Next Gen students perform as part of OTR celebration. Photo Alastair Brookes

We’re so much more than a music venue.

We are Trinity Community Arts, a charity based in The Trinity Centre, a Grade II* listed building in East Bristol. Last year, we welcomed over 65,000 people across over 1,000 events and activities - from dance classes for older people, to garden activities for children, to supporting the next generation of artists on their creative journey.

As a registered charity we rely on generous support from our loyal community to keep our spaces open and accessible for everyone to enjoy.

You can support Trinity with a one-off gift or a monthly donation:

• £10 could help provide free hall space for our regular community activities, such as Gerry Attic’s dance group for the over 55s.
• £25 could help pay for a monthly 121 music sessions for a young person experiencing challenging circumstances – helping them return to education.
• £50 could help provide an emerging artist with the rehearsal space and professional support to develop their practice

To find out other ways you can support our work or if you would like to sponsor a specific project, please get in touch with our Fundraising Manager, cordelia@trinitybristol.org.uk

Team Trinity (who managed to make it in against the odds) making a Trinitarian Snowman

Trinity Community Arts are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £460,000 towards building works, to help improve access to the Centre and increase the space on offer for community activities.

The grant is from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Buildings Fund - aiming to help people and communities most in need, through giving funding to improve community buildings where a wide range of community activities take place.

The Trinity Centre is used for a wide variety of activities and events and many people within the City will have their own memories of the Centre. The grant will be used to help improve the external grounds, create a new daytime reception and install heating, a sprung wooden floor, lighting and drapes in the upstairs hall space to make it suitable for activities such as dance, fitness and performance. The grant will also be used to install a full-height partition upstairs, so that a second smaller hall space will be created, suitable for IT classes, community meetings and smaller functions.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager for the Centre said; "Trinity is already well used and loved by the community and it has been frustrating that we have not been able to do more because of the current limitations of the space. The upstairs hall is beautiful with loads of potential and we hope that more people within the community will benefit from attending activities run from within the Centre once it has been redeveloped."

The Trinity Centre has been a community centre since 1976. The Council has recently granted a new lease of the Trinity Centre (formerly the Holy Trinity Church) to TCA for a period of 35 years on full repairing and insuring terms at a peppercorn rent, using the council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy. The Church was purchased by the Council back in the 1980s following its deconsecration and has been converted to a community facility.

Works are planned to take place from June 2013 and works will be phased across the year in order to ensure the Centre remains open. We plan to complete the works and celebrate with a launch event in January 2014. Details of the planned works can be downloaded from our website or for more information contact 0117 935 1200 or email info@3ca.org.uk.

About Trinity

Trinity Community Arts (TCA), a charity running the Trinity Centre – a unique grade II* listed converted church, community arts centre and independent live music venue based in Bristol. We help bring communities together and support regeneration within Easton, Ashley and Lawrence Hill and Old Market - rated as among the top 10% of most deprived wards, nationally. We deliver arts, education and heritage activities to encourage participation and promote cohesion within the area.

TCA has a tradition of making significant achievements in the community. With no reserves and little core funding, we generate revenue through a diverse range of income streams, including a programme of live music events - all of which we reinvest back into the Centre and community activities. We are now at a crucial stage in our development, and this year of improving the building will be a challenge for the organisation.

This period of change and growth cannot happen without your support. We've set up a JustGiving page so that people in the community who care about Trinity can organise their own fundraising activities for the Centre. If you would just like to show your support, you can donate via the Trinity Text Appeal 2013 - text TRIN13 £5 to 70070 to donate to Trinity and make a difference with JustTextGiving by Vodafone.

If you know the Asbo Disco crew then you’ll know that they throw one hell of a wicked night out and tonight was no exception. Excited to be seeing out 2012 in true asbo style, The Trinity Centre, a converted church was filled with gold tracksuits, crowns, royal robes and medallions. Everyone got their skanking shoes on to Parly B, bringing the excitement for The Skints and the countdown to 2013 to a head with shed loads of sexy attitude.

