New Breed Theatre Company

 

3 Year Business Plan

 

2004 – 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Breed Theatre Company

23 New Mount Street

Manchester

M4 4DE

Email: newbreed@zetnet.co.uk

www.new-breed.org.uk

Company Register: 3533519

Registered Charity No: 1083598

 

 

 

Business Plan prepared by Liz O’Neill

Arts Development consultant


Contents

 

 

 

History        ……………………………………….                           4

..

Vision, Mission, Aims  ……………………….….                  5

 

Objectives, Activities, Goals ……………………                  6

 

Historic Recurring problems

          and how to eliminate them ……………….                  7

          Arts Council England: NW  

 

Artistic Programme  ………………………………                9

The Irish Giant ……………………………..                 10

Gobsmacked ………………………………..               11    

 

Management & Staffing …………………………..                12    

          Artistic, Administrative, Marketing,

          Project, Governors, Advisors,

          Members, Partners

 

Audience Development …………………………..               15

 

Additional Activity, Advocacy, Education ……….                15

 

Company Development ……………………………             16

          Training , marketing,

          Equal Opportunities

 

Monitoring & Evaluation  …………………………..               17

 

Fundraising & Finance   ……………………………              17

 

Budget Notes  …………………………………   18
Appendix Index

 

 

 

 

1       Three Year Budget Overview                            20

 

2                   The Irish Giant Tour Budget                              22

 

3                   Gobsmacked Budget                                         25

 

4                   SWOT Analysis                                                  27

 

5                   The Irish Giant Tour Pack                                  37

 

6                   The Irish Giant Tour Schedule                          38

 

7                   Gobsmacked Project Summary                        39

 

8       Workplan Calendar                                             41

 

9       Job Descriptions for new Managerial posts     42

 

10     Equal Opportunities Policy                                47

 

11     Public/Partner Feedback comments                48

 

 

 

 

Also attached:

 

Memorandum & Articles of Association

Audited Accounts 2002/3

The Irish Giant Evaluation Document Autumn 2002 Tour


 

History

New Breed was formed in 1989 as an unincorporated organisation, by a small band of visionary disabled people who not only wanted to act, but also wanted to develop disability awareness in the community.

 

Between 1990 and 1996, New Breed delivered six national tours, beginning with The Birds (1990), Birds 2 (1991), Birds 3 (1992), The Man Who Loved Islands (1993), Grimm (1994), and Tryst (1995-6). During this time, the company developed a reputation as an experimental theatre company that took existing texts as a starting point, stripped them down, and created innovative, high-quality performances informed by the lives and experiences of the actors.

 

After an organisational review and re-structuring in 1996, the company pursued a more regional focus dedicated to the development and expansion of disability theatre within the North West region, although national touring remained part of the work. In March 1998, the organisation was legally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and obtained charitable status in November 2000. A copy of our Memorandum and Articles of association is available on request.

 

In 2001 New Breed ran the workshop programme My Heart Missed a Beat, also completing our Development Initiative, begun in 1998, with Phase 3, which involved training for the members of the board of Trustees & a stage-management training initiative with Graeae Theatre Company.

 

Residential workshops were held in 2000 and 2001. So Here It Is at Contact theatre, Manchester in 2000 offered 10 disabled people the opportunity to be involved in an intensive workshop over a 2 week period, culminating in a public performance. The project was developed in 2001, where the same process was repeated, also gaining an additional residency at Unity Theatre, Liverpool for 2 weeks. There were also additional public performances. The significance of the workshops in the lives of the people who participated was illustrated by the fact that most of the participants treated the fortnight as their annual holiday.

 

We re-launched our touring programme in Autumn 2002 with a new piece entitled The Irish Giant. The play was rehearsed at Contact Theatre, Manchester, in September and toured the North West in October. The show was well-received by both critics & audience, & won the Manchester Evening News Theatre award for Best Fringe Production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vision

 

To create high quality, diverse, non-patronising and accessible new theatrical productions through the development of the arts of disabled* people in the North West region, providing opportunities for disabled artists to develop new work informed by the lives and experiences of disabled people.

 

New Breed aims to provide theatre activities both involving disabled and non-disabled people and for disabled people of all ages.

