sussex Weald to Flanders Field so whilst it may seem on the surface
that the Literary Group has been quiet, this is far from the truth. From Sussex Weald to
Flanders Field was a complex piece which took a lot of organisation. Over 100 people were
involved. It was very well received and supported. In addition to this the Literary Group also
supported other events such as the Amphion Trio in ‘A Musicall Dreame’ and invited the
poet Sarah Salway to read from her new book of poetry ‘Digging up Paradise: Potatoes,
People and Poetry in the Garden of England’ at the members’ Garden Party hosted by
Crowborough Arts Patrons David and Jenny Tate. Other literary activities such as
Playreading and Booklovers continue to flourish. Coming up next is the Tessa Boase event
in March. Boase will be reading excerpts from her book entitled ‘The Housekeeper’s Tale’.
Finally the next major event is the “Storytellers’ event at the Courtyard Café in Rotherfield.
The subject is food and will take the form of an interactive event with cooking
demonstrations and tastings. Christine ended by thanking everyone for their support.
Music Group Report: Angela mentioned the ZRI band which was the main music event of
2014. It was expensive and not very well supported. Money was lost on this show, partly
due to the cost of hiring a large venue. Angela suggested it was sometimes worth the risk of
bringing unusual events to the town as everyone who attended said it was one of the best
and most original concerts they had attended. Etrusca gave an illustrated talk and concert.
Coming up, the Aurora Trio will hopefully perform on 5th July at Green Cottage and Angela
hopes to have international pianist Daniel Tong and violinist Florence Cooke to play in May.
They are founder members of Wye Valley Chamber Music. All proceeds after expenses
from this event will go to their charity which supports young musicians starting out on their
careers. Angela reported that the reputation of Crowborough Arts is spreading. Links have
been made with Brittens music shop in Tunbridge Wells. They are hoping to host music
open days and include Crowborough Arts members. If this does happen, she hopes
Crowborough Arts will be well represented. Alessandra Testai and Robin Jeffrey are
booked to give a Christmas concert. Last year it sold out at once so it is expected to be
popular this year. Finally Angela hopes to give a programme of songs and duets with Jackie
Evill, her soprano friend from Rotherfield later in the year.
A.O.B: None.
The formal part of the AGM concluded and the evening finished with clips from ‘From
Sussex Weald to Flanders Field on the projector.
Minutes taken by Kat Pond
Crowborough Arts – Accounts for February 2014 to January 2015
Income
Membership Subs
Events:
From Sussex Weald…
Musical
Other
Visual Arts
Workshops & Classes
Station Project, posters & postcards
Total Income
1,852
3,660
2,034
1,365
992
848
602
11,353
Expenditure
Musical Events
From Sussex Weald…
Other events
Visual Arts
Post, admin and printing
Workshops & Classes
Station Project, posters & postcards
Wine & soft drinks
Donation to St Denys Church
Bursaries
Website & software
Tunbridge Wells Music Prize
Total Expenditure
2,292
1,882
1,491
821
762
707
706
680
500
350
335
250
10,776
Surplus of Income over Expenditure
Brought forward from 2014
Bank balance as at January 2015
Plus
Cash float
Wine in stock
577
6606
7183
79
108