INTRODUCTION

Local Arts Societies are grouped into geographical areas in the UK and Mainland Europe. As of April 2021, there are 19 Areas, consisting of 11 to 25 Societies. These Areas are run by teams of volunteers who (ideally) come from different Societies. They bring together a wealth of grassroots experience, local knowledge and a common desire to promote the work of The Arts Society in their region.

The Area Support Teams fulfil a range of important functions which are vital to the running of The Arts Society as an international arts education and membership charity. They are an integral part of The Arts Society, which is a registered charity in England and Scotland. This means that all activities of Areas and Area volunteers are governed by the Trustees, who set the strategy, administer the resources of The Arts Society in accordance with regulatory and public benefit requirements, and of course for the benefit of its main stakeholders, the local Societies.

In 2019 an external governance report commissioned by the Trustees recommended a full assessment of the Area function in the overall structure of the Society. This was last carried out in the 1990s, since when there have been significant changes. In 2019 and 2020 a full review was carried out with the aim of aligning the work of Areas with 21st-century developments in technology, communication, governance and strategic planning, part of this involved consultation with Societies to ascertain what they needed from their local Area moving forward.

One of the outcomes of that review was the production of a handbook that for the first time in many years provided a reference for the Chairs of Area Support Teams and their colleagues to refer to. The first version of the Handbook was issued in 2021 and this second version incorporates many of the suggestions and feedback received. The Area Handbook is designed to be a ‘live’ document and will evolve over time in response to the changing needs / wants of the organisation and most importantly its Societies. If you have ideas for the further development of the handbook please let us know.