Bookings are still coming in, joining the many members who met the early booking deadline. However, if you haven’t booked yet, then don’t worry, there is still time, places available and many things that you are not going to want to miss from this year's conference in Cardiff. Unfortunately climate change waits for no-one and the BBC is sending David Shukman to the Arctic, which means that he has had to excuse himself from our keynote speech. But we are delighted that David Buckland, Director of Cape Farewell, has stepped into the breach and is going to show us images and data from their latest expedition. He is joining Lord Smith, chair of the Environment Agency and Lord Kinnock at our opening session. We have also added in a hands-on session that will look at the new PBS Visa system with some of the UKBA officials to talk you through the legislation and the mechanics of sponsorship, and accountants Grant Thornton are joining the Sustainable Finance session, looking at risk and cost reduction in the present economic slowdown. And there will be lots of music from members of WNO and RWCMD. 25-27 February 2009 in Cardiff. Everyone else will be there. Make sure you are too!

The following meetings are confirmed for this spring:

25 February: Opera & Ballet Managers' Meeting, WMC, Cardiff
3 April: Scottish Members' Meeting, RSAMD, Glasgow
17 April: Digital Managers' Meeting, Southbank Centre, London
23 April: Finance Managers' Meeting, SOLT / TMA, London
11 May: Chamber Orchestra Managers' Meeting, Barbican Centre, London
14 May: Education Managers' Meeting, LSO Bonhill Street, London
20 May: Development & Sponsorship 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.
 

The latest HOC Charter Marks will be awarded at the opening session in Cardiff by new MBF CEO David Sulkin. For those orchestras who have not yet applied for Bronze, or for those who want to take their Charter Marks further and apply for Silver, the next deadline will be Friday 24th April 2009.

With barely time to mutter Happy New Year and jot down our resolutions, the ABO team has swung quickly back into a busy routine here in Rupert Street. Much of the focus is inevitably on the Conference (make sure you have booked!) but we have also met with the following people on behalf of members:
Judith Ackrill; The Guardian; Capita Symonds; Classic FM; Southbank Centre; Festival Republic; Musicians Union; Fresh Digital; Musicians Benevolent Fund; DHA; Ed Vaizey. We also attended events and meetings of: NCA; NMC; A&B; LCACE; ERA 21; Westminster Media Forum; the Radio 3 launch; Andy Burnham’s address to the Fabian Society; ACEVO AGM; Sir Christopher Frayling's valedictory lecture; and members of the team attended performances given by ENB; London Sinfonietta; Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra; Southbank Sinfonia; NYO.

We also held a re-scheduled Brass Tacks course, and we appointed a new Intern! Kirsten Mackay will join the team on 16 February and both she and Hester will work with us at the Conference in Cardiff. Please make her feel welcome!

Managing Creative People
Thursday 12 February 2009
TMA, Rose Street, London
TMA/ABO Member rate £130 + VAT

By boosting personal confidence, assertiveness and rapport skills this course will enable participants to improve their communication skills and manage challenging situations in a creative environment. Using creative management techniques and NLP-based coaching skills this one day course will provide practical tips and skills for dealing with creative personalities allowing participants to maximum their effectiveness and develop skills that can be practically applied in the work-place, creative environments and daily life.

Resolving Conflict with Customers
Thursday 26th February 2009
Prince of Wales Theatre, London
TMA/ABO Member rate £55 + VAT

This half day workshop will help your FOH staff anticipate, prevent, resolve and learn from conflict situations involving customers. It will help develop a consistency of understanding and approach when dealing with these situations. Specially designed for front of house staff working in arts and entertainment venues, this workshop is suitable for anyone whose job brings them into regular and direct contact with the general public : front of house managers; stewards and ushers; cloaks attendants; bar and box office staff. You will learn: how to identify the most common causes of customer conflict in your organisation; how to recognise the early warning signs of conflict; and how to prevent conflict from escalating.

