CO-PRODUCING GREAT ART SINCE 1983www.helixarts.com

A warm welcome to Helix Arts where I am honoured to be Chair of Trustees. I joined the Board in 2016 because I felt very strongly that Helix Arts is doing the kind of work I want to be associated with. I have been a teacher and head teacher for 30 years and I led the team which brought the first University Technical College to the city of Newcastle. It has always been a priority for me as part of this work to provide an enriching arts curriculum. I have seen young people’s lives change and their ambitions grow because they have been given the opportunity to see, hear and – importantly - make their own great art.

However old you are and whatever your circumstances, the arts can be empowering and make life worth living. This is why it is such a shame that a greater proportion of people in the North East than anywhere else in England say that the arts aren’t for them. At Helix Arts we are supporting our communities on a life-long artistic journey to uncover a world that we feel should very much belong to them.

Our doors are always open to artists and people who want to work with artists. We have been connecting high quality artists with diverse communities for more than 30 years to make great art. We are unusual because we work with musicians one day…photographers the next …and maybe a ceramicist the next, while digital art is increasingly influencing our practice.

We seek to matchmake talented artists with inspired communities – our practice is person centered. Together we open up fresh pathways to making art, volunteering in the arts and joining arts audiences. We know the North East of England very well and we are currently working in North Northumberland, the Tees Valley and points in between.

Do enjoy reading about our arts programmes. We look forward to hearing from you anytime by email or phone with your ideas for artistic co-productions.

Alison ShawChair of Trustees

Catherine HearneChief Executive

Welcome

“As Chief Officer of Meadow Well Connected I have been working with

Catherine Hearne of Helix Arts to discover how incorporating arts into

our business development strategy can add additional value and impact to our existing work. Catherine has been

great at helping us understand our place within our community and how we can use this knowledge to further develop

and improve what we do.”

Mandi CresswellChief Officer

Meadow Well Connected

At Helix Arts we connect high quality artists with diverse communities so they can make great art together. Helix Arts is the glue that holds the artists and the many and varied communities together.

Helix Arts was born on Wearside in 1983.

Our late founder, Lucy Fairley, had her own art gallery in London and had always felt frustrated that only the rich and famous crossed her doors. A move to the North East meant she could fulfil her dream of connecting arts and artists with very different communities.

She started by talking to the manager of a steel works. She suggested they donate some steel which eventually they were happy to do. She then approached Northern Arts to say she had thousands of pounds of steel for a public art sculpture but no money to recruit an artist to undertake a residency in the steel plant.

Northern Arts gave her a grant and so that is how our organisation came into being.

Nearly 35 years on it seems such a simple idea. But back then it was radical to suggest that artists might co-produce great work with diverse communities, whatever their circumstances. Helix Arts remains true to Lucy Fairley’s vision and practice. We connect all kinds of groups, of whatever age and whatever ability, with high quality artists to make great work together, in their own neighbourhoods. We support people to find and express their cultural voice working with artists from all genres.

Helix Arts participants say their health and well-being improve while fresh pathways to employability open up. For so many, Helix Arts is the start of a lifelong, enriching, artistic journey.

Who we are and what we do"Working in partnership with Helix Arts has been a pleasure. All of the staff I've had contact with are passionate about their work and this shows in the way they deliver their creative programmes. The time and attention they've provided to our volunteers under the Make Art Happen project has been amazing and has meant participants have gained an insight and a wide breadth of skills to further the community participatory arts agenda."

David SuggettCommunity Engagement & Interpretation Officer Peregrini Lindisfarne Landscape Partnership

Falling on your Feet

An opportunity for people aged 65+ to work with a talented choreographer to co-produce and co-curate their own dance works. Helix Arts realised very few older people living independently had the chance to improve their balance, strength and flexibility on the dance floor. Our dancers’ confidence improves and their fear of falling seems to reduce - while new friendships are formed in the contemporary dance ensembles too. Falling on your Feet will be offered throughout the North East of England until at least 2020.

“There’s a definite appeal to all of us to be in a dance class with other people of about our age; if we were choreographing with young people we might feel uncomfortable. But if we’re honest – inside we feel in our 40s!”

