The following is a precis of David Bentley’s Chairman’s Report to the AGM at Friary School on Friday 30 March.
It is very encouraging to see such a good attendance at the AGM. The Treasurer reported that in the last year (to the end of August 2011) the LFA contributed well over £31,000 to the Festival, a very significant sum, from 635 members. The LFA now has 666 members – 31 more; indeed, 666 is the overall total after allowing for some who have not renewed their membership: we have, in fact, had 49 members join, 37 of them as a result of a recent membership drive. This includes 6 platinum members, 80 gold and 86 silver members, and membership income is augmented by the further revenue produced by events arranged throughout the year. These are primarily social, designed to strengthen the Association and enable members to get to know one another better, but all also have an important fund-raising element.
Events during the year included the annual dinner at Packington Barn: it was especially important last year as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Festival, so it was a “black tie” event, with the innovation of entertainment between courses by Hatstand Opera. It was hugely enjoyable and undoubtedly a night to remember, as well as making a very good profit, partly because of the lottery at the dinner, and partly because two of our members generously sponsored the opera. Other events included a flower-arranging demonstration at Chillington Hall in May, a coach trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park in June, a pre-Festival strawberry tea in July, a trip to Stratford to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream in October, a very amusing comedy revue by Just Us in November, and a recent piano recital with an Italian theme at the Guildhall, which benefited from sponsorship from Festival sponsors Robert Broad Travel.
Last year’s AGM was dismayed by the announcement that the Festival’s funding application to the Arts Council had been turned down. The Board, Fiona and the staff were determined that the 30th Festival would continue nonetheless, and it was eventually a great success, not least because of the presence of the Festival’s star, Trevor the Festival pig and his friends! (Editor’s note: Trevor attended the AGM and adorned the platform throughout the proceedings.) There was a 25% increase in those booking, a 22% increase in ticket sales and a 12% increase in ticket income; while funding issues were ameliorated by a second lower grant application to the Arts Council (finally approved in June), as well as by a special anniversary appeal to which LFA members contributed and which raised over £20,000, and a private appeal by Sir James Hawley, the Festival President, which raised over £90,000. The year also saw a substantial expansion of the Lichfield Literature Festival in October, which grew from 4 days to 6, with 31 events involving 36 authors, an increase of 88% in bookers from the previous year, an increase of 51% in ticket sales, and of 34% in ticket income.
As a result, the Festival’s current reserves stand at around £134,000. However, it still struggles to break even in normal conditions, so the LFA needs to continue to raise additional income by increasing its membership and by members’ support for LFA fund-raising events as well as for events at the two Festivals. (Editor’s note: this theme was taken up subsequently by the Director, Fiona Stuart, in her address to the AGM, when she described the last year as being “one she would never wish to repeat”. She explained some of the ways it is hoped to achieve a stronger long-term financial base for the Festival, particularly through the Literature Festival – which in Cheltenham funds the other Festivals held there – and by initiatives which will attract greater Arts Council support.)
Our most imminent event is the Annual Dinner on Friday 20 April, for which ticket applications must be received by 10 April 10. This will once again be held in the Oat Barn at Packington (though not black tie this year), with the speech after the meal given by well-known local entertainer, Ken Knowles. We also plan an evening about Josiah Wedgwood with Ray Johnson at St.Chad’s on 11 May 11, a coach trip to Bletchley Park on June 9th, and a 60s evening in Whittington on November 17th. A planned pre-Festival Garden Party on 30th June has been postponed to 2013 because of the clash with the arrival of the Olympic Torch and related events that weekend; at the end of August, however, during the Bank Holiday Weekend, there will be performances of As You Like It by the Globe Theatre at Tutbury Castle, arranged by Lesley Smith, the curator of the Castle, who has recently joined the Festival Board.
Look out for these events in our Newsletter, as some recent events have sold out very quickly. Thank you to the many people who now receive the Newsletter via email, which is resulting in significant savings in postage, especially as postal charges rise. If you have any difficulties in downloading it, however, please don’t hesitate to contact the Festival Office, who are always glad to help, or to hear of any suggestions for improvements in our communication with you all.
With my best wishes and continued thanks to all LFA members for their support for the Festival, to retiring committee-member, Margaret Spooner, for her many years of splendid service, and to all the committee for their help.
David Bentley
(Editor’s note: the Chairman concluded by announcing his intention of standing down from the committee at the 2013 AGM.)
