MMNE News

Youth arts training courses in Gateshead

2009-07-09T11:12:00.004+01:00

Artsplan is running 2 youth arts training courses this autumn in NewcastleGateshead.

Creative Consultation with Young People
15th October 2009, 10 am - 4.15 pm, Baltic

This one-day creative workshop is suitable for anyone who is looking to consult with young people through engagement in creative participatory activities.

Unleash your partnership potential
5th November 2009, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Baltic

This one day workshop shares practical techniques and approaches to working in partnerships with other organisations and individuals in order to achieve a successful youth arts project or event.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance and a wealth of practical resources.

Cost: £110 - £110, with limited bursaries available. ENYAN members can receive a 5% discount.

For more information or to book contact artsplanbookings@artswork.org.uk, 02380 682535, www.enyan.co.uk.

Sing at a premiere with the Durham Scratch Choir

2009-07-07T10:11:00.002+01:00

'Heaven beneath Our Feet'
a new work by Andy Jackson

Durham Scratch Choir and members of the Cobweb Orchestra will be performing a new work, 'Heaven beneath Our Feet' on Voices for Hospices Day. The concert will be held at Elvet Methodist Church in Durham at 7.30 pm on Saturday 10 Oct 2009.

The work, adapted from the words of Gerrard Winstanley and the music of John Playford, is based on the struggles of the 17th century Levellers and Diggers for rights to land during the English Civil War.

Individuals and groups from other choirs are invited to join the choir at North Road Methodist Church Hall, Durham, from 7.30 to 9.30 pm for workshops on Weds 16, 23, 30 Sept and 7 October and for the rehearsal on 10 Oct at Elvet Methodist Church from 2 until 6 pm. You can join these workshops at any stage and if you are a confident sight reader can just come for the final rehearsal. Music will be available.

Each two hour workshop will cost £5. Concert tickets cost £5 and will be available on the door and from the Tourist Information Centre in Durham. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to local hospices.

See www.durhamscratchchoir.moonfruit.com for a map of the venue for workshops. Contact Maria (0191 373 2979)or Vince (07745 752321) for further details.

Arts Council England respond to critical publication

2009-07-07T09:56:00.003+01:00

Arts Council England have responded to the publication of Marc Sidwell's report for the New Culture Forum. The executive summary of The Arts Council - Managed to Death opens by stating that "The Arts Council has become increasingly wasteful of taxpayers' money and increasingly unpopular with the arts establishment itself, even as its budgets have remained high. Administrative costs have risen; PR expenditure is exceptionally high; and arts expertise has been lost in favour of managerialism. It is time, not for more piecemeal reform, but to abolish the Arts Council and start again."

Arts Council England's response states that "The New Culture Forum has missed important opportunities - for a proper analysis of arts funding and of the challenges that lie ahead, and a proper debate about how the Arts Council can continue to change and improve its relationships with artists. The report is hampered and its analysis called into question by some basic errors and highly misleading factual inaccuracies... The New Culture Forum has spectacularly missed the point. It claims to want to reduce bureaucratic burdens on artists and then proposes massively increasing them."

The Arts Council - Managed to Death report - www.newcultureforum.org.uk/home/?q=node/548

Arts Council England's response - http://press.artscouncil.org.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=758&NewsAreaID=2

Source: Voluntary Arts Network, www.voluntaryarts.org.

Folkworks Summer Schools - 10-15 Aug 2009

2009-07-02T15:58:00.003+01:00

Book now for the Folkworks Summer Schools.

Three fantastic Summer Schools providing a great opportunity to learn from and play with some of the best folk musicians of today, meet other folk musicians, play at sessions and ceilidhs.

Tutors include: Alistair Anderson, Brian Finnegan, Carolyn Robson, Ian Stephenson, James Fagan, Karen Tweed, Karine Polwart, Kerry Fletcher, Kevin Dempsey, Lauren MacColl, Luke Daniels, Nancy Kerr, Pauline Cato, Peter Tickell, Robert Harbron, Sam Pirt
... and others.

