Six month delay before stalled arts programme is up and running

Hull and East Yorkshire Community Foundation, which went into liquidation in November owing more than £650,000 to 125 creditors, managed the funding for the Creative People and Places Programme.

Three organisations have expressed interest in managing the stalled Arts Council England funded programme, which aims to develop Hull’s creative talent. Although a lead organisation could be nominated within days, it could take another six months before it is up and running.

The collapse of HEYCF came as a blow in the run up to next year’s City of Culture but because of the gap the programme will now run for the whole of 2018, rather than end next year.

“It is pretty disappointing that it ended the way it did, but it does present the opportunity to redesign the programme with 2017 in mind,” said Pete Massey, from Arts Council England.

Meanwhile a buyer has expressed interest in HEYCF’s former offices in Scale Lane, which were on sale for £190,000. Creditors include the Freedom Festival Trust, which is owed £57,250, Hull Council, £311,336 for staff wages, while Big Local lottery funding is owed £99,784

Liquidator Andrew Mackenzie has to make two reports - one to creditors and another confidential report to the Department of BIS on the conduct of the HEYCF board, chaired by former NHS Hull chairman Kath Lavery.

The report will consider whether any HEYCF director or any senior member of staff did anything wrong. Mr Mackenzie, director at Begbies Traynor’s Hull office, added: “We are reviewing the books and establishing where the funds may or may not have gone, talking to the Arts Council and Big Local with regard to their claims. It is still fairly early days.”