 

For the purpose of this policy and related documentation, the term ‘disabled’ will be taken to include Deaf people and any person who considers themselves having a disability

 

 

Mission

 

New Breed strives to be a professional National Touring Theatre Company that nurtures disabled artists, creating new work and supporting new writing, through its associated programme of ‘masterclasses’ and a professional workshop programme.

 

~   To work with people with disabilities to assist in the development of professional theatrical skills and practices

~   To advocate the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts

~   To develop a programme to increase audiences of disabled people

~   To participate in the growing integration of disabled and non-disabled

~   To gain wider audiences, while still pushing the boundaries of theatricality and accessibility.

 

Aims

 

~   To be disability-led (at least 50% Board and Staff disabled)

~   To produce and tour new theatre of the highest quality, based on the lives and experiences of disabled people.

~   To provide a theatre company for the general benefit of disabled people, in the North West of England and nationally, based in Greater Manchester.

~   To provide practical training and opportunities for disabled people to experience, enjoy, create and perform drama and other performed media, through hands-on experience, courses, seminars, workshops or other appropriate methods.

~   To actively seek to collaborate with partners to work with people of all cultures, ages and backgrounds, rural and urban, to develop both theatrical skills and disability awareness.


 

 

Objectives

 

~                To provide a variety of ways for everyone to understand the lives of disabled people through the mediums of drama, art, training and education.

~                To create career opportunities for disabled people in performing arts.

~               To advance public education in the North West in relation to the performing arts by disabled people.

~               To challenge perceptions and attitudes towards disability theatre through exploring new forms and processes of creation.

~               To promote accessibility and develop new accessible routes of connection towards diverse audiences.

~               To provide role models for young disabled people to encourage them to reach their full potential

~               To encourage awareness in actors, other artists, theatres and venue managers, funding bodies, and the public, of the requirements of disabled theatre practitioners.

 

 

Activities

 

~               To tour professional theatre productions to theatres using disabled and non-disabled performers and artists

~             To run associated workshops with at least 50% venues who book the show.

~             To provide workshop programmes for disabled people in theatre venues.

~             To develop and advocate training opportunities in disability action training within the Arts and associated sectors.

 

 

Goals

 

~               To tour one professional national theatre production annually,

~               To build a core membership of experienced practitioners.

~               To run one annual workshop programme, linked to our professional work, to encourage the development of new and emerging disabled theatre practitioners and writers.

 


Historic recurring problems and how to eliminate them

 

New Breed has had its most successful periods when under the direction of one leader with their own artistic vision. During these times the company has delivered numerous successful projects such as The Birds (1-3), Grimm, Tryst and The Irish Giant.

 

History shows that New Breed can successfully manage such artistic projects with a staff team of two. However, this small team does mean that all other development work and activities go on hold during the creation of a project.

 

The success of these productions becomes even more applaudable when you realise that they happened despite an ongoing shortage of managerial staff to oversee production and administration. In most cases, the artistic creator of these projects was also responsible for all company development, administrative work and office management, resulting in an overly heavy workload – the demands of which become too high for one individual, particularly considering their disability needs, and leads to resignation. Each time this ‘one man band’ moves on, the company goes into a period of inertia and instability. This leads in turn to a natural concern for the future of the company by the Board of Trustees, and various reviews and consultants have been brought in to suggest ways of finding a more secure future for New Breed. Often these reviews have failed to be put into practice, again due to the time constraints that inevitably come with one person taking responsibility for all creative, administrative and development work.

 

It is imperative that New Breed creates a workable infrastructure as a company, in order for it to be sustainable beyond any individual staff member. This Business Plan addresses this need for infrastructure by the following measures (described in more detail in following pages):

 

1)                 An increase in staffing, with two Managerial posts; one for Artistic Development, one for General Management and Company Development; plus a steady growth in support staff which includes a (p/t) marketing officer and administrative assistant.

2)                  A firm artistic vision which can be followed, adhered to and developed, irrespective of which individuals are in office. The  research for this Business Plan involved much communication and reporting from a number of individuals and organisations associated with New Breed – the results of which clearly highlighted a common thought on what the artistic direction should be: ie New Breed should strive to be a professional National Touring Theatre Company which nurtures disabled artists and creates new work and supports new writing, through its associated programme of ‘masterclasses’ and a professional workshop programme.

3)                 Continued development of the Board of Trustees, through additional recruitment and further board training.

