Belfast Waterfront Hall Board Minutes 26 January 2005
From Nigov
C3314
Wednesday, 26th January, 2005
Contents |
MEETING OF BELFAST WATERFRONT HALL BOARD
Members present: Councillor P. Maskey (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Template:Bcc0405-O’Donnell); and Councillors J. Clarke, Crowe, Cush, McCarthy, Newton, Template:Bcc0405-O’Reilly, Toan and Wilson.
In attendance:
- Mr. Mervyn Elder, Director of Client Services;
- Mr. T. Husbands, Managing Director;
- Mr. M. Irvine, Operations Manager;
- Mr. P. Falls, Manager, Ulster Hall; and
- Mr. J. Heaney, Committee Administrator.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 15th December, which had been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct.
Group Theatre Users’ Consultation
The Board considered a report in relation to the outcome of the consultation process which had been undertaken with those Amateur Theatre Groups which had, on previous occasions, utilised the Group Theatre. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendix referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Managing Director suggested that, should the Board be minded to offer the use of the Studio under Option 2 or 3, as set out in the foregoing report, certain commercial considerations would require to be taken into account. He reminded the Board that the Studio operated within a commercial environment and pointed out that Amateur Theatre Groups wishing to book the venue at a rate other than the full commercial rate could do so no more than eight weeks prior to the date of any proposed performance, the time period after which it was anticipated no bookings at the full commercial rate would be received.
A Member expressed concern that, regardless of the rate to be charged, the current high level of usage at the Studio would limit its availability for use by the Amateur Theatre Companies. Several Members pointed out that the Board had a clearly defined Community and Arts Groups Policy in respect of the hiring of the Studio to charitable and non profit-making groups and suggested that it would be inappropriate to deviate from the Policy.
The Chairman (Councillor P. Maskey) pointed out that, as a direct consequence of a Council decision, there would be no medium-sized performing space available in the City centre to accommodate, at a reasonable cost, the voluntary performing arts community. Accordingly, he expressed the view that it might be appropriate if the Board were to consider offering to those groups, which had utilised previously the Group Theatre, the use of the Studio at the Waterfront Hall at a rate equivalent to that which had been levied for the use of the Group Theatre.
After further discussion, it was
That the Board agrees to offer for hire, at the rate applicable to charitable and no profit-making organisations, viz., £500 plus VAT per day, the Studio within the Waterfront Hall to those Amateur Theatre Groups named on the foregoing report which had utilised previously the Ulster Hall/Group Theatre.
On a vote by show of hands seven Members voted for the proposal and none against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Tsunami Appeal Disaster – Charity Concert
The Managing Director informed the Board that a request had been received from Mr. Glenn Baird, Glenmac Music, seeking the free use of the facilities within the Belfast Waterfront Hall for the hosting, on a date to be confirmed, of a charity event in the form of a country and western music concert in order to raise funds for the Tsunami Disaster appeal.
The Managing Director reported that it was the Board’s policy not to grant the free use of the Waterfront Hall. However, he suggested that, should the Board be so minded, a charitable rate for the hiring of the Main Hall for two week-day sessions could be applied, which would give rise to a total charge being levied of £4,727 plus VAT plus 10% of Box Office receipts.
During discussion, several Members enquired as to what percentage of the funds raised would be donated to the charity and what donations, if any, had been made on behalf of the Council to similar charities. In response, the Managing Director reported that he had been advised that 100% of all of the monies raised through the holding of the Concert would be donated to the charity. He informed the Members that several collections had been made during recent events staged at the Waterfront Hall and that £20,000 had been raised and donated to the Black Santa/Christian Aid Tsunami Appeal.
In response to several questions pertaining to the use of the Ulster Hall for similar charity events, the Manager of the Ulster Hall informed the Board that two charitable fund-raising events were scheduled to be staged at the Ulster Hall during the forthcoming weeks and that on each occasion a charitable rate had been levied for the use of the venue.
After further discussion, the Board agreed to affirm its policy not to grant the free use of the Belfast Waterfront Hall and granted approval for the charging of a charitable rate in relation to the use of the venue in order to raise funds by Glenmac Music for the Tsunami Disaster Appeal Fund.
Arts and Business Creativity Awards 2005
The Board was informed that the Belfast Waterfront Hall, in partnership with a local company, Tile Market, had received an award in the Arts, Business and Young People category at the Arts and Business Creativity Awards Ceremony 2005, a high profile event which recognised the outstanding contribution made by business to the arts and which sought to promote and encourage arts sponsorship by business.
The Managing Director reported that the award had been presented in recognition of the development of the “Set the Scene” competition, which had been initiated in 2003 by Officers at the Waterfront Hall and was the United Kingdom’s first musical theatre competition for post-primary schools. The Competition afforded young people a unique opportunity to develop their creative performing arts ambitions, whilst developing also life skills such as self-confidence, responsibility and teamwork.
The Board was also informed that the Waterfront Hall had been nominated in two further categories at the Creativity Awards Ceremony.
After discussion, the Board noted the comments of the Managing Director and agreed that its congratulations be conveyed to all those members of staff who had contributed to this success.
Staging of Production of "Jerry Springer - The Opera"
The Managing Director informed the Board that preliminary inquiries had been made very recently by a promoter in respect of the staging at the Waterfront Hall of a production of “Jerry Springer – The Opera”. He suggested, given the controversial nature of the production, that it was appropriate to seek the Board’s views at an early stage.
A Member pointed out that a production of the show, which had been screened recently by the British Broadcasting Corporation, had generated a considerable level of criticism for that organisation. He suggested that the contents of the production had the potential to be deeply offensive to a considerable number of citizens of Belfast and, whilst not wishing to limit artistic expression stated that he was of the opinion that the staging of the production would lead to considerable adverse publicity for the Council.
Several Members expressed the view that further information would be required before any decision on the staging of the production at the Waterfront Hall could be made.
Following further discussion, it was
- Moved by the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Template:Bcc0405-O’Donnell),
- Seconded by Councillor Cush,
That the Board agrees to defer consideration of the matter to enable further information to be provided in respect of the staging of the production.
Amendment
That the Board agrees, in the light of the potential of the production to cause grave offence to a considerable number of the citizens of Belfast, that the production of “Jerry Springer – The Opera” be not staged at the Belfast Waterfront Hall.
On a vote by show of hands five Members voted for the amendment and four against and it was accordingly declared carried. The amendment was thereupon put to the meeting as the substantive motion when five Members voted for and three against and it was accordingly declared carried.
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE UNDERNOTED ITEMS IN PURSUANCE OF THE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON 5th JULY, 1995
Progress Report
The Managing Director submitted for the Board’s consideration the following progress report on the operations of the Waterfront Hall.
After discussion, during which the Members commended the staff at the Belfast Waterfront Hall and the Ulster Hall for their effort during the Christmas period, the Board agreed to note the contents of the progress report.
Chairman
