The Old Courts Arts Centre Crowdfunder

Hello,

If you have a few minutes to spare, please take a look at the Crowdfunder launched by The Old Courts Arts Centre (The Old Courts near Wigan Parish Church).

They are trying to raise £100k to put towards repair work to two of their venues after catastrophic damage was discovered following construction work carried out by a 3rd party.

The Crowdfunder has various rewards available, including fundraiser gig tickets, art prints, t-shirts, raffle tickets and more.

Every single penny counts. We have a lot of beautiful buildings in Wigan, many sadly in a terrible state. This listed building is in use and has a wonderful purpose and it would be devastating for our community to lose it.

There's more info about it on the link, including why money has not yet been received from insurance.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-us-fix-the-old-courts

Advice:

Who did the work that needs repairing? Find out and sue them.

Who owns the Old Courts?
Sue them under the landlord and tenant act.

Apply for listed building funding.

Ask the people who are interested in that non-productive arts shite to pay for it themselves!

Best of luck!

Megans Link

Can I apologise for the above negativity and sarcasm Megan?

This is Wigan world and its not know for respect and positivity

Thank you @First Mate and @Stardelta.

For clarification, as the work carried out by the 3rd party was deemed to be negligent practise by insurance as opposed to accidental damage, legal action is required. This can take years to be resolved, time that The Old Courts don't have.

"What happens if you're paid out by the insurance/ the legal case?

As we’ve explained, seeing the claim through to completion is very risky and there’s no guarantees. That said, despite the legal and professional costs that we are incurring, we are determined to keep trading to see it through to completion.

We recognise the affect our closure has had on the wider night-time economy, and we need a thriving night-time economy in Wigan to survive long term. Therefore, if we do get paid out by the insurance/ legal case and we are in a position where we have surplus funds, we will set up a fund to support local musicians, artists and venues within our night-time economy. We will put together a panel with industry professionals to review applications and distribute the funds fairly to where they are needed most."

Tonker, just to be clear - "arts" is a term referring to music, theatre, film, TV, visual arts, painting, writing dance and so much more. Basically anything that is the product of creativity.

Here is a tip Megan.

Don't address Tonker directly. he will not recognise or respect your comment or opinions and it is inevitable that he will return with yet more hostility, negativity and bile.

Unfortunately that is how he is and equally unfortunately this forum allows his behaviour to continue.

Thanks Stardelta - fair enough! Such a shame but i'll know better than to engage in future

It's what's called "opinion" and this is a public forum. If you can't stand the heat, stand in the garden!

Here's a story - because of owning various businesses, I've experienced regular requests for 'sponsorship' of this, 'donations' to that and 'will you support' the other.
Mainly, it's been junior football teams / rugby teams / dance troupes etc..
My opinion is this - if you want your kids to play football / rugby / dance, then you should pay for it yourself.
This opinion carries to people who enjoy "music, theatre, film, TV, visual arts, painting, writing dance and so much more". If YOU want to do that kind of thing, because you enjoy it, then do so. But don't expect others to pay your way. PAY FOR IT YOURSELF!

Again, it's MY opinion that this sort of thing is non-productive. It won't make Britain GREAT again and the amount of tax-payers money that is diverted into funding 'arts' is ridiculous.

Arts Council England

2023-26 Investment Programme: Budget confirmation and application figures.

We have received a total of 1,730 applications, requesting just over £2 billion .......

£2 billion! So that a very low percentage of people, of whom a high percentage are from quite wealthy backgrounds, can sit and watch opera / dance / drama / etc., at the expense of the taxpayer.

Of course, I'm not talking about a small Wigan group of people there. But, it's all in the same vein.
"We want to enjoy ourselves, but we want someone else to pay for it. It's OUR right, as a citizen"!
WRONG! and bad attitude. Do some WORK, get PAID for it, THEN spend your own money following your passion.

By the way, isn't the Old Courts a government asset? managed by Wigan Council?
Why are they not paying for the repairs?

PS: Nothing personal. It's just the way I am.

Told you

May I add my negativity and sarcasm

Summat doesn't feel reet about this thing with the Old County Court and Court Cinema buildings, same way I smelt a rat when the Council were telling us that the Chinese were paying for the Galleries redevelopment, and were not doing so LINK

Posted by: tonker (27943) [View tonker's page]
"If YOU want to do that kind of thing, because you enjoy it, then do so. But don't expect others to pay your way. PAY FOR IT YOURSELF!"