4)                 Identifying and accessing additional sources of funding to facilitate the development of projects and an increased stability for the company.


Arts Council England: North West

 

The Arts Council has been New Breed’s primary funder since its conception.  Discussions with Arts Council officers reveal a continued commitment to the company, coupled with concerns regarding the lack of artistic vision, recurrent periods of inactivity and the aforementioned lack of infrastructure which results in the above.

 

The Arts Council has requested a Business Plan for New Breed which addresses these developmental needs, in order to resume its funding support. Arts Council Officers also recognise that, whilst the creation and following of a realistic Business Plan goes some way to alleviating the problems caused by a structure which relies on one individual, it does not create quality artistic work.

 

The concern is that New Breed may not be able to find people within the disabled community who can effectively fill the artistic and managerial roles necessary to the development of the company.

 

Research already undertaken has gone some way to alleviating this concern. The disabled community is a tight-knit one. New Breed has many supporters and partnerships with other disability awareness organisations (listed), in particular NWDAF, who have assured the company that they will provide extensive marketing and recruitment support to enable New Breed to fill these roles. All associated parties who have been approached with this concern state that they firmly believe that there are individuals within the community who are able to fill these roles.

 

As an additional support to this concern, the budget is laid out so that a minimal amount of funding is required, until the point when these new roles are appointed, and funders are satisfied that both a satisfactory infrastructure and suitable staff are in a position to lead the company into its future development.

 

A Recruitment procedure is being followed, which includes:

 

a)                 Ensuring as wide as possible a remit for advertising the positions available, including working in partnership with support organisations.

b)                 Ensuring a skilled Recruitment team to see the process to completion. This includes additional board training, accessing the Business in the Arts:NW Skills Bank, inviting skilled recruitment officers to take part in the process and inviting ACE:NW to take part in the process.

c)                  Ensuring a comprehensive induction programme, probationary programme and disciplinary and grievance procedure are all in place in time for appointment.

d)                 Access to Access Workers, provided under the Government Department for Work & Pensions under their “Access to Work” Scheme.


 

Artistic Programme

 

New Breed intends to produce at least one professional touring production and one related workshop programme each year, which specialises in creating new work.

 

In 2004 the professional production will be a re-tour of The Irish Giant, building on the success of the Autumn 2002 tour of this production that won a Manchester Evening News Award for Best Fringe Production.

 

Fundraising is now taking place to ensure that this tour is possible, and a tour schedule is also currently being set.

 

New Breed’s artistic vision is to create new theatrical work by and for disabled artists. In order to facilitate this, New Breed will continue to use the workshop leading skills and experience it has developed over the 14 years it has been trading. As a result of both the changing climate in disability awareness and the decision that New Breed should prioritise the professional development of disabled artists, these workshops will now be led more as professional masterclasses than community events.

 

In this way New Breed will facilitate the creative development of professional artists. The company’s artistic programme will no longer be reliant on one individual, but instead, any practising artist will have the opportunity to present their work under the auspices and experiences of New Breed Theatre Company.

 

Via a process of nurturing emerging disabled arts practitioners through the workshop programme, New Breed intends to find artists and writers who can create and influence the development of new work for the associated national touring programme.

 

Consequently this is a rolling programme which supports and develops new work by disabled artists, and ensures that New Breed remains at the forefront of creating innovative, ground-breaking work with a relevance to the current issues facing the disabled community.

 

This is a simple rolling programme of artistic work, which nurtures the creativity of all professional disabled artists / would-be artists.

 

There is much potential for company growth within this structure. After the first year, where much time will be given to establishing this programme, additional venues for both the national tour and the workshop programme will be developed each year, enabling a steady growth for the company, that will not compromise the artistic vision or capabilities of the company.

 


 

The Irish Giant – National Tour: Spring 2004

 

18th Century London – a bad time to be poor, Irish and a freak…

 

New Breed are currently developing a national tour for this Manchester Evening News Award winning production. The Irish Giant  was chosen as it is a new play – a disabled people’s story written by a disabled writer, and challenging accessibility issues.

 

This is a multi-media theatre performance piece of a fictionalised but true story for ‘mainstream’ adult audiences, involving drama, dance, music, film/video and puppetry. Although the subject matter and life of The Irish Giant seems positively barbarous, the production uses comedy and humour to leaven the tragic story. Ghost-walk the darkly humorous and disturbing world of the body-snatchers of 18th Century London.

