Running an Arts Centre like ours costs a lot of money, especially when providing, as we do, such a wide range of events and activities. And some of the most valuable things we do cost us more than they earn. For example, most of our work with young people.
A lot of people (even some who regularly come to our shows) don't realise we are a registered charity. We employ two people nearly full-time, our Administrator and our Theatre Manager, and a number of others on an occasional basis (eg. our cinema projectionists) or by contracting work out to others. But a great deal of the work is done by up to 100 volunteers, some of them working two or three days a week.
Even so, without our grants from Arts Council England and Ryedale District Council we wouldn't be able to stay open at all. So we are very grateful for their help. But that doesn't bring in enough income to compensate for all the expenses involved.
So we need help. There are a number of ways you can help us.
Become a Friend of Helmsley Arts Centre for £15 a year
Join us and enjoy:
Sponsor a Seat for £150
When the seats were first installed in the theatre we called for sponsors and many people responded. Their prize, apart from the satisfaction of helping us grow, was a brass nameplate on a seat of their choice.
There are still some seats awaiting their sponsors. Could you be one of them?
Buy from our shop
We now have an Arts Centre shop. Just click the Shop advertisement in the right hand column and you enter our Amazon Astore. It is geared towards offering items associated by the Centre's activities but admits you to the full range available on Amazon. The thing is, if you buy something from Amazon by going through our shop we get a percentage of the price you pay, at no extra cost to yourself. So please help us by buying from Amazon through our site. Could be very useful for this Christmas.
Sponsor an event for £50 or more
If you would like to be an event sponsor then let us know before we publish the next brochure and we'll let you know what we've planned. Then you can choose your event. We can then acknowledge you as a sponsor in our description of the event. And, of course, on our website.
Sponsor an activity
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| Members of 1812 Youth Theatre |
1812 Youth Theatre (over 60 members) needs a further £2,000 per year (see more)
Arts Award Scheme needs £500 per year (see more)
Helmsley Ballet School (over 80 members) needs a further £1,000 per year (see more)
Workshops, theatre trips and shows for young people need another £1000 between them, for example a five day workshop with Pilot Theatre
The Film-making Unit needs a one-off sum of £5,000 for equipment.
Donations
Any size of donation will be welcome, of course. It could go towards any of the above but it could go as easily towards the £6,000 we are paying for upgrading the lighting and sound systems in the theatre and exhibition areas.
Remember us in your will
We have been lucky enough to have received in the past one or two generous legacies, notably the sum left to us by Dorothy Morley that enabled us to attract matching funding from the Arts Council for building the west extension. So....
If you'd like to help us financially, please contact Karen Gosney, our Administrator.
And remember, every little bit counts.
Our sponsors in 2010 are:

sponsoring the Michael Mansfield talk on May 27 with £500