Full of festive cheer and the anticipation for what 2013 was to bring the audience positively screamed the place down as The Skints took to the stage suited and booted. Kicking the set off with ‘Mindless’, the first track from the album ‘Live. Breathe. Build. Believe.’ The reggae / dub band’s lyrics about social injustice and rising up together to spread more love in the world got everyone in a rebellious ska punk mood and ready to skank together as Marcia rapped one minute and sang the next. Clearly a very talented band, mastering the off-beat genre of Dub fantastically despite hailing from East London – not quite Jamaica it felt fantastic seeing in the New Year with them on stage. When 12 o ‘ clock hit the love in the room was perceptible as everyone kissed and screamed and hugged each other. Keen to get back to playing, The Skints kicked off 2013 with Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ showing that not only do they have amazing original material, but they also do justice to some of the greatest artists of our time. Also covering Katy B and Magnetic Man the band showed their versatility, but most importantly the crowd had a wicked NYE dancing in 2013 together.

Review by Tara Evans

The VISIBLE accreditation is a kite-mark for community organisations to confirm the quality of the organisation and service.

In making the award, the assessor commented; "The organisation was very open, receptive and genuinely interested in improving their practice and documentation."

The assessment process was long and detailed and required a high level of work in preparation for the final assessment. The process helped Trinity to identify the need to register as a charity, which was implemented in November 2011. The process provided a clear framework within which to review our activities and policies, including child protection, fire risks, and health and safety.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager said; "Working through the VISIBLE accreditation has helped the board and management to take a detailed and strategic look into the responsibilities involved in running a community centre and identify areas we can improve, to better our building, organisation and service offer for the local community."

The VISIBLE report included areas for development which we will be implementing, including updating policy documents which will be made available online in the new year.

The course sets out to prepare and create a musical presentation which will be premièred at The Station after ten-weeks of creativity alongside a “making-of” video. Not only will the young person have a chance to use the Trinity Centre’s fantastic facilities, including:

* The opportunity to record and produce their own tracks with the
expert advice from our engineers and tutors
* Learning basics on “ardour” and working up to using logic 9 in
our industry standard recording studio

But they will also work towards a Rock School Award through Trinity as well as KTS’ Personal, Social Development Award E3 qualification.  

The course runs one day a week, on Thursdays starting 10th January and lasts 10 weeks; the tenth being the day of the big show! There will be an optional eleventh week for those looking for information, advice and guidance, or help with their CVs, etc. It will run from the Trinity Centre in Old Market from 10:00 until 15:00. There will be breaks in the morning and afternoon as well as an hour lunch break.

If you think you know of any young person 16-18 and not in education, employment or training who would benefit from this course please do get in touch:

Jake Mensah:  Training@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

Nicola Lace : Nicola.lace@ktsgroup.co.uk / 07722994238

What a great year!

2012 finished with the news that we had been awarded £500k from BIG Lottery – this will enable us to open up the first floor and to generally improve access to the building. Congratulations to all involved with our successful bid.

During the year there have been successes on all fronts.

2012 was our first as a charity, enabling us to apply for funding from a variety of trusts who we would not have been able to approach previously.

Following extensive negotiations, Bristol City Council has granted us a 35 year lease on the main Trinity building, a tremendous vote of confidence in our ongoing ability to maintain and look after this wonderful building.

We have also received significant financial and technical support from English Heritage in the planning of essential roof repairs – due to commence in Spring 2013. Whilst these will be largely unseen they will nevertheless contribute to the general air of progress and stability at Trinity.

Trinity’s outpost in West Street – Arts West Side - opened in the Spring and has gradually built up both custom and a challenging and enjoyable programme of events and activities.

Community Matters have assessed our policies and procedures – by means of the VISIBLE accreditation approach – and have been very pleased with our approach, although there is always room for improvement!

It’s a privilege and great fun to be the Chair at Trinity. Trinity’s continued success is a tribute to Emma and all the staff, volunteers and fellow Trustees who have jointly contributed so much during the year. We are very grateful too for the ongoing support from Bristol City Council, English Heritage, Arts Council, and BIG Lottery.

With so much change anticipated in 2013, we look forward to reporting on even more progress and success in the coming year. See our Annual Report for more information.

Christmas is a wonderful time for markets, with people hoping to buy unique gifts without breaking the bank, The Trinity Centre’s Christmas Art Market was a market with a difference.