 

Four disability activists break into the Hunterian Institute at midnight to recover the skeleton of Charles Byrne, the 7ft 9 Irishman of the 18th Century who was known as The Irish Giant. A mysterious figure appears from the darkness and takes them back in time, relating the story of Charlie the story-teller and poet, and his band of friends who make their fortune by amazing the rich people of London with his remarkable stature. Crossing the wild Irish Sea and finding London to be a bleak inhospitable cesspool, they nevertheless carve out for themselves a niche in the world of freakshows, courtesy of Charlie’s height. They begin to gain considerable wealth.

 

Charlie’s difference also attracts the attention of Sir John Hunter, Surgeon General, physician to the social elite, researcher in physiology and medicine (most of ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ was based on his work). He was also an obsessive anatomist and secret employer of grave robbers, who longed to investigate Charlie’s corpse with his scalpel. As Charlie’s health fails and audiences dwindle, his friends begin to turn on one another while Hunter bides his time.

 

After the inevitable end, the Giant’s body disappears mysteriously on its way to a burial at sea… and a 7ft 9 skeleton appears in Hunter’s private collection. The play ends on an upbeat note, with the activists finding that their nerve-racking efforts haven’t been in vain…

 

 

 

Appendix:

The Irish Giant Tour Pack

The Irish Giant Tour Schedule

The Irish Giant Budget

The Irish Giant Evaluation document (Autumn 2002)

 


 

Gobsmacked! – Workshop Programme: Summer 2004

 

Historically, New Breed has had a strong focus on delivering an educational package of workshops and training developments. However, since its inception in 1989, the market has changed. Where once New Breed was the sole provider of this type of community arts training for disabled people in the region, there are now many groups and companies offering comparable training opportunities. In the light of this, New Breed has reviewed its training programme. Research has shown that although there is now a considerable increase in community arts training available to disabled people, there is still a lack of theatre training for professional / semi-professional artists and practitioners. As a developing professional touring theatre company, with a history of providing high quality training opportunities, New Breed is in an ideal situation to fill this gap in the market, and specialise in creating specific training and development opportunities for professionals.

 

This Master Class development is the core basis for GobSmacked!

 

A 2 week workshop for disabled people, planned to run in both Manchester and Liverpool. This programme has been developed from the success of So Here It Is, and would consist of 10 full days culminating in a public performance, and broken down into three stages of development:

 

a)                 Improvisation – enabling all participants to feel ownership of the residency, and a relevance to their lives

b)                 Rehearsed reading / public performance of all scripts / work developed

c)                  Selected scripts further developed (in association with NW Playwrights and Full Circle Arts mentoring scheme – all scripts will receive some level of support, ranging from initial advice to full production development).

 

It is New Breed’s intention to facilitate the development of emerging disabled artists through this workshop programme, building up its core members group and encouraging and supporting new disabled writers. It is anticipated that future professional work will be created from this workshop process, using new writers, directors and performers. This is a proven format for disabled artists to showcase their work – for example, 4 participants in the So Here It Is! Workshop gained touring work with Graeae as a direct result of taking part in New Breed’s training.

 

New Breed intends to develop this workshop programme by developing partnerships with additional venues, such as Theatre By The Lake in Keswick, Dukes Playhouse, Lancaster and Playstation in Penrith.

 

 

Appendix:

Gobsmacked! Project Summary

Gobsmacked! budget

Management & Staffing:

 

New Breed currently consists of a Board of Management (8 members) and a staff of one Office Manager. The last Artistic Director left the Company in February 2003, and it is this lack of staffing and artistic direction which has led to a stalling of the production of artistic work. This Business Plan aims to address these staffing problems by showing how a realistic staffing level can be achieved through the finances available, enabling New Breed to fulfil its artistic aims and lead it towards its vision.

 

The new staffing structure is as follows:

 

Artistic

A new Creative Producer is to be employed to initiate the artistic development of the company and the promotion of the company’s work within the context of disability arts, with responsibility for the planning, delivery and evaluation of New Breed’s artistic programme, including both professional touring theatre and workshop programmes. (To be appointed January 2004 – see attached Job Description)

 

Administrative

A General Manager is to be appointed, responsible for maintaining and developing the infrastructure of the company to allow it the freedom to pursue its artistic aims. The post-holder will be responsible for all legal and financial matters, advocacy, fundraising and overseeing all office management and administration. (To be appointed January 2004 – see attached Job Description). The fundraising and infrastructure capacities within this role are imperative to the continued development of the company.