To request more details on any of the TMA courses or to book your place please contact Justine Forrest at justine@solttma.co.uk or 020 7557 6706

Arts & Business have published the latest figures on arts philanthropy. The total figure for private sector investment in culture reached a record high in 07/08, climbing 12% (above inflation) to £686 million in the UK. However, investment from business declined, falling 7% from the previous year. Business investment now stands at £163 million and accounts for 24% of the overall contribution from the private sector. In 07/08, investment from Individuals reached £382 million, a 25% increase that continues the trend of fast-paced growth that began to accelerate in 05/06. The amount of support from Trusts & Foundations also continued to increase, reaching £141 million, experiencing a 7% increase from last year and accounting for 21% of the total private investment in the cultural sector. More HERE.
 

The Verbier Festival is launching a new Academy for young conductors this summer. This will be led by Kurt Masur although the participants will also have the opportunity to see other conductors as they work with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, including Charles Dutoit, Manfred Honeck and Yuri Temirkanov. The participants will also have the unique opportunity to conduct the orchestra in public concerts on 31 July and 1 August 2009. For further details visit www.verbierfestival.com/academy

The Charity Awards 2009
Thursday 11 June
London
www.charityawards.co.uk  

Be proud of your achievements. Ensure they are recognised and rewarded.

Enter The Charity Awards 2009, the voluntary sector's premier awards programme at www.charityawards.co.uk

Success at The Charity Awards boosts staff morale, enhances your influence, helps funding applications and is a superb opportunity to raise your profile.
With such impressive benefits, the effort of entering is repaid many times over!

Entry to The Charity Awards 2009 is free to all charities throughout the UK.

Visit www.charityawards.co.uk to download your entry form.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in London on Thursday 11 June 2009.
This glamorous event is always a hugely inspirational and enjoyable evening, to which all shortlisted charities are invited as VIP guests.


If you have a great story or project you are particularly proud of, then we want to hear from you. Entering The Charity Awards could give you the recognition you so richly deserve, so why not get your entry underway today?

The old County Hall on London’s South Bank is offering a smallish space for music, theatre or dance rehearsals - see link and info below.

Anyone interested in the space should contact Farouk Almohdzar, events@themovieum.com. It is not available just yet, but probably will come on line in the next few weeks. They are trying to see what sort of market is out there for this kind of use so if you ever have trouble finding suitable space of this size (suitable for small orchestra) then please do express interest to them.


http://www.themovieum.com/venue-hire.html
http://www.weirdandwonderful.com/light/sections/virtual_tour/J6/j6.html

14.8m long x 8m wide x 4.5m high
Loading bay and lifts
Chairs available
events@themovieum.com
 

The Incorporated Society of Musicians, is holding a one day seminar, Sound Foundations, at the University of Westminster, London, on Saturday 28 February. This event will bring together pre-school and primary music education experts to share best practice in children's musical learning. Participants will hear about contrasting approaches to musical learning and take part in practical sessions to find out how music fits in with the Early Years and primary curriculum. There will also be a chance to find out how video teaching can make a difference to music lessons.

Dr Susan Young, senior lecturer in early childhood studies and music education at the University of Exeter, will discuss New Times, New Challenges for Early Years learning in her opening address and music education consultant Leonora Davies MBE will speak about how pupils can make a smooth transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3.

Alan Cameron, education officer at Dumfries & Galloway Council, will demonstrate how he uses video conference technology to deliver instrumental lessons to children across a wide geographical area.

There will be two workshops about music for under-5s: Margareta Burrell, music therapist and teacher, will lead a session on music & movement based on the principles of Dalcroze; and Sarah Carling will show how music fits in with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and preparation for Key Stage 1.

The seminar costs £60, £50 (ISM members) and £10 (ISM student members). You can download a booking form from ism.org/soundfoundations or for more information
contact Callum Thomson, Marketing & Media Manager, t 020 7629 4413 / e callum@ism.org  

Louise Mitchell, currently Director of Glasgow’s Concert Halls, has been appointed the new Director of Glasgow UNESCO City of Music.