These are difficult times for arts, culture and community provision generally. Between 2010 and 2020, local authorities suffered cuts in their central government support grants of 40% in real terms – leading to cuts in services and increases in council tax. The arts are not a core function of local government, and it is not surprising that the Campaign for the Arts found a halving of culture spending by local councils between 2010 and 2024. At the same time (2010–2023) central government funding for the arts fell by 18%.
Six years before this tightening of the cultural purse strings began, with what, in hindsight, looks like appalling timing, a community run arts and resource centre – Otley Courthouse – opened its doors to serve the small market town. It is now 20 years old. How did it start, and what has contributed to its survival and success?
Small beginnings
The initial idea that Otley should have its own arts centre grew out of the town’s production of The Heart Shaped Field – a hugely successful community play which was staged in 1996. After the play had finished it was obvious that the people of Otley wanted more. After investigating a few possible venues, the attention of the Otley Community Play Association turned to the unused Courthouse building, and a prolonged (four-year) period of business planning and finance raising ensued (aided in no small measure by the Market Town Initiative money which followed the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001).
Opening on 4 May 2004 (May the fourth be with you), the Courthouse started small – in terms of staffing (one person), volunteers (a handful), events (a very slim programme) and room hires. Growth was slow, careful and organic – based always on what could be safely afforded, what gaps there were in local cultural and social provision, and what steps could be taken to increase both revenue and (with much more difficultly) small financial margins.
Otley Courthouse today
Twenty years on, seven full-time and part-time staff, a team of freelance sound technicians and bar staff, over 100 volunteers, and a board of trustees, look after an organisation with a turnover of £300,000. In 2019 the Courthouse was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of an MBE for organisation. Volunteers are the Courthouse’s lifeblood … they are stewards, receptionists, community café workers, marketing assistants, heritage researchers, house managers, repairers and decorators, science event and film organisers. And more.
The building is home to 10 studio spaces tenanted by artists, craft makers and small businesses, and it contains Otley Maker Space – the only maker space between Leeds and Newcastle.
Over the course of a year, the events programme sees something like 20 classical music events, 25 folk music, 23 popular music, 50 film screenings, 15 ‘National Theatre Live’ type screenings, four Science Cafes, a whole week of science based events (13 events), 12 comedy gigs, six family theatre shows, 10 Craft Fairs, 12 Art exhibitions, 21 one-off community events, six Literary events, nine Talks, 16 Theatre events. A total of over 240 public events – plus over 20 regular community room hires every week.
Otley Courthouse was instrumental in the establishment of Otley Chamber Orchestra, Otley Writers, Otley Green Fair, Otley Craft Fair, The Courthouse Choir, Otley Maker Space, Otley Singing for the Brain, Otley Science Festival, Otley Live week – and the re-establishment of Otley Players.
The basis for success
Since its inception Otley Courthouse’s business plan has had multiple income streams – box office from a diverse range of events, room hire, tenancies, bar, community café, and funding bids for specific projects – a six-legged financial stool. A key maxim has been that the rooms are there to be used – from early morning to late at night – weekdays and weekends. An empty room means that an opportunity to provide for the community is being lost (and it’s not generating any income!).
Another guiding principle has been that the organisation should never be too reliant on core funding from outside bodies – too many projects have failed as soon as that core funding is cut. The Courthouse raises around 95% of its annual income through its own endeavours. Funding to achieve specific goals though – facilities, staffing, or programming based – has been actively pursued.
Annual turnover has grown year on year – by filling spaces, and by offering new opportunities to new audiences. Any surplus is ploughed back into the venue in one way or another – staffing is increased or better remunerated; better facilities are installed; and new, possibly (initially) financially risky, event types are trialled. All of these have the potential to generate further financial security and further growth.
Support from Leeds City Council
Despite all the pressures on local authority finances, outlined above, Otley Courthouse has received core funding (meaning that it can be spent as the Courthouse sees fit – a precious type of funding for any arts venue) from Leeds City Council’s culture department for several years. Over time this funding has increased as the Courthouse has expanded its programming.
Although currently providing only 5% of the Courthouse’s income, this core funding has provided a vital breathing space which has allowed the venue to take bolder steps than it otherwise would have done – in terms of staffing, facilities and programming – which have resulted in marked upticks in activity and income.
The Courthouse has also been supported by the lease arrangements (the buildings are owned by Leeds City Council) which has granted a peppercorn rent in return for building improvements, and the array of services – cultural and social – that the Courthouse brings to its community. This kind of seed-corn support for community organisations is a key role of local government.
Support from the Music Venues Trust
During Covid the Courthouse became a member of the MVT – a national umbrella organisation dedicated to fighting for the security of small venues at a national level. Some 125 small music venues closed, or stopped hosting live music, in 2023. Being able to share information with venues as diverse as Le Pub in Newport and The Adelphi in Hull, as well as being in receipt of excellent information and advice from ‘MVT Central’ has been invaluable.
Small venues across the country are benefitting from having the MVT sitting at the top table with government and the big cheeses in the music industry. Their aim is to ensure that the grassroots of the UK music scene – where all new artists start their careers – are adequately protected and rewarded. Their work has resulted in a promise, from government, that money will flow down to small venues from tickets sales at large stadium and arena gigs.
Support from the community
Any arts venue is only as good as the support that it gets from its local community. Otley Courthouse has formed links with a range of local groups, often hosting their events, and continually seeks ways to improve and increase its provision and make additional connections.
The future is not assured, but a recent successful birthday crowdfunder aimed at improving facilities in the main auditorium (the courtroom), and comments such as “Otley wouldn’t be the same without the Courthouse” and “Otley Courthouse is the reason we moved to Otley”, do indicate a healthy level of local support. This is a little community arts centre that showed that it could, and it looks as if it will continue being able to for some time to come.
You can view Otley Courthouse’s 20th birthday film here:
David Robson was a trustee of Otley Courthouse from 2001 until he stepped down in November 2024.