 

An Administration Officer  is also within the plan. This is a support post, for general office duties and administration. This position is designed as a Training Post, to be financed through separate fundraising and offering a new opportunity to a disabled person to gain office and theatre-practice skills.

Links have already been made with First Asian Support Trust Jobnet (Richard Pundick contact@nddp.com) - a group whose remit it is to find administrative employment for people with disabilities. It is hoped that this link may lead to the recruitment of this training post. It is anticipated that this post would come on line in Spring/Summer 2004.

 

Marketing

A lack of a designated Marketing Officer has been highlighted in all recent project evaluation reports. New Breed, as a disability-led theatre company, has its own unique marketing needs – the variety of which leads to the requirement of a designated Marketing officer, who would have three areas of work:

1                    To produce a Marketing Strategy, print, design and press for the national professional tour.

2                    To identify and implement a Community Marketing Strategy for the workshop programme.

3                    To market New Breed generically, enabling its reputation to grow outside of the disabled community and to assist in building the company’s recognition as a mainstream company, changing venue attitudes who currently see New Breed as a ‘risk, only appealing to a minority audience’.

This is initially a part-time (1/2) post, which would begin with the tour of The Irish Giant in Spring 2004. This post then becomes full time in Year 3.

 

Project

Additional staff will be employed on a contract basis, project by project, according to each project’s needs. Many of these project staff may be drawn from the new Members group (see below).

 

Governance

New Breed is governed by a Board of Management, who generally meet 8 times per year. New Breed is continuing with its Board Development programme, which has already resulted in 3 new members, including Paula Keaveney, a Marketing expert previously with Business in the Arts North West, and Richard Gregory of Quarantine, an ACE RFO.

 

The Board of Management Members are as follows:

 

Pat Garrett – Chair

Anthony Stott – Treasurer

Diana Williams

Paula Keaveney

Richard Gregory

Paul Mittler – Founder member and active current Board member

Dr Anne Allister – medical Dr, new Board Bank member

 

Julia Keenan – ACE:NW representative (observer)

Verity Leigh - ACE:NW representative (observer)

 

 

Members

In 1997 an Artistic Policy Group was established, consisting of practising disability artists and practitioners who did not want to compromise their employment potential with New Breed by becoming Board members, but still felt a personal commitment to the company and held an active interest in its development. This idea, although excellent in intent, did not substantiate in reality. However, the fact that it was created gives clear evidence that New Breed has created a legacy of artists and practitioners who are committed to the development of the company, its professional productions and the vision it stands for.

 

It is therefore the aim of the company to establish a Membership Programme, thus formalising and making the best use of this ad hoc group of supportive artists and practitioners. All members would receive the latest news on company development, performance, workshop and employment or training opportunities as well as the opportunity to meet regularly for networking, brainstorming and sharing of ideas. It is anticipated that the majority of professional workshop leaders and cast members for touring productions would be drawn from this pool.

 

 

Partners (potential and current – not exclusive)

 

ABTT

 

Action Transport

 

Arts & Business

 

BiA:NW

 

Big House Theatre Company

 

Blue Badge Theatre Company

 

Bury Met

 

Capture 1

 

Community Arts NW

 

Contact Theatre, Manchester

 

Disabled Access to Computing (da2c)

 

Duke’s theatre, Lancaster

 

Fittings Multi-Media Arts

 

GMCDP

 

Horse & Bamboo

 

ITC

 

Jackson’s Lane

 

LIPA

 

Manchester Chamber of Commerce

 

NWDAF

 

Stalking Histories

 

Target Training

 

Temple DPS

 

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

 

Touchdown Dance

 

Unity Theatre, Liverpool

 

Voluntary Action Manchester

 

 


 

Audience Development

 

As mentioned earlier, New Breed has recognised the need to maximise its audiences. It is imperative that the success of the award winning The Irish Giant is used to build audiences as soon as possible. (Strike while the iron is hot.) Combine this with the need to develop audiences through the workshop programme alongside the national touring programme, and the importance of gaining additional venues for national touring purposes, and the case for a designated Marketing Officer is clear.

