Presenting Evidence. About Ensemble Cymru

Transcription

1 CC(3) AC 07 September 10th, 2010 Presenting Evidence Ensemble Cymru wuld welcme the pprtunity t present evidence in persn alngside specialists in the field f classical music in Wales frm Bangr University. Ensemble Cymru wuld particularly welcme an pprtunity t present evidence regarding the state f classical music in Wales relative t ther art frms alngside experts in the field frm Bangr University. Abut Ensemble Cymru Ensemble Cymru (incrprated September 2001) is a registered charity n with an annual turnver ranging between 90,000 and 120,000. It is Ensemble-in-Residence at Venue Cymru(Llandudn), Nrth Wales Internatinal Music Festival(St. Asaph), Rydal Penrhs Schl(Clwyn Bay), Gwyl Fama (nr Mld) and Bangr University. It presents between 100 and 200 chamber music events a year including cncerts fr primary and secndary schls, talks, public perfrmances, and caching thrugh its Chamber Music Academy. During the last five years it has reached ver 50,000 peple f all ages with classical music. During it was active in all six cunties f nrth Wales. It was shrtlisted fr a Ryal Philharmnic Sciety Award fr Music in 2006, is cited in the Arts Cuncil f Wales Strategic Plan as f being f strategic imprtance. Its incme is derived frm a mix f surces: In kind, lttery, earned incme and dnatins. Its Artistic Directr was awarded Welsh Music Guild award fr service t music in Wales in 2008 and the cmpany was featured n BBC2 s Wrking Lunch in 2007.

2 Ensemble Cymru is a member f the Assciatin f British Orchestras(ABO). Adrian Barsby Chairman Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

3 1. D yu cnsider the Welsh Gvernment t have achieved its cmmitment f ensuring that high-quality cultural experiences are available t all peple, irrespective f where they live r their backgrund? Hw effective has its investment in arts and cultural activities been in realising this bjective? We cnsider that in certain areas f the Arts Welsh Gvernment investment has been effective including dance, drama and literature. The additin f Galeri Caernarfn and the prpsed Arts and Innvatin Centre in Bangr represent welcme investment int the arts. There has been little evidence f significant advances in giving access t high-quality cultural experiences thrugh the Welsh language t peple and children f all ages fr whm Welsh is their secnd language r wh dn t speak Welsh Hwever it is harder t say that in the case f classical music and especially chamber and chamber rchestra that there has been much impact. Accrding t the 2008 Arts Cuncil f Wales Children s Omnibus less than 10% f children and yung peple has ever experienced a live classical music event. There has been n signficant increase in pprtunity fr audiences acrss Wales t experience high quality cntemprary art music especially that f cmpsers f Wales. There have been significant cuts in instrumental teaching in schls impacting n numbers f children and yung peple capable f Engaging with and appreciating art music r classical music in its bradest sense Participating in music at a high level There has been a decline in the number f rural music scieties and clubs in recent years thugh t a limited extent this nn prfessinal capacity t prmte the arts lcally has been ffset by the Night Out scheme. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

4 2. Hw exactly are arts and cultural venues including museums, libraries and archives actively prmting access, attracting new audiences and encuraging participatin in line with the One Wales cmmitment and the Arts Cuncil s strategies? The Ensemble regards digital technlgy as presenting a signficant pprtunity fr Arts in Wales t reach cmmunities and schls in rural regins building audiences, infrming, educating and invlving. Sme larger-scale venues have the manpwer and expertise t develp the use f new media. Other, smaller cmpanies/cncerns/artists have nt. Thugh detail is currently sketchy the annuncement f a funding stream by Arts Cuncil f Wales t enable the Arts in Wales t engage with new technlgies is welcme Welsh Assembly Gvernment shuld supprt the use f new media by the Arts industry nt nly fr the benefit f the peple in Wales, but fr the wrld-wide prmtin f the arts and artistic activity in Wales. Venue Cymru and Ensemble Cymru In September 2010 Ensemble Cymru became resident rchestral ensemble at nrth Wales main venue fr classical music. The residency builds n a partnership with the venue s management that has existed fr sme years. Venue Cymru and Ensemble Cymru will Present high quality perfrmances infrming audiences and visitrs f Wales distinct heritage in classical music Develp an utreach prgramme fr the Venue reaching schls and cmmunities in islated areas acrss nrth Wales Cmplement the wrk f visiting arts cmpanies supprting the develpment f audiences fr their wrk Supprt Venue Cymru initiatives fr hands n activities fr yung peple such as Take part Nrth Wales Internatinal Music Festival and Ensemble Cymru By means f a summer radshw t majr events acrss nrth Wales the Festival and Ensemble reach ver 10,000 peple annually. By prmting the Ensemble s wrk in the festival it is able t give peple the pprtunity t experience Wales heritage and cntemprary Welsh cmpsers wrk. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

