Many thanks to all the delegates who made this year's conference such a success. Our special thanks must go to Simon Woods and his team at Royal Scottish National Orchestra who were our very considerate hosts, and also the team at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Copies of some of the speeches will be published on the ABO website very soon and we shall endeavour also to post  relevant powerpoint slides for some of the sessions too.  We will also be carrying out an online evaluation shortly.

And of course we are already thinking about next year. Please put 16-18 February in your diaries for our visit to Derby which will be hosted by Peter Helps and the Sinfonia ViVA team. 

The conference generated unprecedented media interest. Prompted by the ICM poll carried out in advance of the conference by the ABO, showing 69% of the public support a classical anthem for the London 2012 Olympic Games (see here), the Director appeared on Radio 4 Today , Radio 5 Live, Good Morning Scotland and Sun Talk with Jon Gaunt. There were also lots of print and online media stories on the polling including:

http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/view.cfm?id=4858&issue=212
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/feb/23/opera-theme-tune-london-2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charlottehigginsblog/2010/feb/24/classicalmusicandopera
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8534151.stm
http://www.classicfm.co.uk/music/music-news-and-features/classical-anthem-for-london-2012/
http://londonist.com/2010/02/suggest_a_2012_olympic_theme_tune.php
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Public-backs-search-for-London.6096963.jp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/london2012/7300762/London-2012-British-public-want-Olympic-theme-to-be-classical.html

These were followed by further media stories on the conference itself:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/mar/02/cultural-olympiad-2012-vancouver-2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/charlottehigginsblog/2010/mar/02/arts-policy-arts-funding
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scottish-orchestras-are-told-they-must-sing-for-their-supper-1.1009892?localLinksEnabled=false

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/derby-evening-telegraph/mi_8020/is_20100303/orchestras-conference-string-citys-bow/ai_n50707191/ 
 

World renowned conductor and President of the London Symphony Orchestra Sir Colin Davis has received the 2009 ABO award for his outstanding services to British orchestral music. The award was announced at the conference dinner. More here and here.
 

The Green Orchestras Guide, a simple guide to sustainable practices by Julie's Bicycle in association with the ABO, supported by Arts Council England, the British Council and Orchestras Live, was launched at the conference. For a free online copy, click here.

Conference also saw the launch of the ABO’s 5 Year Vision for British orchestras – laying out the sector’s commitment to taking high quality music to more people than ever before – and calling on government to support its ambitions.

Under the headlines ‘Inspirational performances’, ‘Stimulating learning’ and ‘Driving participation’, A Platform for Success sets out the aspirations of the sector over the next five years, and calls on government to help meet its ambitions by making a number of commitments – including guaranteeing music education continues to be delivered across schools, improving the tax system to enhance private giving and giving orchestras nationally and locally the opportunity to be an integral part of the UK Cultural Olympiad celebrations.

For an online copy, click here.

The ABO team was obviously focused on the conference during February, however there were still a few hours left in the days to meet with the following people: Susannah Simons and the World in our City steering group; National Music Council; ISM; ERA 21; Ed Vaizey MP; Henry Little, Orchestras Live; Claire Mera-Nelson, Trinity Laban; and Tommy Pearson. In addition Mark attended the New London Orchestra Parliamentary Dinner and concerts by Britten Sinfonia and Northern Sinfonia at the Sage Gateshead. We also attended meetings with the Sustainable Touring Group Committee and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Classical Music, which heard from Darren Henley of Classic FM. Orla and Lucy and Jenny also attended a networking evening of YPIA. 

The following dates have been set for this Spring series of Specialist Manager Meetings:

13 April: Archivists' Meeting, Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham
15 April: Welsh Members' Meeting, Hoddinott Hall, WMC, Cardiff
21 April: Digital Managers' Meeting, LSO Bonhill Street, London
5 May: Finance Managers' Meeting, SOLT / TMA, London
7 May: Marketing Managers' Meeting, Royal Over-Seas League, London
13 May: Education Managers' Meeting, Barbican Centre, London
18 May: Development & Sponsorship Managers' Meeting, Wigmore Hall, London
26 May: Chamber Orchestra Managers' Meeting, Cadogan Hall, London
9 June: Concert & Orchestra Managers' Meeting, Wigmore Hall, London

If you would like to attend one of these meetings please log on to the Members Area of the ABO website and then click on Events and book the relevant Specialist Manager Meeting.
 

Dates for our series of Brass Tacks courses are being finalised at present and details will appear on the Brass Tacks pages of our website this month.