 

‘Cultural Outreach’

New Breed also aims to create a Cultural Outreach programme, including for example, a performance of The Irish Giant at the Harris  Gallery and Museum in Preston (no ticket charge – donations only), but billed to a specific invited audience, such as learning disabled people and survivors of mental health programmes. By including work of this nature within its programme of activity, New Breed will reach new audiences and strengthen its supporter network, whilst at the same time providing a valuable service and asset to the disabled community.

 

Additional Activities: Education, Advocacy & Awareness Training.

 

New Breed naturally has within its core an awareness of all issues affecting the disabled community. Although now clearly recognised as subsidiary activities to the main aims and objectives of the company, (New Breed provides disability advocacy by example) it is vital that all company members recognise these particular issues and address them where appropriate as part of their main activities.

 

Having gained much experience over the years in offering training opportunities and Disability Awareness training, it would be foolish to abandon these areas of work. Consequently, the following activities have been included in this plan as they complement the main thrust of New Breed’s artistic vision.

 

~   New Breed was building a good relationship with LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts), with a view to implementing a regular series of workshop residencies for the LIPA Disability Access Course. However, this course has now been cancelled, but despite that, Mandy Redvers-Rowe at LIPA has approached New Breed to discuss the possibility of a ‘Year 0’ disability performing arts pre-degree foundation course. New Breed will continue to take part in these discussions and research opportunities to seek accreditation.

 

~   Disability ActionTraining within the Arts and associated sectors.

 


 

Company Development:

 

Training

Both the current Office Manager and certain Trustee members of the Management Committee have attended various training and development programmes, including an ABTT Training Course in Stage Management. The budget line for Staff training has been increased in this Business Plan, in order to cater most efficiently for the new staff.

 

Marketing

As mentioned earlier, it has been recognised that it is imperative for New Breed’s growth and development that a dedicated Marketing Officer is employed. This has been budgeted as a part-time post (1/2) for the first two years, increasing to a full-time post by year three. The Marketing Officer’s role will be three-fold:

 

a)                 To create a generic marketing strategy for the company, building on New Breed’s reputation within the disabled community and making the company known outside of this community, creating a wider visibility through marketing and networking, and, along with the Artistic Director and Company Manager, taking a pro-active role in fighting the battle against venues that perceive New Breed as a ‘risk’ that only appeals to a minority audience and so not making bookings.

 

b)                 To take a lead in marketing the annual professional touring show, including design, print, press and media publicity and be a primary contact for all venue marketing departments.

 

 

c)                  To install an effective and thorough arts / community marketing programme to ensure all New Breed Training programmes reach a wide market.

 

 

Equal opportunities

 

New Breed Theatre Company defines disability as the exclusion of disabled people from taking part in any activity through physical, attitudinal, communication and environmental barriers. We therefore seek to increase the arts of disabled people throughout the North West region by developing opportunities for disabled artists to create new work informed by the lives and experiences of disabled people, with a commitment to creativity, innovation, accessibility and diversity.

 

New Breed has an Equal Opportunities Statement and Policy which it adheres to at all times. All future staff, be they permanent, project or artistic, shall be employed and monitored according to this policy. Please see Full Equal Opportunities Policy in Appendix.

 

 

 

Monitoring & Evaluation

New Breed continues to be very thorough in its monitoring and evaluation of projects.

(See enclosed Final Report for The Irish Giant tour 2002). The improved staffing levels as set out in this Plan will ensure that roles for such monitoring and evaluation will have a renewed clarity that will help maintain this thorough evaluation procedure.

 

Documentation

To continue to develop and improve as a professional touring theatre company, New Breed has recognised that it must improve its documentation of projects. With this in mind, the company has already added a performance for video documentation purposes to the 2004 tour of The Irish Giant (Bury Met). This could also be used for marketing purposes for the company.

 

Fundraising

New Breed recognises that one of the problems it faces is its current reliance on one sole funder providing its core revenue. It will be a primary role of the new post of Company Manager to identify and access new funding partners for the company.

 

This new Business Plan and its associated budgets clearly separate the core funding from the various projects the company intends to deliver. This should enable an achievable fundraising strategy to be implemented, following each project, ensuring that the company does not suffer should any individual project not meet its funding requirements.

