Photo: Clare Walsh
Our Somerset Charity Partners
Announcing 2021 – 2022 Partnerships
Hauser & Wirth Somerset is firmly embedded in the local community and rural landscape of Somerset. Since its launch in 2014, the rural arts centre has supported and worked in partnership with many institutions, businesses and organisations in the South West, raising over £120,000 for local charities.
‘Each year we select a new local charity to support through entrance donations and seasonal events, providing a platform to promote ongoing initiatives to a broad audience,’ says Debbie Hillyerd, Director of Education Hauser & Wirth. ‘In the wake of COVID-19, we decided to share contributions between three local organisations, each delivering vital social, health and cultural initiatives to the surrounding community.’
From June 2020 – June 2021 our partners included: The Balsam Centre in Wincanton, Black Swan Arts in Frome and Bruton Food Drop. Thank you to all our generous visitors who helped raise over £20,000 during the course of a very difficult year for so many. From July 2021 we will shift our attention to three further charities we have a long history of working with and continue to learn from, these include: Somerset Wildlife Trust, Bruton Museum and STAR, a charity for Somerset children and young people designated as in need.
The Balsam Centre, Wincanton stated: ‘We have had to be very agile in responding to local need, depending on where we are with different restrictions and with people’s perceptions of risk, their levels of anxiety and ability to cope. It has been fantastic to receive your funding on a monthly basis and to be able to direct support where it is needed.’
‘It’s been such a challenging year and as we don’t receive any regular external funding, the financial support has been a real lifeline.’—Black Swan Arts, Frome
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, volunteers at Bruton Food Drop rapidly initiated and maintained a fully operational food bank, supporting people living in and around Bruton. The Balsam Centre coordinated a Christmas Box project for families who were struggling financially or isolated. They were able to dedicate time for older people living alone and developed a Long Covid peer support group for the area, including practical and emotional support for people in recovery. Black Swan Arts made much needed improvements to the Round Tower exhibition area and their outdoor space, ensuring more community groups and artists can make use of this historic venue and re-connect with the creative community in Frome.
Black Swan Arts, Frome, stated: ‘We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from Hauser & Wirth Somerset. It’s been such a challenging year and as we don’t receive any regular external funding, the financial support has been a real lifeline. We have been able to host small, informal meetings for volunteers and community groups outdoors, facilitating a safe and enjoyable space where our artisan studio shops can get together regularly to connect and support each other.’
Image: Clare Walsh
Find out more about our 2021-22 charitable partners:
Somerset Wildlife Trust
For over 50 years Somerset Wildlife Trust has been dedicated to restoring, strengthening and connecting the vast range of Somerset’s natural habitats and species. The landscapes of Somerset have inspired many generations of writers and artists due to the abundance of nature, ancient woodlands, vibrant wetlands and mosaics of wildflower meadows. The Trust works to ensure changes are being made to allow nature and humans to thrive together, creating more space for wildlife by developing their nature recovery network.
https://www.somersetwildlife.org/somerset-wildlife-trust
Bruton Museum
Bruton Museum is a local museum telling the story of Bruton’s past and present through displays of artefacts from the Jurassic, Roman, Saxon and Medieval times along with contemporary presentations. The Museum houses a desk belonging to John Steinbeck who spent time writing in Bruton. Located in Bruton’s Dovecote building, the not-for-profit heritage centre focuses on the town’s history and surrounding area, as well as providing a space for exhibitions and volunteer-led events within the community.
https://www.brutonmuseum.org.uk/
STAR
STAR, Somerset Trust for Arts and Recreation, aims to provide funding to enable our most vulnerable and disadvantaged Somerset young people access to purposeful and confidence building activities within their own communities. For many, this funding is a lifeline; allowing children and young people experience ordinary childhood activities which many more affluent young people take for granted. STAR funding gives children and young people a sense of purpose, a feeling of belonging and an opportunity to enjoy social activities alongside their peers.
Image: Clare Walsh
Related Stories
1 / 3