Governance
All of Manchester Camerata’s work starts with a strong foundation of strong corporate governance . In the reporting period, we continued to strengthen our governance and internal systems to ensure that our Board of Directors can maintain a clear strategic overview of Manchester Camerata’s work .
This included a comprehensive review of our five-year strategic plan and work to revise our vision and values as well as a Statutory Review and the subsequent revision of our Memorandum and Articles of Association. We also strengthened a number of our internal processes, improving our data management systems to capture better information about our audiences and the impact we are achieving and implementing new financial systems for the organisation.
We undertook a strategic review of the Board’s skillset and diversity, identifying gaps and recruiting to fill them. This process resulted in welcoming four new members to our board, bringing new experiences, skills, and perspectives that will support our work enhancing and elevating lives through world-class music. Kate Green will take a board lead on supporting our Social Impact Plan, Simon Pedley will bring legal knowledge, and other new members bring extensive networks and fundraising expertise.
2022 also witnessed the birth of a new spin-out company, Music in Mind Remote. Founded in partnership with The University of Manchester, the new business will develop digital tools to broaden the impact of our work focused on people living with dementia and their carers. In the longer term, this new venture will generate revenues that will help support the wider impact of Manchester Camerata.
One of the board’s core responsibilities is ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organisation. Many of our discussions and actions throughout the previous 12 months have been focused on supporting this aspiration. These have included uplifting the pay of our freelance musicians to support a pipeline of talent and making key strategic decisions that drive commercial revenue whilst respecting the organisation’s core purpose. It is by taking this long-term view that the board is building a foundation that will support the next 50 years of impact.
Looking Forward
As we move into 2023-24, the board will maintain its focus on driving Manchester Camerata’s strategy forward. It is the board that is responsible for maintaining a clear vision and purpose for the organisation and ensuring that we operate in a way that reflects our core values.
It will continue to challenge the organisation to be bold and ambitious for its audiences, its musicians, and the communities where it works.