 

This fundraising strategy will also, over the three-year period, take more emphasis from looking to the Arts Council for project funding, with alternative sources being approached, and further partnerships being developed. This achievement would leave New Breed in a far stronger position, with a multitude of baskets to put its eggs in!

 

Finance

 

Budgets are attached as follows:

 

Annual Overview for 2004-2007 (three years)

Project budget for 2004 tour of The Irish Giant project

Project budget for Gobsmacked! 2004

Audited accounts for 2—2-3

 

Please also refer to “Fundraising” section above.


 

Notes to attached budget 2004-7:

 

The budget has been set out in a way that separates core funding and activity from various projects. In this way, any financial insecurity that follows will only affect individual projects, rather than the company as a whole.

 

It suggests that ACE:NW retains its minimum level of funding until a successful recruitment campaign has been followed. This leaves a 3 month period from January – March 2004, whereby the new post-holders will be in place, prior to the new finacial year. Consequently Column 3 states the further amount requested from ACE:NW for this period to enable New Breed to continue in its Company Development plan, with no further hold-ups.

 

Core Funding

Income:         Arts Council England: North West provide the majority of core funding, topped up by an achievable amount of fundraising and sponsorship.

Expenditure: This covers the salaries of the two main posts, and a part-time Marketing Officer as well as overheads, office costs and administration. Overhead costs have been retained at a low premium, to ensure that the majority of costs incurred by the company relate to the fulfilment of its artistic vision. Overheads have been increased at a rate of 5% in line with anticipated inflation rates, and are based on the company remaining in its current premises. Any negotiations for alternative premises will have to bear these costs in mind.

 

Professional Touring (*)

Income:         The majority of income for the annual professional tour consists of applying to Grants for the Arts and additional fundraising from Trusts and Foundations. It is appreciated that New Breed has not recently availed itself of the funding opportunities that exist within the Charitable Foundations, and it will be a primary role of the new General Manager to identify and raise these funds. Although an achievable task for Years 2 and 3, this has proven a considerable task for the current office situation. This is likely to be resolved by employing a freelance fundraiser, with experience of the company, to assist in raising the funds necessary for the Spring 2004 tour of The Irish Giant.

 

 

Box Office income is also included here, with a realistic increase over the years, to reflect the growth in number of venues booking New Breed.

 

Expenditure: The expenditure for the annual tour is shown in one line in the overall budget – again to ensure clarity of cost implications remaining strict to project, and not interfering with the core costs of the company. A detailed project budget for the first Annual tour of the Irish Giant is attached as Appendix.

 

 

Training(**)

Income:         Trust application to support a post for a Trainee Administrator plus additional training needs for the staff and Board. This must be in place before appointment of staff.

 

Expenditure: This would cover the costs of the Trainee Administrator, plus all training costs for staff and board members.

 

Capital expenditure(***)

Income:         Separate fundraising needed to access Capital needs.

 

Expenditure: Year 1 – Electrical equipment including a PAT test device

Year 2 – purchase of a Company Mini bus for touring purposes. This is essential to maintain a good image as a professional touring company, and imperative to meet the access needs of the performers. Ideally this will be achieved by Year 2, but obviously can be delayed to Year 3 if funding limitations apply.

 

Gobsmacked (****)

Income:         Separate fundraising needs for this project.

 

Expenditure: Again, this is retained as one budget-line in the main budget – for the purposes of ensuring clarity of cost implications remaining strict to project, and not interfering with the core costs of the company. A detailed project budget for Gobsmacked is attached as Appendix.

 

Additional Training (*****)

Income:         It is recognised that by providing additional training opportunities in partnership with host organisations, New Breed can maximise its potential for earned income. This is reflected in the budget by a steady increase from Years 1 to 3.

 

Expenditure: The expenditure line for these ‘mini-projects’ are less than the income, covering costs only and allowing for earned income potential to compliment the main core funding of the company.