5 3. Is the current netwrk f arts and cultural venues in Wales sufficient, and are there any gegraphic r ther issues that cntinue t act as barriers t participatin (eg in rural areas r areas f deprivatin)? Audiences acrss Wales d nt have access t new wrk due t the lack f cre supprt fr research and develpment fr prductin cmpanies t develp new wrk and t supprt emerging cmpsers Audiences d nt have access t recrdings and perfrmances f chamber music frm Wales heritage in this area. Mst chamber music frm Wales heritage exists in the Natinal Library f Wales in manuscript r is missing. This includes music by majr figures such as Grace Williams and Daniel Jnes. The lack f immediately available high quality editins and recrdings f these wrks presents significant barriers t the Ensemble s prmtin f these wrks t peple f all ages in Wales. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

6 4. What will be the impact f the Arts Cuncil s Investment Review n the netwrk f venues and cultural activities that take place acrss Wales? D yu cnsider that the Arts Cuncil s decisin t discntinue funding t 32 rganisatins, as a result f the Investment Review, will have a significant impact n the accessibility f cultural venues r activities? Des a cncentratin f funding avid it being spread t thinly, and achieving little? It is hard t see hw fcusing the entire Arts Cuncils Regular Funded Organisatins funding fr classical music prductin in Cardiff (WNO, BBCNOW, Music Theatre Wales, Sinfnia Cymru, Natinal Yuth Orchestra f Wales.) can be the mst effective strategy fr enabling access t high quality and sustainable classical music prductin acrss Wales cnsidering the cuntry s gegraphical and transprt infrastructure challenges. A significant difference between Revenue Funding and Lttery funding is that the frmer implies a lnger term cmmitment and thus greater security fr the recipient whilst the latter implies a cmmitment per prject rarely mre than 12 mnths and thus less security. It wuld be helpful t address whether lttery culd be used strategically as well as n a prject by prject basis depending n the circumstance. There will be sme negative impact n classical music in nrth Wales fllwing the Arts Cuncil Investment. The Nrth Wales Internatinal Music Festival has lst its revenue funding whilst financial supprt fr nrth Wales majr classical music venue, Venue Cymru is as yet undefined. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

7 5. The Welsh Gvernment will nt be annuncing the Arts Cuncil s budget fr until December What impact d yu believe a reductin in the Arts Cuncil s budget wuld have n the accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales? Shuld the Assembly budget be less than standstill the reductin will mean less a. quality art with prductins being unable t affrd artistes f sufficient calibre. b. Fewer rural cmmunities being able t access quality art because f reduced r cancelled turing. c. Risk t existence f rganisaitns currently depending n lttery due t significant uplift in demand frm 32 extra rganisatins (frmer RFO clients) cmpeting fr this limited fund including festivals. This demand will increas if existing RFO ffers by ACW have t be rescinded. 6. D yu have any cncerns abut the variatin in range and quality f lcal authrity cultural services and activities prvided acrss Wales? Are lcal authrities adequately resurced t cnsistently fund and supprt cultural activities in the current ecnmic climate? Lcal authrity supprt fr the arts in Wales is incnsistent there is majr reginal variatin. The supprt f Gwynedd and Mn cunty cuncils ( 7000) has enabled the Ensemble t draw cnsiderable match funding t bring classical music t audiences and schls acrss these cunties. As far as the Ensemble is aware significant supprt frm Cunty Cuncils has histrically gne t supprting bricks and mrtar including museums, venues and galleries with nly limited supprt being available if at all fr a diverse range f prductin cmpanies such as rchestral ensembles Greater wrking n a reginal level wuld be welcme cmbining limited resurces t greater effect. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

8 7. The Arts Cuncil f Wales s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that peple wh were prfessinals, qualified r invlved in nn-manual wrk were mre likely t attend an art event than thse wh were Skilled r semi-skilled manual wrkers, and nnwrking peple. Is this cnsistent with yur wn experiences? Can yu prvide an explanatin fr this variatin, and hw can this variatin be addressed? Our experience is cnsistent with the findings f the Omnibus Survey. We believe that the Educatin system has a crucial rle t play in giving the cnfidence and the literacy t yung peple frm acrss the scial strata t appreciate and participate in the Arts. Peple wh have been regularly expsed t high quality and engaging arts experiences as children and been supprted by their educatin t debate and understand their experiences have the cnfidence t cntinue attending arts events int adulthd. Peple wh have had regular pprtunities t participate in the creatin f high quality arts and received adequate training in their frmative years have the cnfidence in their skills t cntinue t participate as adults Frm ur experience the vast majrity f schls and especially primary schls welcme and value extremely highly the unique educatinal experience fr their children prvided by regular high quality perfrmances f classical music. Many schls recgnise the rle that the prfessinal arts can play in the cntinuing prfessinal develpment f their staff and the lasting legacy within a schl that a sustained relatinship with prfessinal arts rganisatins can prvide. It wuld seem that inrder t address the variatin suggested by the Arts Omnibus that a prprtin f the educatin budget shuld be ringfenced s as t enable schls t make regular visits t venues in their lcality t experience high quality and inspiratinal art prductins. an awareness and understanding f the arts shuld be a part f the cntinuing prfessinal develpment f teachers especially in primary schls. The educatin system shuld address the decline in basic standards f musical literacy amng yung peple and children thrugh the training f teachers in internatinally acknwledged methds such as Kdaly and Dalcrze. These methds can be used acrss the curriculum and are entirely cnsistent with the eths driving the Assembly Gvernment s Fundatin phase fr 3-7 year lds. Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

