For additional context and the Draft Plan, please read the following…
Questions? Contact Briar Monro (co-chair Northland Craft Trust) on monrobriar@gmail.com
Northland Craft Trust DRAFT Strategic Plan 24-27 – Community Consultation
Introduction
For more than 40 years, the Quarry Arts Centre has been meeting the needs of Northland’s art community. To carry on effectively meeting those needs, the arts centre’s governing body, the Northland Craft Trust (NCT), is creating a new strategic plan for the next three years and we want your input.
The plan will be finalised after consultation with our community and will be for the July 2024 to June 2027 period.
A first draft of the plan has been developed in consultation with staff and board members. We are now inviting input from studio artists , tenants, our wider community of users and key stakeholders. We will request this feedback through face-to-face conversations and a survey.
Our aim is to produce a final plan by June 2024.
Why a strategic plan?
The context that the art centre is operating in is changing all the time. Needs shift, opportunities arise, challenges spring up. While staff can respond on a day-to-day basis to these changes, it is important that there is an overarching and current plan that sets the direction and establishes the current priorities. The strategic plan sets the overall direction and guides the operational decisions of developing programmes and facilities, employing staff and allocating (limited) resources.
Who sets the plan?
The Quarry Arts Centre is governed by the Northland Craft Trust board of trustees. The board has a legal obligation to make sure the arts centre is delivering to the Trust deed (see below for purposes). As part of this, the board is responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the Quarry.
So what is the current context?
Late 2023 we held a workshop with staff and the board of trustees to consider the current and future needs of the Quarry and to complete a SWOT analysis; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This hui identified the following
Strengths
A strong history of meeting the community’s artistic needs (especially in ceramics), committed staff and board members, great community of artists, unique and flexible facilities, a good balance of revenue generation through education, sales, facilities hire and fundraising, a growing education programme, a clear purpose and increasing community engagement.
Weaknesses
An over-reliance on grants for funding, issues with current facilities suitability/disrepair and no plans for new facilities, poor cohesion across different Quarry communities, under-developed integration across our programmes and facilities, lack of clarity re mutual responsibilities between Quarry and tenants, gaps in how we tell our story and offerings, and limited staff time to undertake key developmental work.
Opportunities
Increased community interest in arts education, strategic partnerships with other arts and non-arts organisations locally, regionally and nationally (eg Driving Creek, Auckland Society of Potters, Whangarei Quarry Gardens, Hihiaua Cultural Centre and Otago Polytechnic), a shifting focus of key funders, support from Funding HQ and the Centre for Social Impact to strengthen and diversify income streams.
Threats
Increased competition for public funds, increasing costs, increased competition in services/facilities, regulatory changes, impact of local, national and global political turmoil and climate change, weather events and reputational risk if the community’s expectations are not met.
Draft priorities
From the above we have identified a set of priority areas for the next three years. These will focus our work on; on-site facilities development, growing and improving on and off-site relationships, financial well-being, education programmes, artists’ development and support at all levels, retaining ceramics as the core focus, and ensuring the arts centre is a welcoming and positive venue that meets the needs of our communities.
For more detail please see the draft strategic plan below.
How do I give my feedback?
In May/June we will be offering the following opportunities for feedback
- Hui for studio artists and Quarry tenants
- Hui with key users and stakeholders
- Online survey for the wider community – click the orange button (paper survey on request at the office)
Our volunteer board has limited time to undertake face-to-face meetings so please take the time to respond to the survey (link to be sent out in our next newsletter).
QUARRY ARTS CENTRE DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN
Vision: “To be a community-focused, working arts and crafts centre for the pursuit and development of creative practice”.
Strategic priorities 2024-27
- Programmes and services are integrated, high-calibre and delivered to a range of relevant communities
a) Ensure our programmes, facilities and services are integrated and function well together to maximise accessibility, development pathways and presentation/sales opportunities for artists (beginner to experienced)
b) Build our professional development programme so that it is recognised regionally and nationally as a leading space for ceramics, arts and crafts development in Aotearoa.
2. Community development is at the core of our mahi
a) Strengthen and enhance the cohesiveness of the onsite community
b) Strengthen existing, and build new partnerships with relevant communities across Whangārei and Te Tai Tokerau.
3. Facilities and built infrastructure are fit for purpose
a) Identify work needed to bring all existing facilities up to an appropriate standard
b) Develop an infrastructure programme to meet the Quarry’s long-term needs
c) Ensure all facilities are developed and utilised to maximise delivery for the Trust’s purposes and strategic priorities.
4. The organisation is in a strong financial position
a) Work across all parts of our organisation to further diversify and strengthen our income
b) Identify, measure and articulate our impact
c) Undertake financial planning and strategies to ensure resilience in the face of external threats and to capitalise on new opportunities.
Northland Craft Trust’s purposes (from Trust deed)
Please note that the Trust deed and purposes are already established and are not being reviewed or part of this consultation.
- To provide a venue and environment conducive to the development of artists, and
- To encourage the creation of world class art for exhibition and sale, and
- To raise public awareness for the betterment of art, and
- To raise funds for the furtherance of the above objects, and
- To advertise and promote annual events (e.g. Summer Do) and periodic workshops, and
- To do such other charitable things as are incidental thereto, and
- To have the power to affiliate with other charitable organisations to enhance Trust objects.
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