Says the chap who wants to watch premium television for next to nothing and expects Sky TV and other companies to pay for his pleasure
People in glass houses.....

Look at their company accounts. You'll see 7 figure cash declarations and six figure directors' salaries.
Not for profit? Arts my arse!!

PS: I don't want to watch ANY TV, premium or not, thanks a bunch! My wife, however, does want to watch UK tv channels in Spain. Not pay to view channels, just TV in English.

The Old Courts is not owned by Wigan Council. It's a CIC. The Old Courts do not own the building.

The Crowdfunder has rewards available rather than solely asking for donations. As mentioned, this includes tickets to gigs, t-shirts, raffle prizes etc. Any support is much appreciated

Posted by: tonker (27944) [View tonker's page]
"PS: I don't want to watch ANY TV, premium or not, thanks a bunch! My wife, however, does want to watch UK tv channels in Spain. Not pay to view channels, just TV in English."

Just pay the 200 Euros as stated on your link instead of asking for free on line services! Sorted

Best of luck with the fund raising, Megan. I think it is for a very worthwhile cause

"The Old Courts is not owned by Wigan Council. It's a CIC”

Ooo-eerrr.....He wont like that

Someone knowing more about something than he does

Expect complaints (as they say)

Good luck Megan.
The comment from Tonker re if your kids want to play footie pay for it yourself is so typical of the negativity often expressed .

"The Old Courts is not owned by Wigan Council. It's a CIC”

The Old Courts referred to the building. A building isn't a CIC. Like I first said, I suspect the building is a government asset and the business is government backed, under the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (of which Wigan Council is a member). Was the Old Courts (business) not trying to buy the Grand Hotel a few years ago? at the time the Old Courts (business) was about to be dissolved / struck out? for insolvency (Q:)? and wasn't the Old Courts (business) asking for repayable funding of £590,000, for the purchase of the Grand Hotel? Investment they called it?

Reet. If ...... "its entrepreneurial executive team were able to develop and implement a bespoke software platform, " and "the growth in revenue coupled with a strong handle on costs meant that The Old Courts has been a highly profitable venture to-date, and over the last three years has been able to significantly re-invest in renovating the aged Gerrard Winstanley House, why are they asking the public to 'crowd-fund' them?

Repayable funding of £590,000, investment, highly profitable venture, growth in revenue, entrepreneurial executive team, etc., are not terms which are usually associated with "not for profit" companies!

This company is part of a government organisation sitting on £millions under the guise of being skint.
Just like most charities are with the executives filling their pockets.


Grimshaw, once upon a time, when I was in the licenced trade and had the petrol station, I 'gave in' to an employee who asked for a couple of bottles of brandy to be raffled for their kid's football team's new kit. The bottles were drunk by the fathers of the team after a match. That's the sort of people who exist in those circles. Once bitten?

Told you……(for the second time)

Yoo cannot beat the good old British back hander

Tonker.
So.
You tar everyone with the same brush .
And deny kids playing footie.
How very very sad.

Very sad.

I know 1 thing for sure 99% of people involved with amateur sports clubs will put a pound in before they,d take a pound out

Not patting myself on the back but this very morning i have cut and strimmed the grass in a childrens play park.
Guess who payed for the petrol and for charging the strimmer Tonker .Children matter .
Well said both of you ,

For Grimshaw!

Hmmmmm…..Am I seeing in this thread yet another example of …. ‘It's not what’s said but who says it’??

Tonker.
What a sad sad person you are .

Not as sad as thee, though, ‘cos I’ve just eaten your orange!

Go suck a lemon SADDO.

MeganB
my wife who works as a fundraiser in the Arts says you should approach Wolfson.org.uk Wolfson Take a look at the map of what they are funding

MeganB - my wife ran her eye over your Crowdfund appeal and her comments are.... she can see that you know your market who you are asking for funds from/donate, but she thinks you should be asking for more money when it comes to "Rewards" because it will take a whole lot of people to reach your target of 100k this way, the numbers don't add up, take off the raffle for 1pounds for e.g. or push it up to 5pounds, same for all your rewards...especially as there are costs involved for each.