Chairman’s Report: 

The year 2005 was another busy year for all concerned in the management of the visual Art Network. 

 

  • Bi Monthly Newsletter - (The Artists Eye)

 

The Newletter has featured News and reviews supplied by VAN members.

 

Exhibitions and commission opportunities have been advertised.

 

In every issue a local artist has been featured.

 

From a suggestion made by a VAN member a crossword was developed.

 

An email version of the newsletter was researched then developed and has been offered as part of the 2006 subscription.

 

As part of the newsletter mail-out local exhibition listings were attached.

These were compiled by Tracy Ellen Piper - many thanks to her and the many others who have given time to stuff envelopes.

 ( Tracy is stopping doing the listings after the next issue)

 

  • Email bulletins

 

Casper Macindoe volunteered to create an emailing list from our database.

 

 This work has enabled a quick fire distribution of news and opportunities to members on the list.

 

  • Monthly Social Meetings

 

Meetings took place every month first at Frank Cafe and Bar but a quieter venue was called for so it was moved to Belmont for an hour of quiet discussion then continued in a local public house. One meeting took place in Telford as an experiment which was successful in making contact with a Telford arts officer. This contact has continued and will be progressed  in 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

·         Business Plan

 

A 3 year Business Plan was developed through the year and a grant application to the Arts Council to begin implementing the Plan was made in December. This was under the Grants for the Arts scheme.

Unfortunately even though there has been much support for the ideas in the plan the application was unsuccessful.

Subsequently we have been in discussions with the Arts Council funding officer to develop a new application. He has advised us of ways to enable him to grant funding. This will be taken forward by the new committee.

 

  • VAN website www. vanetwork.co.uk –

 

·        The site was updated with news and exhibition listings every month. Members continued to have pages on the site.

·        The website has been simplified with the online newsletter having different information that is in the subscription issue. Local Gallery Listings can now be found from links on the home page. The homepage is updated at least monthly and a member’s feature has been added to market artist’s work .

 

  • Project support

 

VAN has supported the exhibition Empty Swept and Garnished at the Market Hall and Christmas Slide projections in the Square. These were events organised by VAN members who worked under the banner of VAN. They were able to put these events on because of the support VAN as an organisation gave them.

 

  • The “This is Art” Festival continues as a partner in the Shrewsbury Summer Season, thus ensuring a wider audience.

 

The Open Competition 15 July to 3 September

 

Global auction of Modern Art on the internet

 

Open Studios; 1st and 2nd July

 

Exhibitions and Workshops through June, July and August

 

  • Membership continues to increase, now standing at 140 plus,  an increase of approximately 10%.