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge has announced the final four cities vying to become the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013. They are Birmingham, Derry, Norwich and Sheffield.

They were shortlisted by an independent judging panel, whose recommendations were accepted by Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw. The panel will also make the final recommendation on the winning bid, with that city to be announced in the summer.

More: www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6705.aspx

The Conservative Party has published its vision for the arts, setting out plans to “provide coherent and sustained support for the arts". The full document can be read here.

We are researching the ways in which performers use the idea of 'shape' when thinking about or performing music (or don't use it, as the case may be). We are hoping to study this in a variety of ways over the next couple of years, but we'd like to gain an initial idea of performers' views through an online questionnaire, and we'd be extremely grateful if you could forward this on to the musicians in your orchestra. Everything they say will be kept absolutely confidential and will be made anonymous as part of the data collection process.

We recognise that performers are very busy, and we'll be delighted if you feel you can spare the time to take part. We hope you'll find it interesting. Please click on the link below, which will provide you with more information and take you on to the survey. We need as many views as possible, from the widest variety of expert performers.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/music_and_shape_questionnaire 

Entry to The Charity Awards 2010 is free to all charities throughout the UK and nominations are invited under ten broad areas of charitable activity, covering the full range of the voluntary sector, including Arts, culture and heritage.
  

The deadline to submit entries for The Charity Awards 2010 will soon be upon us. Download your entry form here
  

Make sure your charity's achievements are recognised and rewarded by getting your entry underway today. For more information and to download your entry form visit www.charityawards.co.uk
Deadline for entries: Friday 12 March 2010

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have published an initial review of the Find Your Talent (FYT) programme, launched in 2008. The FYT programme commenced with an announcement of a pilot of a cultural offer to all young people in England comprising an entitlement to five hours per week of high-quality cultural experiences through a more co-ordinated and coherent offer and better local area planning. Ten ‘pathfinder’ areas were chosen to trial different ways of delivering a comprehensive cultural offer. The evaluation can be read in full here.

Achieving great art for everyone is a consultation that sets out Arts Council England's understanding of the current landscape, celebrates the success of the arts and identifies areas for the development over the next ten years.

ACE is asking for your thoughts on the way forward. Your views will inform ACE’s long term strategic framework and the next set of investment decisions. To take part in the consultation visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/consultation

The consultation will close on 14 April 2010.

This one day symposium, presented by Arts & Business, brings together fundraising and development professionals working in the arts and cultural sectors to explore this changing landscape, learn practical survival strategies, seek out opportunities and generate new ideas to stay financially healthy.
 

Programme

The day will include panel discussions looking at different business models in the arts and getting boards engaged with fundraising, along with interactive workshops on pitching to businesses, major gifts ("making the ask") and the importance of looking after your supporters ("donor care").
 

Prices
£80 Arts & Business Arts Members
£150 non members
 

For more details visit: http://www.artsandbusiness.org.uk/Events/2010/jan_mar/london-arts-symposium-26mar2010.aspx   
 

It is anticipated that 10,000 new jobs are to be created within the culture, media and sport sectors for 18-24 yr olds, following successful bids to the Future Jobs Fund . The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is encouraging companies and organisations particularly from the culture, arts, creative industries and media sectors to apply to the Future Jobs Fund. If an organisation has a vacancy that can be filled quickly and will benefit the local community they could be eligible for up to £6,500 towards training and wages from the Future Jobs Fund. This fund of around £1 billion will help to generate new jobs, particularly for 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for more than six months.

Who qualifies?
Any organisation from the public, private or third sector across England, Scotland and Wales can apply. The fund does not cover Northern Ireland.

Each bid should create at least 30 jobs, but smaller organisations can apply together through local authorities or third sector organisations. To qualify, each job must last at least six months

To find out more, and how to make your bid visit the DCMS website or contact your regional Government Office.

The ABO has welcomed Jenny McLeod as its new intern. Jenny joins us as a graduate of St. Andrew's University and hot foot from six months in Australia. She comes from Edinburgh and so was an obvious source of help at the conference!

However, as much as we are delighted to welcome Jenny we are equally sad to have to say goodbye to Lucy Fowell who has been with us for the last six months. Lucy volunteered for us at last year's conference in Cardiff where she was in her final year at university, so as a stalwart of two conferences we shall miss her experience and knowledge of the delegate list mail-merge. However, our notable loss is Steinway and Son's gain as Lucy takes up a full time post with them on Monday. The whole ABO team would like to say a huge thank you to Lucy and to wish her all the best for the future.