2014 was a year in which Brass Bands England re-organised, planned, and re-connected with MP’s, bands and organisations supporting bands.
We helped member bands and associations to:
- find funds
- create youth bands
- develop community music spaces
- find local help, attract players
- connect with volunteers
- update their safeguarding procedures
- work through child protection issues
- work with music hubs
- become stronger as a creative business
- find improved venues
- reach new audiences
- partner with other groups
- publicise their bands
- …and more
With our part time Administrator, our full time Liaison Officer, and our volunteer Trustees and Chairman, we’ve re-organised the head office, sourced increased funding from the Arts Council, re-launched the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brass Bands, designed and written Phase One of our new website, and taken steps towards the employment of our Operations manager for early 2015, and a further two Liaison Officers when the new funding arrives in April. All this on top of regular meetings and our flagship event, the National Youth Brass Band Championships.
Liaison Officer Rachel, in addition to the above, has connected bands with funding sources, funding experts, music heroes, inspirational musicians from other music genres, schools, information and business support organisations, to name but a few, and has shared her weekly activities via the Tumblr blog, rachel-brassbandsengland.tumblr.com and Twitter, as well as via occasional member emails, articles on the BBE website, and updates to the banding press or via news releases.
So what’s new for 2015?
- As well as continuing our work of 2014, we’re offering to all bands and associations new workshops:
- Social Media
- Child Protection
- Grants for the Arts and Heritage Lottery
- we’ll be looking at the role of trustees/committee members in bands and in Brass Bands England
- we’ll be assisting bands and associations to be safer, to connect with other artists, and more
- we’ll be working with partners including Arts Council England, the Safe Network, FCS Associates, Genius Division, Third Sector Cafe and Enterprising Barnsley.
Examples of our projects this year include:
- looking at virtual box office facility
- developing phase 2 of the website
- improving member services offers, and communication,
- child protection support
- a further focus on philanthropic giving
- connecting with the Associations to assist their growth
- growing our partnerships with organisations like the Royal Northern College of Music, Unibrass and Music Hubs
- research, statistical analysis, audience development and building capacity for a business focus
- …and a host of other projects aimed at developing the future and preserving the heritage of brass banding.
There is more in planning that we haven’t mentioned here – see the banding press and media outlets, this website, Twitter and Rachel’s blog for updates throughout the year.
Best wishes from all at Brass Bands England for 2015