Situated within walking distance of the city centre I was excited to see what was on offer. There was a myriad of stalls each offering something homemade and arty. Glamorous handmade silver jewellery, homely and rustic pottery, and quirky clocks made out of records which would really appeal to music lovers. With fantastic prices there was something to suit everyone, even that difficult to buy for aunt! The atmosphere was very seasonal with a chance to get out of the cold and warm up with some mulled wine or creamy hot chocolate.

A Christmas tree took pride of place on the stage - there was even another tree a seller had made out of silver cutlery which added to the creativity of the day! The cosy vibe filled the air as the hall bustled with a sense of community spirit. Everyone had a great time and soaked up the atmosphere together whilst warming their fingers on a hot drink, the perfect way to keep the cold winter winds at bay!

Tara Evans

Taking place in the refurbished church with support from heavy metal favourites The Howling and Cobra and the Lotus - talented, energetic and full of attitude, the night already promised to be everything a true rock fan could wish for!

The air was humming with the thrill of anticipation before rock legends Buckcherry took to the stage. They started with a bang as red lights flashed onto the stage, highlighting the leather clad figures inked and screaming of rock ‘n’ roll in the darkened room. They looked reminiscent of their influences AC/DC and Metallica and certainly didn’t disappoint when they started playing. Launching straight into a real head banging riff the audience threw their metal horns into the air and started moshing. A real energetic gig, just like when they formed in the 90s the guys proved they’ve still got it and are keeping music real!

As Josh Todd belted out the lyrics to ‘All Night Long’ in his dirty rock ‘n’ roll drawl the crowd went wild, and it was hard not to fall in love with the band, telling personal anecdotes and engaging the audience with introductions to the next song that couldn’t help but cause a smile and incite a fever that the next song would be your favourite. It really was a party when Josh Todd (vocals) and Keith Nelson (guitar) went topless in the track, and a member of the crowd held their crutch up in support - true rock ‘n’ roll spirit, showing that old rock ‘n’ roll is certainly not dead or to be forgotten. By the time the band played ‘Sorry’ the air was so thick with passion (and sweat) that the infectious rock attitude washed over the audience. The culmination of the gig with the sexy, down and dirty track ‘Crazy Bitch’ was positively cathartic. Buckcherry have proven yet again to be timeless, always putting on a fantastic performance!

Their next album ‘Confessions’ is written around the 7 sins and will be released in February in all major record stores, not one to be missed if you love American hard rock.

Tara Evans

If you love Boomtown Festival and the feel of really niche, exciting talent quite unlike anything in the UK charts then you will adore Caravan Palace! The French six piece electro swing group had a cultural, sexy air about them with a unique sense of fun. The Trinity Centre was adorned with sequins, stars and love-hearts and was buzzing with the excitement of the crowd, dressed up to the nines in their flapper and dapper gear dancing as the support act Electric Swing Circus graced the stage in elegant attire and sang beautiful harmonies to the sound of the double-bass, synth and jazz guitars, the night had a fantastically sophisticated atmosphere.

As the lights went down at the arrival of Caravan Palace you could practically hear the buzz of anticipation in the air, pierced as the crowd grew by the shrill sound of whistles and screaming, it was obvious that Caravan Palace were a much loved band. The band bounced onto stage full of energy and started the gig with Suzy, a song about “swinging dreams” immediately engaging the crowd into just what was about to come. Combining gypsy jazz and electro swing perfectly, with the sexy, seductive tones of Sonia Fernandez Velasco fitting together with the iconic mix of woodwind, string and brass instruments, Caravan Palace produced something that can only be described as more than music. There was a theatrical feel to the performance with Sonia changing outfits three times and dancing with the crowd in time with the flashing lights and music that was both modern electro based and old-fashioned sophisticated. By the time of the encore Caravan Palace were back with Brotherswing, another popular song and the crowd had gone wild, up on stage with the band, looking as though they wanted the night to go on forever. It was impossible to have a bad time at Caravan Palace’s gig! It was certainly an entertaining night, reminiscent of arty boroughs of London mixed with slow dreamy French jazz music; an eclectic night, with something for everyone.

