Constitution
bITjAM Digital arts for all
Constitution.
The constitution was adopted on the day of 200
1. NAME
2.
The name of the Association shall be : bITjAM
2. AREA OF BENEFIT
Staffordshire and Midlands wide, with further reach via the internet and open access for visitors and participants. This catchment area to be expanded on in the future.
3. OBJECTS
The objects of the Association shall be to:
Create a community of new, emerging, experienced creatives, musicians and artists wishing to develop their digitally based practice. Acessable
The bITjAM will function to support a wide range of creative individuals with a desire to learn and develop digitally based artforms. Such as audio and visually based art to support the development of live performances and installations involving emerging artists and/or the biTjAM core team.
bITjAM will incorporate artforms such as music, sound generation, video/film editing and augmenting. bITjAM will incorporate creative code programming, software and hardware hacking (within defined safety parameters) and the creative reprsentation of all of these formats.
The bITjAM will also promote the sharing of skills and techniques used in digitally based artforms and will focus on the development of the use of open source or low cost digital tools.
The bITjAM will also create collaboration opportunities to aid the development of future artists, many whom are at present classed as ‘sleeper artists’
To carry out research and development into the use of digital art and digital media in the Staffordshire area. To research and develop the availability of digitally enabled creative spaces.
This will require digitally ‘animating’ the creative spaces via live performances and installations in an attempt to generate exciting and future proof digital spaces.
To carry out consultancy with local partners about generating fit for purpose digital spaces.
4. VALUES
The bITjAM will focus on creating a respectful and collaborative community of participants focused on developing digitally based artforms.
The bITjAM respect the inclusion of a diverse range of participants and believe it is the accessibility to the bITjAM community that requires the focus to be as inclusive as possible, for example developing accessible software and hardware based solutions to digitally based creative projects.
We value everybody and we believe that through creative use of technology it is possible……
The bITjAM respect any level of creative experience whether that is a ‘bedroom artist’ or an experienced professional artist, bITjAM respect the curious beginner.
5. POWERS
In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:
a) Power to raise funds and invite and receive contributions
b) Power to organise activities, events, lectures, discussions and to produce leaflets and other publicity material.
c) Power to consult the public by arranging meetings and surveys.
d) Power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects and to exchange information and advice with them.
e) Power to purchase , take on lease or hire property in furtherance of the objects.
f) Power to pay reasonable out of pocket expenses to committee members and volunteers for costs incurred in carrying out the Associations business
g) Power to remunerate any member of the General Committee for professional services rendered to the Association
h) Power to insure and arrange any insurance cover necessary against all such risks incurred by the Association and volunteers in the course of their duties
i) Power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
j) Power to employ staff who will not be members of the management committee
6. MEMBERSHIP
a) Full membership of the Association shall be open to all persons aged 18 years or over interested in furthering the objects.
b) Junior membership of the Association shall be open to all persons under the age of 18 years interested in furthering the objects. Junior members will not be entitled to vote at meetings or to become members of the Executive Committee.
c) The Executive Committee may for good and sufficient reason terminate the membership of any individual, provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision has been made.
7. SUBSCRIPTION
NA
8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
a) The Association shall be managed by an Executive Committee to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
b) The Executive Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer (‘the Officers’) and not more than no other members.
c) If vacancies occur among the Officers, the Committee shall have the power to fill them from among its members.
d) The Committee may co-opt up to 1 full member of the Association to serve on the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting.
9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a) The Executive Committee shall hold at least 4 ordinary meetings each year.
b) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the members of the Committee or two members of the Committee, whichever is the greater, arepresent at a meeting.
c) Every matter shall be determined by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting. In case of equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
d) Minutes shall be kept as a record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Committee and any of its sub-committees.
e) The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees providing that all acts and proceedings of the sub-committees shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee and may in addition co-opt up to 2 further people who are full members of the Association.
10. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
a) There shall be an annual general meeting, which shall be held as soon, as practicable after the end of the Association’s financial year. Members shall be given at least 14 days notice.
b) The Executive Committee shall present the report and accounts of the Association for the preceding year.
c) Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members of the Association in writing before the commencement of the meeting.
d) The quorum at the general meeting shall be 2 members, or one quarter of the members, whichever is the greater.
11. GENERAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The Executive Committee may at any time call a general or a special general meeting of the Association stating the business to be discussed. A special meeting may also be called by the Secretary if a written request is received from at least 1 member. At least 14 days notice shall be given for special general meetings.
12. FINANCE
a) All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose.
b) The funds of the Association including all donations, contributions and bequests shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide.
c) All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by two Officers and must be approved by the Executive Committee.
d) The Executive Committee shall comply with the obligations for trustees under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment of modification of the Act) with regard to:
i. The keeping of accounting records
ii. The preparation of annual statements of account
iii. The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account.
13. AMENDMENTS
Any amendment to the constitution shall require the approval of a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the General Meeting at which it is discussed. Any resolution for the amendment of the constitution must be received by the Secretary at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward.
14. DISSOLUTION
a) The Association may be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose and must be advertised 14 days before the meeting.
b) Such proposals to dissolve the Association shall take effect only if agreed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at the meeting.
c) Surplus funds of the Association, if it is dissolved, shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or voluntary organisation having similar objects as the members of the Association may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose.
15. ARRANGEMENTS UNTIL THE FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Until the first annual general meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if references in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document. The constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear below:
Chair – Carl Plant/Ben McManus
Secretary – Ben McManus
Treasurer – Carl Plant
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