GeorgeFalling on your Feet dancer

“We have been delighted to co-produce Falling on your Feet in South Shields and Sunderland with Helix Arts. Neighbourhood ‘sharings’ have been of high quality with older dancers performing beautifully. We’re also pleased that the dancers’ strength and balance seems to be improving too.”

Emma HorsmanDirectorCultural Spring Arts Council England Creative People and Places

Off the Beat

Off the Beat, funded by national charity Youth Music, is a music making programme where talented professional musicians work with young people to make and share original digital music. Young people have revealed their composition and performance skills while their confidence and motivation to succeed in the music world have soared. They’ve already taken part in online jamming sessions with young people in other parts of England, have live streamed a performance from Sage Gateshead to hundreds of fans and have live streamed into Mozfest, the open internet festival, too.

"Off the Beat is something I feel really passionate about. It has impacted my life so much since it started. One of the main ways was being given the chance to do Gold Arts Award. Allowing me to explore and research personal interests and take control of my own arts journey.

“Getting to see other young people develop and have opportunities they wouldn't otherwise get at school or college, or even in other projects, has been the really special thing about Off the Beat."

Katie Jayne AppleyardTrainee Youth Worker and Gold Arts Award participant CVYP

#HADADi

#HADADi is Helix Arts’ forum with artists and techies who gather to share ideas and projects every quarter. It’s a great chance to have a drink, meet new friends and talk digital art. There’s a new theme every time and a small bursary is available to get an idea off the ground. Guest speakers join from all over the world by Skype to inspire and challenge us all. And we head to the pub afterwards for our digital arts book group. We are delighted that Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice supports #HADADi.

"Helix Arts are the adventurers of the art world. Knowing the team like I do, I can honestly say that if they weren’t working in the arts they would be climbing mountains, flying in hot air balloons and trekking through remote and uncharted territories. Lucky for us they do work in the arts, bringing thoughtful and exciting creative projects to life in hard to reach places. They help people understand and share why they are important in a world that is changing faster than ever and they work damn hard to ensure no one gets left behind. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”

Dr Dominic SmithHelix Arts Associate Digital Curator

Helix Arts’ Programmes

Make Art Happen

Make Art Happen is a training programme with community volunteers and artists. We share the skills and expertise we’ve developed over many years to help them run high quality neighbourhood arts festivals and residencies. Feeling confident, the new local arts producers recruit their own artists and co-produce arts events with their own communities. Make Art Happen is very flexible. We offer a complete version over eight sessions or a compact version over four sessions. An online version is in development.

“You just don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for! But the magic started straight-away because Helix Arts’ Creative Producers made everyone believe they would be able to produce an arts event where they live.

“As a group we mixed well from the outset: the team at Helix Arts made sure everyone had a voice and were very clear about the Make Art Happen structure. The modules on finance and the artist’s brief were a challenge but Helix Arts’ Creative Producers are so comfortable with the process they shared with us...it all worked. It would never have entered my head that I would be able to make such a difference in my community. The positive change in my life is down to Make Art Happen and Helix Arts.”

Liz KeatingMake Art Happen participant, Gateshead

Hidden Voices

Children and young people whose dads are in prison are working with artists to write and record songs that explore their hopes and fears. Fathers who are in prison are working with the artists by sharing stories that will be captured in the work as well. Helix Arts is working in partnership with Nepacs, a North East charity supporting prisoners and their families. We will devise creative activities inspired by the songs and present them in a resource pack to be used by trained volunteers and support workers. The pack is designed to help men talk about issues related to their offending and to help reduce reoffending.

“Working with Helix Arts on the ‘Hidden Voices’ project has been an inspiration. Helix Arts’ practitioners have been able to draw out the emotional impact of having a parent in prison through engaging young people in music and song. They have combined empathy and creativity to produce materials that we hope will have a profound effect on attitudes and awareness.”

Helen Attewell CEO at Nepacs

Helix Arts and Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice

Working in partnership with Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice, Helix Arts is researching high quality arts co-production in participatory settings. Visual artist Toby Lloyd has been appointed as our practice based PhD Student. He is working with us until 2020 and will be exhibiting across the North of England.

