About the project

Sidney Sime was an artist in the late Victorian and succeeding periods. He is remembered for his fantastic and satirical work, often focusing on the rich and the politicians. He most famously worked with the Irish author Lord Dunsany. The Sime Gallery in Worplesdon holds a major collection of Sime's work, much of it left by his late wife Mary who bequeathed his work and the funds from the selling of their cottage to the Worplesdon Memorial Hall for the creation of said gallery. The collection holds over 500 objects, including 88 paintings.

The project focused on improving access to the upstairs gallery and building the audience.

The consultancy's role

Alix Slater Consultancy & Training was engaged to develop the options appraisal, business and fundraising plans. The consultancy worked with the heritage Trustees of the wider Worplesdon Heritage Memorial Trust, and with the Trust's Heritage Fund Mentor, to review governance and set out a range of options for building audiences for the gallery.

A skills audit established the experience the board already held. The Trustees were drawn from a variety of backgrounds and included members of the Parochial Church Council, and the audit gave a clear picture of where the board was strong and where it needed strengthening.

The consultancy then explored the options for safeguarding the collection in the long term. Legal advice had established that the existing Trust was not fit for purpose, being a single body responsible for the Memorial Hall, the village playing field and the collection among other assets. The Options Appraisal set out the possible futures for the gallery, with a Business Plan to be developed for whichever option the Trustees chose. Vikki Thompson, a fundraising consultant, worked alongside the consultancy on the project.