National Government & Brass Bands

(1) Arnold Tattersfield and I held a meeting with Mr J Ennis, MP for Barnsley East and Mexborough, on Friday, 7^th March 2008 at the National Office. Matters discussed included:

• The role of BFBB 
• Mr Ennis’ recent delegation meeting with the Minister for State for Culture Media & Sport 
• Funding issues for brass bands 
• The direction of further funding campaigning
• A forthcoming meeting arranged with the Director of Yorkshire Forward 
• The Voluntary Arts Network (VAN) 
• 2012 Cultural Olympiad

 

Following the successful meeting Mr Ennis asked a question in the House of Commons on Monday, 10^th March 2008, which was subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 4:

 

          Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough) (Lab):

Does the Secretary of State agree that the British Federation of Brass Bands, which is based in Barnsley … will play a vital role in making a success of the Cultural Olympiad?

 

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Andy Burnham): It absolutely will … On brass bands, I am absolutely confident that the rich heritage that my hon. Friend describes – celebrated in the film “Brassed Off” – will play a very important part in our Olympic celebrations.

 

(2) I was then invited to join Mr Ennis’ delegation to meet The Director of Yorkshire Forward. The meeting was held in their offices in Leeds on Monday, 17^th March 2008. Issues discussed were:

 

• Justification for supporting bands
• Business Models for bands
• 2012 Cultural Olympiad
• Youth bands/KS2 (Barnsley’s £250,000 programme and the infrastructure required to deliver in the future)
• University selection/Fairness in higher education/Widening participation agenda
• Loss of sponsorship for Championship bands

 

Once again this was a meeting with some success. Yorkshire Forward will fund/advise (probably BFBB) on a programme of Business advice and planning for brass bands. Also funding for some events connected to 2012 Culture Olympiad (through Yorkshire Culture). In a surprise move Yorkshire Forward said they would fund Grimethorp Band to the Europeans this year at £20,000 and for a further two years if it is a Yorkshire band that represents England.

 

 

2012 Cultural Olympiad/Creative Programmer for London 2012 (Yorkshire)

On Friday, 14^th March I had a meeting with Tessa Gordziejko, the Creative Programmer for London 2012 (Yorkshire), at Yorkshire Culture offices in Leeds. Among the items discussed were:

 

• National Signature Projects (2^nd Tier) involving the central aims of Youth, Innovation & Diversity and 2012 Sounds/Youth Music
• Themes for Yorkshire, and other regions, at 3^rd Tier level; which are (i) the moving body & (ii) public space animation
• The launch of the Cultural Olympiad on 24^th August 2008. In Yorkshire Events will be centered in Bradford, Hull, Leeds (jazz music theme) & Rotherham