“The opportunity to undertake a practice-based PhD with Newcastle University and Helix Arts came at the perfect time for me. I am interested in exploring the role that the arts can play in creating an argument for Universal Basic Income. Working with Helix Arts and the University will enable to me to do this while developing my practice as an artist and a researcher. Helix Arts has great contacts with diverse community groups who normally don't have the opportunity to work with practising artists. I really enjoy being part of the Helix team.”

Toby LloydHelix Arts PhD student

Hidden Treasures

Our brand new geocache arts trail in Northumberland will bring communities together and help tell their stories through the creation of artworks. Working in partnership with the Army Welfare Service on Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland, Helix Arts has introduced a digital adviser/curator and artists in residence to work with young people and their families on the barracks to forge new relationships with their local communities using art. Hidden Treasures will build new partnerships with the Armed Forces Forum and local primary schools in Stamfordham and Heddon on the Wall.

“Helix Arts’ project management is exceptional. The team shows understanding and empathy for our community’s circumstances, tailoring a bespoke arts project with participants’ needs and ambitions at its heart. Following the resounding success of our last project, I am delighted that we are now working on Hidden Treasures. Our organisation simply couldn’t deliver such high-quality pieces of work without the production support of Helix Arts, and I am excited to see what our working relationship will bring next.”

Lisa RobinsonCommunity Support Development WorkerArmy Welfare Service

Helix ArCH

Helix Arts has been co-producing a work of art with older people living in a northern residential care home and with artist Jordan Baseman who has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. The Wellcome Trust has awarded seed funding to this project. Academics from Bristol and Newcastle Universities are undertaking a study to investigate how, and the extent to which, authenticity and citizenship can be realised during an arts programme in care homes for people with dementia.

"Working with Helix Arts on the Helix ArCH project has been a complete pleasure. Not only have they helped to build a delightful and impressive team for this project from the perspective of the art intervention, they have also contributed to its intellectual development throughout. Moreover, they have done this whilst dealing with a number of practical matters, for instance to do with ethical approval, in a most professional manner. It has been and I hope will continue to be a hugely fruitful relationship. In addition, it's just been good fun!"

Professor Julian C. Hughes RICE Professor of Old Age PsychiatryUniversity of Bristol

Participants are at the very heart of everything we do. In the very first instance we often work with the grass roots organisations and support workers who are closest to individuals, groups and communities facing complex disadvantages.

Our arts programmes are designed around participants' strengths, goals and needs. We see at first hand the impact making great art can have and that's why we continue to create opportunities with people of any age or ability in any circumstance to co-produce performances, exhibitions or events with professional artists.

The arts should be open to everyone to enjoy and benefit from.

"What I love about working with Helix Arts is the value and importance they place on the arts in improving the quality of people’s lives. It’s not just an add-on, it’s integral to all their programmes and it helps participants really find themselves.

"They have so much belief in their participants it gives people the confidence to see themselves differently so they can tackle, head on, any fears or issues in their lives.”

Dr Catherine BaileyAssociate Professor International Ageing at Northumbria University

How we make a difference

How you can work with Helix ArtsIf you've heard about Helix Arts and are keen to get to know us better, don't hesitate to get in touch. We are keen to hear from artists and support them to extend their practice with communities who are new to them. Voluntary and public sector organisations regularly contact us to forge partnerships with artists and diverse communities.

We welcome non-arts charities asking us to work with them to integrate an arts strategy into their overall business plan. Charitable Trusts and Foundations approach us to recommend new sources of funding for our arts practice.

Academics from all disciplines come to us to develop research programmes in a wide range of settings. Cultural venues are invited to seek partnerships with us to co-produce great art in settings new to them - such as criminal justice.

If you're interested in a career in the arts we do offer internships and work experience through colleges and Universities. Schools and young people's organisations who want to develop Arts Awards and Artsmark programmes should contact us. And we are currently developing a volunteering programme too.

Every quarter we run our drop in event #HADADi so if you want to meet us face to face do check the website for details of the next event. We'd love to see you there.

“Newcastle University has been working with Helix Arts for several years during which time they have proven themselves to be productive project partners. We support their desire to bring excellent art realised through high quality processes to diverse audiences and look forward to working with them further as they continue to develop their practice, raise the level of ambition and make critical contributions to the field of participative arts.”

