HAN meeting, Diplocks Hall, 26/10/22. 6.30pm

Present

Sue Harrington, Cllr Steve Murphy (until 6.50), Linda Goldsmith, Barbara Olivier (committee member), Richard Goldsmith, Pam Robinson, Tina Applegate, Valerie Evans (Secretary), Clare Woolgar, Julia Lloyd Jones, Floss Nicholls (Treasurer), Josie Tipler (Chair), Jennifer Bisset, Lucy Dunn, Janet Terry, Barbara Hibbart, Jill Knight.

APOLOGIES

Mary Lovell, Jane Walsh, Liz Cottingham, Liz Hankins, Ian and Liz O’Halloran. Lesley Dromgoole

EASTWELL BRIDGE – Steve  Murphy, Cllr    

See the photo of Lewes castle  and the steps corex board decoration.  Proposal for the Eastwell place bridge – wanted feedback from group to gauge interest at this early stage.

Eastwell place suffers from graffiti over the years, at present it has been cleaned and free of graffiti. Community arts project so the town can really feel they “own it” and have all the panels painted with designs submitted by the public at large.

Artistic groups, schools and others will be invited to become involved and take a panel or two, submit a design that could be painted on to the panels. Any designs submitted would have to be approved, by ESCC the town council and probably WDC. 54 panels on side wall of bridge of 1600mm sq and 12 half size panels. HAF will handle all finances and publicise the finished product on social media and in programme but will not handle contacting  artists or submission process.

The group discussed ideas and other similar projects. Local environment and Rope were suggested as themes. Steve will get back to the group when they are ready to progress with the project.

Membership

Fees are staying at £12 per year and are payable on 1st January.

We currently have 32 paid up members. Discussion on widening region for membership to be a 10 mile radius of Hailsham.

Membership Secretary needed – Valerie has agreed to take on this role rather than general secretary.

Benefits of membership

• • Free or discounted monthly networking meetings, free tea and coffee
  • Discounted exhibitor fees and first refusal
  • No card fees on sales when taking payment using HAN card machine (absorbed by HAN) at HAN exhibitions.
  • Artist’s page on HAN website
  • Can add own art/craft related events on HAN website calendar
  • Events  – free or discounted workshops, demonstrations, HAN website training, talks.
  • More benefits in pipeline – see notes below under EVENTS.

Finances

Balance in HAN bank account is £6239.50 (as at 05/10/22) thanks to Chalk Cliff Trust grant and Lightning Fibre sponsorship. Note: These donated funds are for covering running costs of HAN (including meeting rooms hire); website hosting, maintenance and updating including adding all Art Trail events and venues on to the site; website and social media training for members; training in photographing work for members; design and print of Art Trail programme and signage thus keeping art trail registration fees low to encourage exhibitors.

Floss Nicholls – treasurer. Deals with finance matters usually on Tuesdays or Fridays only.

Everyone will be given a membership number – this will be your reference when making any payments via BACS. Please also use initials of the event the payment is for.

HAN Card Machine – please enter details of artist and item sold on the app when taking card payments.

Art Trail

2022 feedback was generally very positive.

Art is Art, the final event on Sunday at Reid Hall was very successful – lots of visitors and lots of sales of both art and craft. Refreshments sold well in aid of charities. Had a TV display showing all exhibits and more that weren’t on show.

Reid Hall is a large venue by main road, good car parking, often available at weekends.

Horam Emporium was open on days when cfae shut so attracted new visitors in, had space for workshops, made sales and made donation to charity from refreshments sold.

DippyDoodahs seemed well attended – Valerie made a sale and got a commission.

Lightning Fibre event in Eastbourne was very well organised and well attended – good networking event and at least one sale was made. Short film made of event which is on social media.

Furniture now had art on the walls and at least one enquiry was made to buy – artists were selling their own work. Hope to have the same arrangements next year.

Bluebell Barn show was quiet as was the weekend of the Queen’s death – half the visitors but still a good number of sales. Refreshments donated by exhibitors, run by FOEH.

Gallery North – several sales made (checking with gallery re payment to artists) . Open evening was busy but other times could be very quiet. Lone stewarding not popular.

Frameworks – Janet Terry had work in window with Art Trail sign but it seemed quiet.

High Street Shops – Jennifer went in to arrange with various venues that they would be happy to exhibit work. Anna Acciarini went into Callenders and still has work on show. Lucy Dunn tried to exhibit in Will’s but they had a flood, could not get in touch with Romeo and Juliet but it seems they have an artist already exhibiting. As far as we know, no other artists resounded or went into other venues. Thank you to Sue Stoneman for trying to get artists involved and to Jennifer for the initial contacts.