The three residential Summer Schools are based at Durham colleges - full details and enrolment forms from folkworks@thesagegateshead.org, www.thesagegateshead.org or 0191 443 4627.

Society of Recorder Players - Administrator needed

2009-06-26T12:25:00.000+01:00

The Society of Recorder Players seeks to appoint a self-employed person to administer (part-time) the National Youth Recorder Orchestras (NYRO).

The National Youth Recorder Orchestra, the National Youth Training Recorder Orchestra and BlockWork (chamber recorder orchestra) are promoted by the Society to demonstrate the highest quality of youth orchestral performance and its equivalence to other national instrumental youth orchestras.

Full details of the post and information about NYRO can be seen at www.nyro.org.uk.

Deadline: 13 July 2009

Private Members' Bill for live music

2009-06-26T12:18:00.003+01:00

Speaking in the House of Lords last week, Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Clement-Jones announced his intention to introduce a Private Members' Bill that will provide a conditional exemption for live music in small venues licensed under the Licensing Act 2003.

The intended solution of a Private Members' Bill will have three main proposals:
- To exempt live music in small venues from the Licensing Act.
- To reintroduce the two-in-a-bar rule so that any performance of unamplified live music by up to two people will be exempt from the need for a licence.
- To provide a total exemption for hospitals, schools and colleges when providing entertainment where alcohol is not sold and the entertainment involves no more than 200 people.

A transcript of the debate is available at www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2009-06-15a.923.2.

Perform at the Southbank Centre

2009-06-25T14:11:00.003+01:00

Now's your chance to get involved!

Making Music and the Southbank Centre are partnering up to celebrate the life of one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century, Leonard Bernstein.

The Southbank Centre are running a Bernstein Project, from September 2009 - July 2010, and there are various ways amateur groups can get involved:

- Individual singers and choirs can sign up to take part in a large scale performance of Mahler's Second Symphony, receiving coaching from Mary King and the chance to perform at the SBC next May conducted by Marin Alsop

- Choirs and orchestras can submit their own proposal, for example a programme of music by composers that Bernstein championed (Barber, Mahler, Shostakovich, etc.); a programme of some of Bernstein's lesser known pieces; an educational project designed to enthuse and inspire younger people.

If you're interested in getting involved, contact Making Music's London Development Officers, Heather and Tom, at rdolondon@makingmusic.org.uk, 020 7422 8294. Applications must be received no later than 6pm on Friday 3 July 2009.

More information can also be found online at www.makingmusiclondon.com/news/09-06-03-bernstein-project.html

Making Music ebulletin

2009-06-25T12:16:00.002+01:00

A chance to sing on Classic FM, tips for promoters, Tees Valley grants, learning folk music, a guide to singing and beatbox cookery all feature in this month's North East ebulletin.

To download the bulletin click here.

To sign up to receive future bulletins email kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk.

Sponsorship Seminars in Saltburn and Blyth

2009-06-24T15:28:00.003+01:00

The Sponsors' Club for Arts and Business has confirmed two Sponsorship Seminars.

Saltburn Community Arts Centre, 21 July 2009
Headway Theatre in Blyth*, 28 July 2009.

The seminars will include a Five Point Plan for obtaining and developing sponsorship, assessing your organisation and its needs, developing packages for sponsorship, researching potential sponsors, writing proposals and making a successful approach, as well as developing a good working relationship.

The course runs from 9.30 am - 1.00 pm and is followed by lunch. The afternoon is then available for optional one to one sessions until 4pm to discuss your specific needs.

Cost: £20.00 plus VAT per person. Booking deadline: 7 July.

For any more information or to sign up contact Ruth Raynor or Adam Lopardo or telephone 0191 2220945

* Please note that unfortunately this is not an accesible venue, however if you are interested please get in touch as they hope to deliver another seminar in Northumberland soon.

Recognition for volunteering

2009-06-23T10:58:00.000+01:00

Over 59% of adults volunteer at least once a year and 40% volunteer at least once a month. The economic value of formal volunteering is estimated at £39 billion.

A new strategy to engage with and support the voluntary and community sector has been unveiled by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Download it at www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6144.aspx.

