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Proudly Supporting Belgrade Theatre

Belgrade Theatre, a well-established cultural institution that aspires “to entertain, inspire and unleash the creativity in communities”, found itself in a challenging position following a period of leadership changes and organisational upheaval. Seeking to rebuild administrative efficiency in the aftermath of these transitions, Belgrade Theatre opted for SmartPA services.

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“I would absolutely recommend SmartPA. What for Belgrade was a short term solution is now a mid-term solution for us.”

Neil Murray - Belgrade Theatre

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The Challenge

The challenges faced by Belgrade Theatre included a complete change in the leadership team that brought a long period of leadership continuity to an end, resulting in a loss of institutional memory. These departures of key personnel and the impact of COVID-19 resulted in a need to rebuild the administrative structure from the ground up.

Selecting SmartPA

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Belgrade Theatre chose SmartPA to provide the necessary support, attributing factors such as prior positive experiences, recommendations, and the outcome of a procurement process as being among the reasons for selecting SmartPA over other options.

SmartPA's Role

SmartPA's primary contribution was in delivering high-level administrative support, particularly to the interim CEO, Neil Murray. The support extended beyond routine administrative tasks, encompassing elements of HR and legal knowledge. Indeed the SmartPA who primarily supported Belgrade showcased technical proficiency in managing complex tasks such as reporting to funding bodies, including the Arts Council and City Council.

As well as going through a transformative period, Belgrade Theatre was also navigating a phase of growth. The introduction of a new co-creation of work project secured additional funding from the Arts Council, indicating the organisation's evolving operational model. SmartPA played a crucial role in navigating this transitional phase, providing invaluable support.

SmartPA’s support became an integral part of Belgrade Theatre's daily operations, with the relationship extending beyond a typical contractor-client dynamic, fostering trust and collaboration and adding significant value.

 

“SmartPA plugged a huge gap that was there in, in terms of the administrative scale, but more than that the warmth of the relationship is really important. If the personalities match up, you not only get the practical skill support, but I think you add on another 25% value to that.”

Neil Murray

Positive Impact

The impact of SmartPA services was multi-faceted. While facilitating a cost-effective solution equivalent to employing 1.5 full-time staff members, the value extended beyond mere numbers. The organisation experienced time savings and increased efficiency, with SmartPA actively managing high-level reporting, legal considerations, and HR-related issues. The proactive approach of SmartPA contributed to a more streamlined workflow, while the morale and confidence of existing staff members were positively influenced as Smart PA's support relieved pressure in critical areas, allowing team members to focus on their core responsibilities.

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Flexibility and Collaboration

The relationship with SmartPA was characterised by transparency and flexibility. SmartPA’s ability to scale up or down based on organisational needs, coupled with open communication channels, facilitated a collaborative and adaptable working arrangement. This was illustrated by Belgrade Theatre upping their initial monthly use of SmartPA’s support from 45 hours to now flexing to over 210 hours.

The Outcome

 

  • Belgrade Theatre's engagement with SmartPA proved invaluable during a period of significant organisational change. The tailored support provided by SmartPA, reinforced by the interpersonal dynamics between the SmartPA team and Belgrade Theatre, have created a working relationship that transcends traditional contractor-client interactions.

  • The case study serves as a testament to the positive impact of outsourcing administrative functions to specialised services like SmartPA, especially in times of organisational flux.

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