 

It should be noted that although the majority of this work needs additional fundraising, each project is budgeted separately and therefore can be excluded from the main budget should fundraising be unsuccessful. Despite its history of not maximising additional fundraising potential, it is important that New Breed addresses this by the appointment of a General Manager, with responsibilities for fundraising, in order to achieve the greatest possible level of artistic output, in accordance with its Artistic aims and vision.
Appendix 1 : Budget 2004-7

NBTC Budget 2003-4

2003

Jan-Mar 04

 

2004-05

2005-06

      2006-07

 

 

AFO continuing

On successful recruitment

campaign

 

 

 

 

 

 

budget

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACENW (core)

40,000

13327

 

66,482

70,000

       70,300

 

Grants for the Arts (project)

 

 

 

35,000

30,000

       30,000

*

Other project grants

 

 

 

91,500

84,000

       90,000

*

Govnt Traineeship

 

 

 

15,000

15,000

       15,000

**

Community Chest

2,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust (capital)

 

 

 

5,000

20,000

 

***

Trust (fundraising)

 

 

 

9,500

7,000

       18,000

 

Gobsmacked training grants

 

 

 

40,000

57,000

       60,000

****

Sponsorship

 

 

 

3,000

5,000

       10,000

 

Partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned Income (training)

 

 

 

3,500

5,000

         7,000

*****

Earned Income (merchandise)

 

 

 

750

1,000

         1,500

 

Earned Income (box office)

 

 

 

11,900

15,200

       20,000

*

Income Total

42,500

13327

 

281,632

309,200

     321,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artistic Director

 

5000

 

20,000

22,000

        24,000

 

Company Manager

 

5000

 

20,000

22,000

        24,000

 

Administrator (trainee)

 

 

 

15,000

16,000

        16,500

**

Marketing Manager (p/t)

 

 

 

8,000

8,500

        17,500

 

OM Salary

21,920

1827

 

 

 

 

 

PAYE

 

 

 

6,300

6,850

          8,200

 

Recruitment

500

500

 

1,000

1,000

          1,000

 

Travel/Expenses

320

 

 

500

750

          1,000

 

Training

300

1000

 

1,000

1,000

          1,000

 

Staff sub-total

22,540

13327

 

71,800

78,100

        93,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seminar/Training

300

 

 

300

400

             500.00

 

Travel/Expenses

400

 

 

450

500

500

 

Hospitality

180

 

 

200

200

200

 

Trustees sub-total

880

 

 

950

1,100

           1,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rent

4,883

 

 

5,064

5,570

           6,127

 

Water

15

 

 

20

30

35

 

Electricity

120

 

 

150

175

               200

 

Insurance

986

 

 

1,000

1,250

1,500

 

Cleaning & Repairs

200

 

 

200

225

   250

 

Supplies

230

 

 

250

250

   300

 

Premises sub-total

6,434

 

 

6,684

7,500

8,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telephone

680

 

 

1,000

1,200

            1,400

 

Stationery

600

 

 

1,000

1,000

1,000

 

Subscriptions

200

 

 

300

350

   350

 

Minor Equipment

200

 

 

200

300

   400

 

Postage

125

 

 

300

350

    450

 

Print/Photocopy

50

 

 

100

200

    300

 

sub-total

1,855

 

 

2,900

3,400

3,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank charges

150

 

 

200

250

250

 

Legal fees

400

 

 

500

750

800

 

Accountancy

685

 

 

750

1,000

           1,000

 

Consultant fee & exps

5,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. fees sub-total

7,735

 

 

1,450

2,000

            2,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Tour

 

 

 

134,150

130,000

        140,000

*

Gobsmacked! wkshops

 

 

 

57,698

65,000

          70,000

****

Training Workshops

 

 

 

500

1,000

2,000

*****

Projects sub-total

 

 

 

192,348

196,000

         212,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consultancy Research

600

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Investment

2,500

 

 

5,000

20,000

 

***

Contingency

 

 

 

500

1,000

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditure Total

42,544

13327

 

281,632

309,100

         321,762

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance

-44

0

 

0

100

       38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*=prof touring production

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**= trainee administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***= capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

****= gobsmacked!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****=additional training workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Appendix 2 : The Irish Giant Tour Budget

THE IRISH GIANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Tour 2004 budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME

 

 

 

£

notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Breed Theatre Company core funds

 

 

 

10,000.00

assuming b.plan successful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box Office

 

 

 

11,900.00

based on avg 50-50 £8&6 (i.e. £7), 80 seats per night,25 perfs (see below for 30% venue split)

less VAT

 

 

 

 

Programmes

 

 

 

750.00

25 perfs @ 30 progs ea. @ £1 per prog.