Review by Tara Evans

Yeyo's colourful design has been chosen to be used as the front of our next events listings flyer, which will be printed and distributed across the city!

The winner also receives two complimentary tickets to an upcoming gig of their choice.

The announcement follows our competition to commemorate Trinity's 180th birthday. We will be running our flyer design competition every other month so if you are interested in submitting your design please keep an eye on our website with regards to future competition dates, or for more information email us: info@3ca.org.uk

Yeyo Riancho's work can be seen here

After an exciting night of crackling bonfires, and the look of awe upon children’s faces as they watch fireworks light up the night sky, The Trinity Centre successfully pulled off another fun filled community event for bonfire night, followed by an incredible performance from Count Bobo and the Bullion.

A relatively new band from the Bristol and Bath area, Count Bobo and the Bullion have just recorded their debut album at the Bristol Tape Rooms, taking influence from the likes of Alfonso, Jackie Mitto and Skatalites. The hour long set, performed inside the warm building, smelling of mulled apple cider, created such a soft and relaxed atmosphere that the whole crowd was up and dancing! With the slow and sleepy notes coming from the saxophonist that you might expect to find in 1950’s bars when escaping the harsh winter winds, juxtaposed with the happy and laid-back summer ska and reggae beats, the band performed an amusing take on the Disney classic Pink Elephants on Parade, which caused great delight amongst the audience, adding to the family-friendly theme of the night. Also with a more serious side, Count Bobo and the Bullion captivated the audience with their romantic vibe, with Spanish lyrics about love so strong that not even the moon may bare witness, and pure instrumental songs named The Luna Berry Trail, a sense of magic gripped the audience and it was easy to get lost in the off-beat splendour of the harmonies.

A gig in which the whole audience relax and get their dancing shoes on always makes for a great night, and if you are after a laid-back night of ska and reggae, Count Bobo and the Bullion are definitely not one to be missed! You can check out their music and tour here

Review by Tara Evans

Disclaimer

We are working with external artists, partners and organisations to provide a live stream of exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Free Speech Policy. While we endeavour to ensure the live streams we share are relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties. Content may include links to third party websites, use platforms promoting commercial services and/or endorsement of third party products. Trinity is not directly affiliated with any third party. Any link to external sites, products or use of third party platforms is not directly endorsed by Trinity unless explicitly stated. Trinity is unable to change or update content created by third parties. However, please contact us if you have any concerns about a live feed.

We have recently delivered a series of workshops to produce artworks based on the stories of participants lives. Artists involved in the project included installation artists Lou Grey, Marina Moreno and Emma Myers, poet Andrew McMillan, dancers Medea Madhavi and Cleo Lake and the Stand and Stare Theatre Jukebox.

Overall the artists delivered a total of 33 workshop sessions comprising 11 full-day and 22 half day sessions. Sessions were held on weekday evenings, daytime and weekends. The Trinity Centre was the base for most of the activities apart from some of the dance (held at Medea's private studio, Kuumba and Malcolm X Centre) and theatre jukebox workshops which were at the Watershed. We also used our second premises, Arts West Side, for Andrew's workshop with older people. The artists engaged a total of 120 participants, 98 of which were under the age of 16.

The first workshops were delivered in partnership with youth-led arts organisation Boom Satsuma, a new partnership relationship that has developed specifically as a result of this project. Poet Andrew McMillan worked with young people in Bristol inner city school Metropolitan, North Somerset schools Backwell and Nailsea, St Mary Redcliffe and Temple, The Meriton school for young mothers and Ravenswood school for children with learning difficulties in Nailsea.

Lou worked with four participants to create peep-hole model boxes. Emma Myers worked with four participants to produce a shoe sculpture. Marina worked closely with one participant to produce an installation piece.

Workshops by choreographer Cleo Lake who worked with Bristol Jamaican youth-group Jamafrique and Stand and Stare Theatre Jukebox were excellent examples of intergenerational dialogue with participants ranging from ages 7-50 during their sessions. The respective workshops targeting adults attracted a dedicated group of participants for each session. Medea worked with Hans Heffe a musician to produce a dance piece with four people during an Iranian dance and music workshop.

