This Is What We Do

An association of amateur and professional individuals and groups providing a forum for the arts in the London Borough of Barnet (Registered charity No.249276) (An independent charity)
We link more than 100 or more societies in the Borough and the surrounding areas, offering support and publicising their activities.

'What's On' Listings
Are reported on this website, and published in the quarterly Barnet Arts Magazine.
Distribution includes members, libraries, Art Centres and schools in the Borough and the libraries in surrounding Boroughs.
Listings are divided into:- Centres - Theatre - Music - Visual Arts - Literature - History & Conservation - Poetry - Young People - Festivals

Art & Information
Exhibitions are periodically held in local shopping centres, at Brent Cross (Hendon), - The Spires - (Barnet) and The Broadwalk (Edgware).
See our Autumn Exhibition Film
We regulary exhibit at Festivals and Carnivals throughout the year and throughout the borough.
These exhibitions combine paintings, prints and photography by local artists, and an information point, presenting leaflets from member groups.
Where possible we hope to assist in attracting new opportunities and audiences to our members.
We link existing groups, and individuals not belonging to any group through our meetings and competitions.

Finance
As an independent charity, we receive much of our income from membership subscriptions, societies (£30 a year) and interested individuals (£5 a year).
There is a very welcome sponsorship from The Art Club, based at The Triumph Press Edgware who supply 5000 copies of the Barnet Arts Magazine.
Competitions and events also bring in much needed income.
We do not receive any regular revenue from the Borough of Barnet, but receive occasional grants for special projects, either from the Borough, Trusts, or the National Lottery.
BBAC's Executive Committee
There are 21 members representing the various art forms and the districts of this very large borough.
The Annual General Meeting is usually held in June, along with regular meetings throughout the year.
Borough Councillors and officers attend our regular meetings and assist on consultations and local arts related problems.

Administration
Run by volunteers, many of whom are people who are retired with time to assist at the Art & Information Exhibitions or to run the various Competitions. (An input from younger age groups is always welcome).

Housing The Arts
This is very important, with audiences requiring comfortable seating and good sight lines, taking into account the new health and safety requirements, including easy access for the disabled.
Many older halls and buildings gave up the struggle as the new regulations came into force. A survey showed a loss of over 50 venues, previously licensed for public performances, including six large cinemas, which have either been sold or converted into smaller more 'managable' areas.
Even more buildings have been lost in recent years. New centres help to redress the balance, together with the more established such as, All Saints Arts Centres, Whetstone and at East Finchley.
Available Halls (Some have upgraded their buildings).

Arts Depot - North Finchley, A regional arts centre for North London and facilities for the local area of Finchley providing high quality - large performance, and exhibition space in an extensive area.
More Information

The Bull - Barnet, It's central location offers gallery space and a crafts shop, with a theatre - dance studio and bar.
More Information

Trinity Church - North Finchley, (now a major centre for local music)..
Church House - Barnet has recently installed a lift.
Finchley Methodist Church - Ballards Lane present theatre and music.
East Finchley Methodist Church Hold a monthly Sunday evening performance in aid of local charites.
Chicken Shed On the border of Enfield has a fine theatre building.
The Incognito Theatre - Friern Barnet has a development plan under way.
Phoenix Cinema East Finchley Recently upgraded its building.
The Multi-Cultural Centre West Hendon Offer space for many clubs and classes, as well as the newly opened 'Flash Musicals' theatre space in Edgware.
Hartley Hall Mill Hill - Used for theatre and exhibition events,
John Keble Church Also in Mill Hill for music and theatre.
The Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute Now part of Henrietta Barnett School is occasionally used for theatre events. (The Institute itself has moved to East Finchley and benefits from the more modern accommodation, including purpose built studios used for presentation of art and exhibitions).
Barnet College has had to re-adjust to a programme linked directly to formal training courses leading to final qualifications. (A number of these individual instructors are now registered with BBAC and currently advertise on this website and in Barnet Arts magazine).

Steering Groups
Provision of good accommodation for presentation of the arts is very important.
Over the years BBAC has created or supported steering groups for 'The Bull Theatre' Barnet and 'Artsdepot' North Finchley.
BBAC and The Bull Theatre jointly organise the Barnet High Street Christmas Fair on the first Sunday in December, with music and dance performance in the High Street, The Spires, and Barnet Church, with children's shows at The Bull Theatre. The proceeds are allocated to the local charities.
This allows the tradition to continue for an event originated by McDonalds and The Spires.

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