Making Music offers online ticketing service

2009-05-27T15:30:00.003+01:00

Making Music has teamed up with online ticketing agency WeGotTickets to offer free online ticketing services to our member groups.

Simple, easy to use and efficient, it allows audiences to book their tickets in advance and pay online with their credit/debit card.

Find out more in the members' area of the Making Music website at www.makingmusic.org.uk or by telephoning the Making Music office on 0207 422 8280.

BBC World Service orchestra

2009-05-19T16:08:00.000+01:00

The BBC World Service is starting an orchestra. If you're a musician from any of the myriad countries that the World Service broadcasts to, but have limited opportunities to play in big groups, it wants to hear from you.

It is bringing together musicians from as far afield as Uzbekistan, Cuba and Nepal in a unique project to look at music and migration in Britain.

If you're interested, please email Timothy Muller (timothy.muller@bbc.co.uk) or Janet Ball (janet.ball@bbc.co.uk).

PR and marketing through London 2012

2009-05-14T12:55:00.003+01:00

You don't have to wait until 2012 to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. London 2012 are already encouraging and inspiring people to open up and join in, through the Open Weekend - a platform for culture, sport, and sustainability initiatives across the whole of the UK.

Open Weekend
24th - 26th July 2009

Your organisation can use the Open Weekend to:
- Create and / or promote events taking place over 24th - 26th July
- Launch up-and-coming activities in the North East
- Attract new audiences and visitors

To find out more or to register your event go to www.london2012.com/openweekend.

Development Grants for Tees Valley Music Organisations

2009-05-14T12:43:00.004+01:00

Platform have launched a new round of development grants for music groups and organisations in the Tees Valley. The deadline for applications is Monday 29th June and the panel will meet to make a decision on Monday 13th July.

For more information download the application form and guidelines.

Platform will also be launching another Bursary Grants scheme over the summer of 2009, and will forward information over the coming months.

Training in conducting young people

2009-05-12T12:25:00.002+01:00

Sing Up! are offering a free training session on Tuesday 2nd June with Mark Anyan. It will be held at Jarrow community centre from 1.30pm-4.30pm.

Ideas for working with young choirs, Conducting techniques, Ways to keep young people motivated and interested, Great repertoire for young singers in KS2/3.

For more information and to book your place contact Pamela McGahon, pamela.mcgahon@singup.org by 22nd May.

Artists Taking the Lead

2009-04-27T09:54:00.003+01:00

Applications encouraged from musicians

Arts Council England are encouraging musicians to submit proposals for their Artists taking the lead Cultural Olympiad project. Artists of all kinds, not just visual artists, are invited to submit proposals for a major commission.

Deadline for proposals: 29 May 2009. Shortlisted artists will be awarded up to £5000 to develop their proposal.

For more information visit www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk/england.

The London 2012 Open Weekend

2009-04-24T10:47:00.002+01:00

24 - 26 July 2009

Registration is now open!

You don't have to wait until 2012 to be part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Registration for the London 2012 Open Weekend 2009 has opened and groups around the country are to invited to register their events.

Last year over 700,000 people enjoyed the first London 2012 Open Weekend. Between 24 - 26 July 2009, the weekend will feature events all over the UK enabling people to join in.

For more information and to register your event visit www.london2012.com/openweekend or email openweekend@london2012.com.

Big Spring Sing - places still available

2009-04-23T11:47:00.003+01:00

If you've been thinking about coming to the Big Spring Sing on 9 May in Darlington it's not too late to register!

To give you more time, we've extended the booking deadline for this great day.

Over 60 singers are already signed up, but we still have places for all voices, although as always we're especially keen to hear from any tenors and basses!

More information and the booking form are available as a PDF at http://makingmusic-northeast.co.uk/events0809/Booking%20form.pdf or by contacting Kirsty, 07855 642308, kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk.

And why not invite your friends to come and join us too? The more the merrier!

The Big Spring Sing is presented by Making Music and ABCD, with generous support from Platform.

Youth-led youth arts conference

2009-04-22T15:43:00.003+01:00

COMMUNICATE: Cultural Leaders of the Future
The Custom's House, South Shields, Tuesday 2 June 2009

This summer, ENYAN (English National Youth Arts Network) heads to the North East with this national, and entirely 'youth-led', conference.