The artists worked together to help participants produce outcomes for the interim exhibition. We hosted a launch event on 17 September 6pm-9pm, which featured the adults and young people who had worked with the dance artists Medea Madhavi, Cleo Lake, a dramatic preview of the final show and introductory speeches by the artistic director and project coordinators. The work exhibited consisted of installations by artist Lou Gray, and Marina Morena the Theatre Jukebox by Stand and Stare. A composite poem created through workshops with schools was displayed on large boards by Andrew McMillan. There was also an accompanying video installation produced by partner organisation Boom Satsuma.

The exhibition and selected workshops were documented by Bristol media company First Born Creatives and by UWE photography student Marton Gosztonyi. First Born are also using footage from the workshops and exhibition to create a final film documenting the whole project.

Participants

We worked with the artists to pinpoint communities that they would like to work with and which also fell into the target groups identified in our Arts Council application. These included older people, BME and refugee groups and young people not in education or training. At least 20 percent of our adult and youth participants were from Black Minority Ethnic background. The predominant range of our participants fell between the age ranges of 25-50. Adult and young participants spanned the regional, occupational,class and educational diversity of Bristol and North Somerset. We have also engaged two long term volunteers as part of the project who worked with us to support the workshop and exhibition process and will be working to engage more volunteers in roles to support the project.

Next steps

We are looking to host more workshops in partnerships with local artists and are working towards developing the final show to preview in early Summer 2013. If you are are part of a community group or an individual who would like to take part in coming workshops or activities, please contact Edson and Nick bridges@3ca.org.uk

To commemorate our 180^th birthday we're inviting artists to design our next events listings flyer.

All you have to do is follow the straightforward instructions below and make sure your original design reaches us by Friday 12 October to be in with a chance of having your creation on the front of our next listings flyer.

Trinity is a unique community arts space and amazing independent live music venue so we're looking for an artistic design that will inspire others.

The winning design will feature on a printed flyer (5000 copies) distributed across the city. The winner will also receive two complimentary tickets to an upcoming gig of their choice*.

Technical info

• Flyer size: A6
• Dimensions: 105mm x 150mm + 3mm bleed each side (Design can be portrait or landscape)
• Resolution: 300dpi
• Colour model: CMYK
• Format: Tiff/Jpeg

What's next?

Design your cover by print, or by hand and scan in, and email your image to info@3ca.org.uk with the subject heading Trinity Flyer Design

Be sure to include your details**:

• Artist name
• Artist website
• Artist email

We will be running our flyer design competition every other month so please keep an eye on our website with regards to future competitions.

*Subject to availability

**We will feature the winner's contact details on the flyer – please let us know if you do not wish to do this

The Trinity Community Arts team have been working hard on plans to redevelop the Trinity Centre. However, it is not the first time that the building has undergone development works.

An undated letter has been found (circa 1899) from the Holy Trinity Vicarage requesting to build an extension on the North West corner of the building to create a vestry for the Church's choir. The extension is now used as the Trinity office.

We venture to appeal to you on behalf of a scheme for the improvement of our church. We are confronted with two real needs involving an expenditure of £500, which we feel must be met without delay.

For nine years we have had a large choir of men and boys (average 40) with no vestry accommodation provided for them. They have been using, with the clergy, the small vestry designed for the needs of two or three clergy only. The late vicar the Rev. G. E. Ford strongly felt the need of a choir vestry, and he left a sum of £27 towards this object. Having to live [sic] with the overcrowding, which is not conducive to order of reverence for nine years, the congregation have decided to make an effort to erect a choir vestry. Plans have been drawn by W Gough (a sketch of which is subjoined) to provide the necessary accommodation in the simplest and least expensive manner, at the approximate cost of £300 and without in any way altering the present fabric.

At the same time the congregation have to face the expense of cleaning and redecorating the interior of our large church, which is now in a very unsatisfactory state involving an extra burden of at least £200. Twenty-two years have elapsed since the chancel was decorated and nine years since anything was done to the nave.

Our parish is large, populous and poor, and special efforts have to be made each year to keep existing agencies in an effective condition. Our congregation are prepared to do their utmost for the above-mentioned scheme, but they are quite unable to raise so substantial a sum without appealing to the generosity of churchmen outside the parish.

