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Voluntary Arts England > news > current news
Only 6 weeks left – nominate your group for an epic award - posted 26.7.2010 
Some great entries have already started making their way to us for the epic awards 2010 – if your art or craft group is doing some excellent work then why not nominate them for an award?
The epic awards is our national award scheme designed to recognise and shine a spotlight on the excellent work taking place within the 50,000+ voluntary and amateur art and craft groups operating throughout the country. The epic awards invite voluntary and amateur art and craft groups to nominate themselves in four categories;
• engagement
• partnerships
• innovation
• creativity
Winners receive a package of benefits including cash, training, equipment and publicity as well as being invited to a winners’ reception at the House of Lords.
Find out more and nominate your own group at www.epicawards.co.uk
Arts Council England self-evaluation framework - posted 26.7.2010 
The Arts Council has published its self-evaluation framework to provide arts organisations with a flexible, development tool to support them in evaluating their own performance and to help inform their future planning.
The framework has been published on th Arts Council’s website. It focuses on six key areas:
• vision
• external environment
• artistic aspirations and programme
• participation and engagement
• organisational capacity and capability
• business model
The web pages feature a series of questions and resources to help organisations to consider how effectively they are achieving their own mission and outcomes, and develop their plans for the future.
The framework can be used by any arts organisation and each organisation will use it differently – focusing on the areas that are most relevant to them. There is a comment functionality so that users can share their own experiences along with techniques and tools that they have found useful.
You can find information on self-evaluation, and the framework, at www.artscouncil.org.uk/selfevaluation
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - posted 26.7.2010  deadline: 30 September 2010
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local communities. Find out what work the award is given for, who decides on the nominations, and when the announcement of winners is made.
You can nominate any volunteer group if you know about the work they do. However, you can’t nominate a group that you are a part of, for example if you are a volunteer or a staff member.Any group of two or more people doing volunteering work that is a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award. In order to be nominated, volunteer groups should do work that:
• provides a service and meets a need for people living in the local community
• is supported, recognised and respected by the local community and the people who benefit from it
• is run locally
Also, volunteer groups should have been running for three years or more. Any member of the public can nominate a volunteer group working in the local community, even if you benefit from its work. You can’t nominate a group that you are a part of, for example if you are a volunteer (including trustees) or a paid staff member.
More: www.direct.gov.uk
Save our Sound UK - posted 26.7.2010
Following its review of the use of the radio spectrum in the UK, Ofcom has identified certain radio frequencies which it believes could be auctioned off. As a consequence, some users of radio microphones in the UK will be squeezed out with large stocks rendered redundant. Save our Sound is campaigning for fair compensation to be offered to those affected.
If Ofcom’s current proposals are implemented, then all affected microphones will need to be replaced by equipment that can operate on different frequencies. Such measures are expected to adversely affect arts and TV productions, from performers to engineers, as well as small to large businesses who are involved in the manufacture and distribution of this equipment.
One of the main concerns is the Government’s current commitment for compensation: some will be entitled to only a small fraction of what it will cost to replace, and the rest will receive nothing at all. Productions are likely to be impacted if those who own and supply this essential equipment do not receive adequate compensation that allows them to replace their entire inventory with like-for-like alternatives.
The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is urging its members to use the opportunity presented by a new government to write to MPs to raise the issue directly with the Chief of Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, who will be the primary decision-maker.
You can see a copy of a letter that they are suggesting people use when writing to their MPs at www.artscampaign.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=517
source: NCA PRS for Music customer consultation on charges for popular music events - posted 26.7.2010 deadline: 7 September 2010
If you run a festival or an event, club, concert or promote live music anywhere you are a PRS customer and you need to read this.
PRS for Music is conducting a customer consultation on charges for popular music events. You are invited to participate in the consultation and PRS would welcome your views. You can find the consultation document on the PRS website at: www.prsformusic.com/customerconsultation.
The results of this consultation may well end up changing the charges and PRS strongly recommend you review the whole document and send direct to them any comments you may have by 7 September 2010.
source: Association of Festival Organisers DCMS Structural Reform Plan - posted 26.7.2010 
The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Structural Reform Plan, published by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, sets out the department’s priorities for the next three years and beyond. Key commitments include:
• Leading Europe in universal and superfast broadband
• Supporting strong local media
• Delivering a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012
• Encouraging philanthropy and bringing the National Lottery back to its original good causes
• Developing a new Schools Olympics competition
• Supporting sustainable growth in tourism and the creative industries
Plans for culture, heritage and other areas will be announced after the Spending Review in October.
You can read the structural reform plan by visiting www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7246.aspx
Sector leaders call to protect small charities from music charges - posted 26.7.2010
The Chief Executives of NCVO, NAVCA and Volunteering England have written to Government Ministers calling on them to protect the very smallest charities from new music charges.
The charges, expected to be brought into force early next week before Parliament rises for the summer recess, are being imposed by the Intellectual Property Office which is part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Government’s own figures suggest that this will cost voluntary and community organisations up to £20 million a year.
Read the letter at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/news/civil-society/sector-leaders-call-protect-small-charities-music-charges
Review of the contribution of Arts Council funded organisations to music opportunities for children and young people. - posted 26.7.2010 
Arts Council England's support and advocacy for music education and participation dates back many years, covering a wide range of audience development initiatives, family and school concerts and artist-led creative projects with schools and communities.
This report considers the impact this work has on young people and the role these organisations play in the wider music education landscape.
Read the full review visit www.artscouncil.org.uk
Creative Co-operatives - posted 26.7.2010 
A guide and connected website for people in the creative sector who might be interested in collaborating and co-operating with others has been produced by Co-operatives UK at www.creatives.uk.coop.
Creative Co-operatives is for anyone working in the creative industries who is interested in collaborating and co operating with other people. Find out about what it’s like to work in a creative co-operative, hear from industry leaders about their view on co operation, network and find out how you can start a co operative business.
source: Volresource Charity commission publishes update on public benefit - posted 26.7.2010 
The Charity Commission for England and Wales has provided an update on how charities should demonstrate and report on the benefit they bring to the public, as set out in the Charities Act 2006.
The update relates to two areas of work: the publication of four assessments of arts charities; and completion of the work in connection to assessments into the public benefit of 12 charities conducted in 2009, including charities advancing religion, independent charitable schools and charitable care homes.
The purpose of conducting assessments into the public benefit of a selection of charities is to provide real examples for the rest of the charity sector, to help in their awareness and understanding of public benefit, alongside the published guidance the Commission has already published.
Read more at http://charitytimes.com/ct/Charity_Commission_benefit.php.
The summary plans and reports are available at http://charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/Updates/Public_benefit_assessments.aspx.
source: Charity Times |
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