It has been a very difficult time for many people during the pandemic and the Arts have been hit particularly hard. Prior to Lockdown, Teresa Hook, who led on Young Arts Volunteering for a number of years, began negotiations with the Anvil and Proteus to see how we might support their work with young people. They came up with two initiatives that we have been able to support with a grant of £250 each.
This is a very curtailed report as the Society has been unable to meet or carry out any other activities because of the pandemic.
We continue to have applications from ex-members of the South Lakes Arts Society which closed at the start of the pandemic. Consequently our current membership is full at 230 people and there are 19 people on the waiting list., and I have been active in maintaining our membership at full capacity.
Prior to the first lockdown in March 2020, The Arts Society Chester had already allocated funding to two local organisations.
The Boaty Theatre Company, based in Ellesmere Port was seeking funding to continue providing acting and drama classes for local vulnerable and disadvantaged young people with a view to staging productions. They have continued through the pandemic with online engagement and hope to pick up where they left off once life returns to normal.
