Forum Topic

The Questors Theatre Crowdfunder

Hello allCan I draw your attention to our appeal for funds towards the cost of replacing the roof of our theatre:https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/raiseourroofthanks

Simon Higginson ● 1111d7 Comments

Well fact is, I've not been to the Questors regularly since the pandemic apart from the Art Trail last year and a couple of meet ups in the Bar. One though, just 6 weeks ago.But I had not heard of this situation with the roof, and did not come up on the visit.But have been in and out of there since the early 1970s.  Often, I will admit dragged there by my mum and sisters. Theatre, is not my first choice, but once settled usually enjoy it.As I said - Online is a very useful tool and probably a You Tube video would take that to a wider range. But a large core locally, are not online. It's not restricted to any particular demographic. It spans all and for a myriad of reasons.In the past - Posters, in Local shops.  On public noticeboards. Church Noticeboards. Lots of places.We used to drop flyers for the Questors, my sisters and Mum were quite involved in local arts and members, friends and families often called for, or helped out.A local Rugby club still does this very thing.Very true, the Local Newspapers were by far the most effective tool and in far too many ways it's demise has let the local rot get a grip in too many ways.Doing  Crowd Funding requires a degree of Internet access and, as I pointed out, Safe access is still limited and wise people who are not confident don't ( from basic advice) don't put their banking or money payments near online devices.My point is just one channel appears to being used and that a raft of support is bound to be from those who don't access that channel.- Even if they hear about the problem. But you point about Section 106 or CIL money is a very good one.  The Questors with its half century of community involvement cannot be more deserving than a substantial grant.  Just where is all this money going.The big problems with the Arts Council is that to get their funding you have to dance to their tune.  Watermans have gone down that road and it has taken too much of it away from mainstream arts and stuff that not only puts bums on seats but can be enjoyed by a wide audience.  So much is self indulgent or experimental but not good for wanting to go again and again or feeling like you belong.That's the Questors strength, something to do for everyone and genuinely part of the fabric of a community.

Raymond Havelock ● 1110d

Raymond does have a point. Whenever I’ve been at the Questors the audience has been overwhelmingly older people. Many tell me they are on the mailing list, which does rather  suggest a lack of involvement in being online.

Bettina Margaret Thwaite ● 1111d

Exactly my point even if not used the right interweb words. I obviously use the web.But I do not use it at all for work or when working which is most of the time.I missed the report. Until I then looked for it. But that's the point. Unless you are online ( and near 50% still do not have safe or full online access) there's not much in the way of accessing information.If you look at the various forums they have the same names. Tot them up and it is a very few for such a large local populus. The amount of viewings remains low.  Other 'local' sites like the ones run by Reach are so choc full of ads, distractions and poor reporting that I simply never use them.The way cookies and analytics work, what you see is selective and again, unlike a newspaper which has the full gamut of content which you may or may not read, you do not get that same wide ranging choice but spoonfed what it thinks you will want to read.My point is that there are a huge amount of people locally who do not access or have access or wish to access and spend their day online. But nonetheless do care about their town, environs and facilities but are not getting informed, almost ostracised.My point is that just using electronic media is, whilst a useful tool,  is only one tool and does not reach many for whom, in this instance, is likely to have a wider appeal.

Raymond Havelock ● 1111d

Raymond, have you any suggestions how they could increase awareness using non-digital means? There is no local newspaper and flier distribution is expensive and notoriously ineffective. I think the campaign has done quite a good job so far. Raising awareness using the internet is largely free and does encourage the spread of word of mouth discussion about an issue. I've had three people over the last two weeks mention unprompted the plight of Questors in face-to-face conversations. You must be quite unusual as a user of this web site and a self-described supporter of Questors not to be aware of the issue. The weekly newsletter has run several stories about the campaign quite prominently and there are no less than three articles currently on the front page about it. Despite this the amount of money raised is disappointing. I don't think that this is down to people not being aware that the campaign is ongoing. It is more likely that the economic situation is reducing significantly voluntary support to the arts nationwide and this is part of a broader emerging crisis. To me the answer seems very straightforward but maybe I have got something wrong. A huge amount of money is being raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy from building projects nearby. Paying for the Questors roof is precisely what these funds should be used for. The council appears to be choosing not to do this and perhaps should be called upon to explain why. Perhaps Simon can give more background on what lobbying has been done to persuade the council to change its mind.

Gordon Southwell ● 1111d

An appeal for funds was also posted on the ChiswickW4 forum..earlier this month.Several responses too. See page 3 on the W4 forum.

Jim Lawes ● 1111d

Raymond, you seem to misunderstand: Ealing Today is on the web. Which is why its address is www.ealingtoday.co.uk: www is the short form of world wide web. In responding to Simon Higginson's plea for more people to support Questors in their crowdfunding, you are actually using the web. The internet on the other hand is a global system of computer networks interconnected through telecommunications and optical networking. So at its simplest level: you use the internet to send and receive emails: the messages are sent between the same or different computer networks. In the same way businesses and governments use the internet to exchange files. You go onto Ealing Today to read stories and write comments using the web. Businesses and governments create web sites to more widely share information.You seem to have missed the earlier report about Questors' Crowdfunding that appeared a couple of weeks ago - "Local Theatre Literally Wants to Raise The Roof". This week's story is certainly not the first time that Ealing Today has publicised the theatre's dire financial need.

Sue Rowe ● 1111d

Maybe not relying on the web for a start. Many long time supporters for the Questors are not internet types and several including myself this was the first I heard.  But I do use the internet.But many do not use apps and all the other social media stuff.That includes the great many residents who are excluded from Ealing Councils various working groups and so on.But whilst it helps for sure, is the message getting to the right people?

Raymond Havelock ● 1111d