We beg to remain

Faithfully

T. A. Chapman R. D. Vicar

JHPea [sic]

G. E Fussell Churchwardens

W Carter Hon Sec to the Church Council

History of developments

The development and improvement of the Trinity Centre to maximise community benefit and potential revenue to ensure sustainability for any group running the space, has been a vision for many since as early as 1976 when the former Holy Trinity Church was de-consecrated and a convenant placed on the building to ensure its future use as a community centre.

Ambitions for the building's development can be seen in Bristol City Council's business plan for the Centre from 1989, which related to the installation of the existing second floor and proposals to install a mezzanine to create additional training spaces.

TCA current board and management have worked in line with some of these past visions for the Centre and have also embarked on several consultation exercises to explore how Trinity could best meet local needs and desires. TCA are applying for funding to carry out development and improvement works that help to realise some of these past ambitions for the Centre within the current context of what local people want.

Visit the Renovation area of our website for more information about current plans.

William Venn Gough (1842-1918)

William Venn Gough was born in Frome in Somerset in 1841 or 1842 and was baptised on 26 September of the latter year. He practised as an architect in Bristol, generally working for the Catholic Church.

Rev G Estwick Ford

Rev GE Ford was the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church for 13 years (1886-1899) and was presented with an illuminated address and a cheque for £200 at the last tea meeting he attended on January 19th 1899. It was reported that A J Nott presided in the hall which was full to overflowing and the vicar was also given a framed photo of the choir, churchwardens and clergy.

Expect a memorable hearty ho-down in a beautiful, festively-set venue in Bristol. The Trinity Centre is one of Bristol's best loved, most unique venues - so why not make this year's Christmas party an alternative night to remember.

You’ll be greeted inside from the cold by spectacular silk flames lighting up the entrance and the smell of hot mulled wine and scrumpy cider.

Each table will be set to your requirements, with place names, gifts, pre-ordered drinks, team quizzes and decorations ready and waiting.

After a wholesome, locally produced 3-course dinner by award winning Pieminister, the lights will dim and it will be time to get on the dance floor, with a fantastic band to get you into the festive spirit, representing the best of Bristol music.

After the band, the entertainment does not stop. Have your face decorated in glitter, play in the photobooth and sing in the Karaoke lounge. Prizes to be won!

There is no need to move on afterwards as our late licence means you can dance into the early hours of the morning to party tunes.

Daytime parties also available.

For a truly original Christmas party experience, look no further.

Visit the Christmas Parties area of our website or contact info@3ca.org.uk for more information.

The exhibition has been developed by participants who have taken part in workshops as part of the Bridges Project, funded by the Arts Council. 

Since May 2012, an array of commissioned artists and practitioners have helped Bristolians from all walks of life, to retell their personal stories using visual art, spoken word, dance, story telling and creative installations. The resulting exhibition offers an exclusive glimpse into the private and sometimes mysterious world of the people of Bristol.

Nick Young, Creative Director for the project: "The exhibition gives audiences the chance to share in peoples' experiences, find common ground, explore new worlds and see the city in a new perspective as these divergent lives converge to assemble their own unique snap shot of our unique and wonderful city."

The Bridges exhibition marks the end of the first phase of this ground-breaking citywide project. The project will culminate in a spectacular show in April 2013 combining theatre, dance, music and art.

To find out more and how you can get involved in the next stage, be sure to come along to the exhibition. Exhibition Preview and Performance Saturday 15th September, 6-9pm, featuring live dance performance, story telling and poetry (FREE ENTRY). The Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, BS2 0NW.

You can read more about the exhibition in a preview by Bristol Venue.

Our facilities team have been working very hard alongside an external design team and the appearance of the bar has been greatly improved.

We hope that the bar extension will improve the experience for those using the Centre for gigs and private parties.

We also have enough counter space for caterers to use, and will be installing another sink so we can operate a café area alongside the bar in the future.

Trinity are now taking bookings for Christmas parties and are working in partnership with Pie Minister who will provide catering for the private functions.

If you are a company or an individual looking to host a Christmas party and would like to know more, visit the Christmas Parties area of our website or contact the office on info@3ca.org.uk 0117 935 1200.