The day will appeal to youth arts practitioners, policy makers and young people alike (with limited free places available to anyone under the age of 19) and will enable us all to learn from one another.

There will be case studies, performances, insightful speeches, creative debates and networking sessions all of which young people will help to organise, plan, deliver and document.

For more information and to book your place visit http://conferences.enyan.co.uk.
Booking closes on Friday 15th May.

English charities operating in Scotland urged to alert regulator

2009-04-20T16:34:00.001+01:00

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is "strongly urging" any English or Welsh charities that operate in Scotland but have not yet registered with it to do so immediately.

Under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, all organisations that want to represent themselves as charities in Scotland and have a "significant presence" there - such as fundraising, occupying premises or carrying out charitable activities - have to register with the OSCR.

For the full story from Third Sector click here or go straight to the OSCR website at www.oscr.org.uk.

Scrattchets first Scratch

2009-04-20T11:03:00.003+01:00

The Scratchetts Children's Choir, a branch of The Durham Scratch Choir, have just had a concert to launch their first album. The 20+ strong group raised the funds to make the recording independently through sponsored Christmas carolling in Durham Millburngate centre two years running.

Members Angel and Amber Cottwell say of The Choir "Every week at the Scratchetts we learn new things. Being involved in the choir is an amazing opportunity."

The Choir's next project is a singing summer school at Durham Cathedral. The daily workshops run from 10 am - 12 pm the week of August 24th-28th, culminating in an exciting performance in the Cathedral alongside The Cobweb Orchestra and Durham Scratch Choir. The project is open to all ages but under 8's must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information visit www.durhamscratchchoir.moonfrut.com or contact Sheila Adamson on 0191 3844495 or Bridie Jackson on bridiet@hotmail.co.uk.

Making Music North East e-bulletin

2009-04-16T00:01:00.002+01:00

The latest edition of Making Music North East's e-bulletin is out now.

The e-bulletin contains news, opportunities, funding information and more for voluntary and amateur music groups around the North East.

This month's bulletin includes:
- Music & health
- New info sheets: risk assessment and health and safety
- Funding news
- MD sought in Alnwick
- Build a website for free
- Photo gallery
- Free PR guides
- Conference and ceilidhs

To view the April 2009 edition of the e-bulletin click here.

The e-bulletin is sent out every 6 weeks to over 200 individuals and music groups all around the North East. If you are a member of an amateur music group or promoting society, or have an interest in voluntary music making, you can subscribe to the e-bulletin by emailing kirsty@makingmusic.org.uk.

Guide to buying musical instruments

2009-04-15T16:23:00.000+01:00

The Music Industries Association (MIA) has launched a guide to buying musical instruments. Budding instrumentalists or parents buying instruments for their children can get advice on all the most common acoustic instruments, plus the electric guitar and keyboard.

The booklet is available from www.mia.org.uk/docs/quality_instruments.pdf.

Marketing training and child protection training at Baltic

2009-04-09T11:32:00.005+01:00

Artsplan (the in-house professional development department of ENYAN) has programmed two youth arts courses in the North East.

Creating Safety: Child protection and youth arts
20th May 2009, 10 am - 4.15 pm

Marketing and Celebrating Youth Arts
18th June 2009, 10 am - 4.15 pm
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead

Prices normally range from £150 to £110, but limited bursaries are available. ENYAN members are entitled to a 5% discount.

For more information or to book a place, contact the Artsplan Team via: artsplanbookings@artswork.org.uk or call 02380 682535. To subscribe to ENYAN visit www.enyan.co.uk.

Lady Hilary Groves Award 2009

2009-04-06T16:18:00.002+01:00

Making Music is now taking nominations for this prestigious prize, presented annually to an individual in a Making Music member group who has had a huge positive impact on the musical life of their group or has made an outstanding contribution to music in the community.

All Making Music members can submit nominations for this prize. For more information visit www.makingmusic.org.uk/html/72.shtml.

To read more about Making Music's members in the North East click here.