Youth Music Forum/Scottish Arts Council Meeting

Written by Administrator

Friday, 11 September 2009 23:25

Key points discussed were as follows:
·
SAC are interested in the mapping exercises undertaken to identify common issues / themes across the country. There are 18 forums in Scotland –
Fife being the most recent having received their grant last month.
·
Not concerned if the forum is local authority run / a consortium of organisations or driven by one organisation.
·
Ideally the forum should aim to have representation from all those involved in music provision to young people.
Keen to encourage the forum being opened to other agencies such as local authority community learning and development, dialogue youth etc.
·
Funding is not particularly for delivery of activities. It is up to the local group to decide how to spend it. Some examples from other forums include
– online community portal, 3 / 4 satellite forums, bringing in a temporary coordinator, bringing in a consultant to do the mapping exercise.
·
Following the mapping exercise the next step is to use this to inform the forum’s strategy.
·
SAC are looking to hold a National Seminar Day in the autumn with 2 / 3 representatives from each forum and also targeting areas where there currently
isn’t a forum.
·
SAC are looking to establish a forum in each of the 32 local authority areas.
·
Dumfries and Galloway have split their area into several forums but there is a funding issue with this. Clearly if locally it is decided to use a
different mechanism for the forum then SAC not adverse to this as long as not reliant on SAC funding.
Keen to encourage collaborative working / best practice between forums.
·
Discussed learning from organisations such as SBBBA to help smaller grass roots community organisations e.g. pipe band.
·
SAC reluctant to steer the forums but happy to offer suggestions / pointers. It is up to the forums to decide their focus and role based on local
knowledge.
·
Ideas put forward include:
Providing musical experience for and with young people & encouraging networking
SBBBA works by working as an event based forum with common event to work towards
·
The youth music strategy identified 3 key priorities:
Creating access to high quality programmes
Develop cohesive infrastructures
Support and develop workforce
SAC has a £10 million budget of which £8 million goes to local authorities to deliver the P6 target.
·
The SAC action plan responds to the 18 / 19 points of the strategy – the key aim being to promote, sustain, widen and develop opportunities. To do this
there is a need to get key providers locally around the table – hence the forums.
·
The forums provide an opportunity to map out if there’s a clash in the type, timing and category of provision within the local area. It is an
opportunity to identify resources not currently being used fully.
·
The Brass Band Association might be a good model to follow re regional / national networking.
·
The local Community Learning and Development department can be approached by the forum to develop / strengthen youth music events in the area.
·
SAC does understand that these forums are a challenge and that some may fold – it is a learning experience. SAC are keen for the forums to become
champions of YMI.
·
There is an expectation that the 1^st and 2^nd years funding will be for developing the aims of the funding – to be worked out by
the group. Need to decide – is it viable? The focus and what is achievable.
·
The forum provides a unified voice for the youth music sector. Helps to secure / strengthen youth music provision
·
The current funding is up to 31 March 2011 and the forum is a key part of securing funding post 2011.
·
The current round of funding is due to end at the end of May. SAC are keen to keep impetus so there is the opportunity to put in a new application
for funding. Will need to report back on the things the forum said would deliver – strategy / development plan / action plan. This will inform the next
application.
·
One of the outcomes was to set up a constituted body with delegated roles – treasurer / chair / secretary. Identify key people - maybe rotated each
year / voted in every year.
·
The aspiration ideally is to have a constituted body at the end of the first 12 months.
·
SAC welcome the approach from forums rather than local authorities for funding.
·
In Edinburgh forum that have started with following questions:
What can you offer the forum
How do we set up a mechanism so the forum drives itself
Suggestions
One of the forum aims be to increase visibility.
Small, locally town based events might be better than regional approach
Maybe job of forum is to break down territory issues
BBA could come to forum to provide a good working model
Investigate how other forums are working
Using expertise within the forum e.g. to develop / maintain website and possibly develop social networking function
(must be well moderated)
Possibly meet with Youth Social Organisations
·
Cultural coordinators to look at how forum can be developed through schools. Also information about the quality of contact; how the forum’s
strength can be utilised to develop staff across schools. (e.g. brass band does tour of Primary Schools). Key is getting the voice of young people into the
forum and the cultural coordinators are a key part of this. Would be useful to know what has happened in schools, which schools are getting a lot, which are
missing out. An ongoing mapping process of what is going on in schools.
·
Next step is to talk to young people via cultural coordinators /
dialogue youth / VOMO
·
Get a clear idea of what is available currently e.g. through Arts
Development – meet up with Lisa Denham to find ways to tie into current
activities.
David to email list of questions to Bill and Iain to evaluate the first year of the YMF. SAC keen to test the temperature a year on across the country

Last Updated on Monday, 12 July 2010 22:51

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