Publicity

• • Leaflet print and distribution – we printed 5000 leaflets and only about 2000 were distributed. Suggestions that we need to put leaflets in peoples hands – town centre on Saturdays, outside exhibition venues etc. List of locations for leaving leaflets was handed round for suggestions.
  • Signage – most venues had signage outside in addition to the Art Trail boards, some had banners and A boards too. hang on to your boards for next year if not yet returned. We still have several in the box.
  • Social media – lots of activity, many venues actively promoting their events and sharing other art trail events. Issue raised that HAN facebook group and page are confusing so training agreed.
  • Press releases – Valerie and jim sent these out to local papers and publications and radio.
  • Barbara went into Hailsham FM to talk about Art Trail.

Art Trail 2023

• • Group Exhibitions – lots of venues suggestions inc luring Hellingly Hub, Rushlake green Village hall, Charles Hunt Centre, Bishop Hotel, Reid Hall, Punnets Town Hall, Herstmonceux Hall, Sussex Barn (Summer only). pop Up shop would be ideal – Nic Gray at Lightning Fibre event mentioned HAN should come to regular Hailsham Chamber of Commerce meetings – Pam R already goes, can raise questions for us – others welcome to attend.
  • Other venues – Liz Hankins may be able to host a couple of others at her Hailsham home.
  • Business participation – Next year we should have one person liaising with artists for the High Street (and St Mary’s Walk) and other local business venues and have a print out of ‘how to approach venues’ with details of what the venue and artist can expect – ie space in art trail programme, listing on the website, how to discuss if commission is taken on sales and if the venue or artist is the sales point of contact etc.
  • EXPO type show  – looking at the Horsham show coming up, there doesn’t seem to be a large enough venue in Hailsham to host a large paid entry professional event. Reid Hall or Herstmonceux seem to be the best.
  • Town Crier was suggested to help publicise events.
  •  

Events

Exhibitions

• • most 1 or 2 day exhibitions: fees are £35 for paid up members to include all printed promotional material and card reader fees (when using HAN reader). Discussion about fees and whether they should be lower because of held funds, but the fees are to cover the individual event costs including venue hire, private views etc. Funds held are for the purposes listed above (Finances)
  • separate art exhibitions and makers shows – discussion on this. Art is Art and Alfriston shows seemed to buck the trend, but generally art sales are low when events are advertised as Art & Craft. Suggestion that we try an art show in Charles Hunt Centre for 2D art only.
  • Gallery North (see note) – fee was £45 for 3 weeks on this occasion but is usually for 5 or 6 weeks. Stewarding required (this will be arranged in pairs in future) and commission on sales paid to Gallery North. HAN is not being charged a hire fee on this occasions but asked to donate to the gallery’s current refugee project charity.
  • Gallery North – suggestion we ask if HAN can have a regular wall and 3D space as resident artists, to rotate member’s work. HAN to pay fee and paid up members can exhibit. In addition to annual exhibition.
  • One SALES record book will be used for all HAN events
  • Small team needed for EACH exhibition to cover organising venue, booking exhibitors, liaising with exhibitors on the day, co-ordinating steward rota, arranging publicity and promotional material, liaising with Treasurer.

Training – Need suggestions of venues with Wifi.

• • Artists pages on website – members only.
  • Adding events to website – members only
  • Social media training – members only

Workshops / Peer Groups – suggestions

• • Taking photographs of your work – photographer needed.
  • Pricing your work – Peer group
  • Julian Sutherland Beatson – Sustaining and growing your creative business
  • Suggestion that pop up shop would be good venue for workshops
  • Portrait photos – members only. Professional portraits to use on HAN website. Photographer suggestions need.

Art/Maker Demonstrations – members and public – suggestions invited.

• • Art and Craft workshops run by HAN open to public to attend – pay demonstrator, charge fee to attendees. Discount for members.

Ran out of time to discuss:

• Website – Members resources area – suggestions such as logos, insurance links etc – next month
• COMMITTEE – wanted : General secretary, Events secretary, Publicity officer. Other also welcome to join the committee. – next month

AOB 

Late Night shopping at Horam Emporium on 1st Dec, 8pm (Thurs).

Liz Hankins studio at Blackboys will become available soon – Josie has details. Floss met someone at Gallery North who may be interested.

Date of next meeting and venue TBA – suggestions of venues please!

Josie Tipler

Chair