Venda PollockDirector of Newcastle University Institute for Creative Arts Practice

Meet the team

Catherine HearneChief Executive

Catherine has been Chief Executive of Helix Arts since January 2015. She’s a recent MA graduate from Warwick University’s Centre for Cultural and Media Studies, which has a global reputation. Catherine brings extensive senior leadership experience over a 30-year period from the education and creative industries. A former BBC News Executive, Catherine sat on BBC News Board England for seven years.

Cheryl GavinSenior Project Manager

A former dancer, Cheryl joined Helix Arts in 2014 to lead and manage Make Art Happen. Using her extensive knowledge and relationships in the North East cultural sector, Cheryl has helped a variety of groups across the region enabling diverse communities to work with top artists on some pioneering projects, including the Off the Beat programme and Falling on your Feet.

Rowena OnHead of Operations

Having worked at Helix Arts since 2004, Rowena’s experience in both public and private sectors has helped us deliver world-class creative programmes over the past decade. Her knowledge of the organisation and the arts and cultural sector in the North East is invaluable.

Yvonne DobsonFinance and Administration Officer

Yvonne joined Helix Arts in 2007 and her organisational and administrative skills ensure the funding we receive from Arts Council England and other supporters goes directly into our arts activities, encouraging and enabling people to participate in a wide range of programmes across the North East.

Susie BateyCreative Producer

Susie joined the creative production team at Helix Arts early 2018 as lead producer on our dance and health programme with older people, Helix Arts’ Falling on your Feet. She also produces #HADADi and our current criminal justice programme. Susie previously worked at Sage Gateshead and taught in the primary sector.

In the last financial year Helix Arts’ participation and artist numbers rose by

nearly 80%. Audience numbers soared to 350,000 onsite and online.

A thank you to our fundersThe work we do would not be possible without the support of our funders. We’d like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of them for sharing our ambition to bring great art to everyone – regardless of age, ability or circumstance.

Core funders

Helix Arts programme funders

“Meeting Helix Arts has been such a positive experience; taking theoretical ideas and putting them into practice through Make Art Happen. I have confidence now to speak to people about my ideas and see where they could go, as well as carrying out critical project management tasks to give the necessary substance to a project proposal.

“I'm collaborating with a writer, which is something I never would have done before, and we are working on a two-day project with a local group in Gateshead that supports older and isolated people. Instead of being nervous about running a workshop, I'm really excited.”

–– Anna CaseyPrintmaker

“I have found Helix Arts to be a forward thinking organisation making high quality art and meaningful social impact. They have shown a commitment to working collaboratively to develop innovative programmes, placing their participants and audience at the heart of all they do. I have been extremely impressed by the professionalism of Helix Arts, which has been a breath of fresh air.”

–– Tom WatsonPartnership Manager, Voluntary Sector

“We’ve been delighted to work with Helix Arts to improve arts and culture provision for our visually impaired users. We value and appreciate all the professional advice we receive from the team at Helix Arts; they’re great people to work with.”

–– Sue TaylorChief Executive Officer, Sight Service

Helix Arts2nd Floor51 Bedford StreetNorth ShieldsNE29 0AT

Telephone: +44 (191) 241 4931Email: info@helixarts.com

! helixarts " HelixArts# Helix Arts

Charity No. 700956Company No. 2114849

Statement of Financial Activities(including income and expenditure account)

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations during the above two periods.

31st March 2018 2017Unrestricted

FundsRestricted

FundsTotal

FundsTotal

Funds£ £ £ £

Income and endowments from:

Donations and legacies 162,864 – 162,864 168,472

Charitable activities 25,500 163,992 189,492 135,909

Investment income 910 – 910 973

Total income 189,274 163,992 353,266 305,354

Expenditure on:

Charitable activities 167,754 155,906 323,660 298,988

Total expenditure 167,754 155,906 323,660 298,988

Net income: 21,520 8,086 29,606 6,366

Net movement in funds 21,520 8,086 29,606 6,366

Reconciliation of funds:

Total funds brought forward 80,278 3,777 84,055 77,689

Total funds carried forward 101,798 11,863 113,661 84,055

www.helixarts.com