9 8. The Arts Cuncil f Wales s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that yunger adults were mre likely t attend an arts event than lder adults. Is this cnsistent with yur wn experiences? Can yu prvide an explanatin fr this variatin, and hw can this variatin be addressed? Many arts prductins are held in the evening presenting significant challenges t lder audience members attending due t lack f public transprt. Yunger adults are drawn t arts events because f the fllwing children and their interest in the arts having additinal incme which enables them t affrd t attend such events. The variance culd be addressed by Venues and prmters develping nging relatinships with agencies and netwrks serving lder peples needs s as t identify and vercme particular barriers t lder peple attending arts events Ensuring that the public transprt system and scheduling is linked in with venues and prmters prgrammes 9. The Arts Cuncil f Wales s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that females were mre likely t attend an arts event than males. Is this cnsistent with yur wn experiences? Can yu prvide an explanatin fr this variatin, and hw can this variatin be addressed? N respnse ffered Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

10 10. The Arts Cuncil f Wales s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that Welsh Language Speakers were mre likely t directly participate in the arts than nn Welsh Language Speakers. Is this cnsistent with yur wn experiences? Can yu prvide an explanatin fr this variatin, and hw can this variatin be addressed? The Eisteddfd traditin annually successfully presents pprtunities fr peple f all ages t perfrm and participate in the arts. Invlving as it des a significant number f peple f all ages either learning Welsh r fr whm Welsh is their first language. It wuld be lgical t assume that in develping a habit fr participatin in the arts within this grup ver time wuld g sme way t explain the variance. The variatin culd be addressed by rewarding innvative appraches that enable nn Welsh speakers t engage with the Eisteddfdic traditin in their lcality 11. Are yu aware f any ther significant variatins in the public s attendance and participatin in the arts and cultural activities (fr example based n ethnic backgrund, disabilities, lcatin in an urban r rural area)? N respnse ffered Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales tel: [email protected]

11 12. Are there any further cmments yu'd like t make abut the accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Wales? Wales has a distinct gegraphical challenge which the Ensemble des nt believe is best answered by cncentrating prfessinal prductin capacity in its capital. Whilst accepting the need and indeed celebrating a vibrant arts cmmunity in a cuntry s capital it is yet t be demnstrated that this capacity is sufficient t meet a natinal remit in a cuntry with its particular challenge f rural gegraphy and with few centres f high ppulatin There is n classical music radi channel serving Wales ppulatin r with a credible bradcasting plicy fr Welsh classical music creatrs past and present. In the absence f a practive apprach frm BBC Radi 3 a greater incentive fr BBC Radi Wales and BBC Radi Cymru t cmmissin and bradcast prgrammes in relatin t Wales heritage and cntemprary culture in chamber music, its musicians and its cmpsers as befits their educatinal remit wuld be welcme. There is significant imbalance in Arts Cuncil investment between classical music prductin and presentatin in metrplitan Suth Wales and the rural regins f Wales leading t an imbalance in pprtunity fr peple f all ages in thse areas. In respnse t a query by the Ensemble t the Scttish Arts Cuncil evidence was given that prfessinal chamber rchestras and chamber ensembles in Sctland receive 2.75 millin (apprx 50p per head) direct supprt frm the tax payer (as ppsed t lttery funding) whereas this figure is 0 in Wales. Prfessinal rchestral ensembles (chamber rchestras and ensembles) serving reginal cmmunities utside Cardiff have significant ptential t ffer a highly cst effective and high value mechanism t help the Assembly Gvernment meet its aspiratin and particularly Reaching lder peple and children in islated cmmunities with high quality cultural ffer prmting bth Wales distinctive traditins as well as thse f cuntries acrss the glbe. Enriching the educatin and bradening hrizns f children and yung peple in hard t reach rural schls Offering pprtunities fr aspiring and prfessinal musicians in rural regins t develp skills and gain experience Help retain highly skilled individuals in rural areas and enhance the area s attractin t thse visiting r living in the area. Cmplementing and enhancing the distinct Welsh cultural ffer ffered t visitrs currently prvided by museums, art galleries and venues. E.g. supprting churches turism netwrk, enhancing the culural ffer f majr reginal agricultural events, fd festivals and Eisteddfdau Prviding high level wrk experience and internships fr yung peple in their lcality Being a part f an aspiratinal and rich envirnment fr children and yung peple t grw up in Ensemble Cymru respnse t Cmmunities and Culture Cmmittee accessibility f arts and cultural activities in Cntributing t the prmtin f the regin e.g. enhancing trade missins, Wales tel: [email protected] cntributing t the cultural turism ffer t visitrs and thus benefiting the reginal ecnmy.