Making Music joins with BBC Radio 3 to celebrate amateur orchestras

A recent survey conducted by Making Music has revealed that for every professional orchestra in the UK there are at least five amateur orchestras. To celebrate this wealth of amateur music making, BBC Radio 3 has teamed up with Making Music to highlight the achievements of some of the hundreds of amateur orchestras by broadcasting their concerts as part of a new project called Play To The Nation.

Play To The Nation will show off the vibrant and diverse activity of amateur orchestras and musicians around the UK. Throughout October, Performance On 3 will feature performances from Making Music's amateur groups.

New child protection laws for 2009

The creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is part of the biggest overhaul of vetting and barring arrangements ever undertaken in this country. It will cover 11.3 million people wishing to seek work or volunteer with children or vulnerable adults.

From 12 Oct 2009, anyone employed or volunteering to work with children or vulnerable people must apply to be registered with the ISA, in addition to the existing CRB checks. After this date it will be a criminal offence to employ anyone to work with children or vulnerable adults who is not registered. Applicants (apart from volunteers) must pay a one-off fee of £64 to register (£28 for registration with ISA and £36 for an enhanced CRB check).

Private investment in culture rises

New figures from the annual Arts & Business Investment survey 2006-07 show private investment in culture in the North East has risen for the 6th year in a row to £24.79m.

Only the South East (£26.96m) and North West (£27.56m) saw larger regional investments. The investment figures include business sponsorship, money from Trusts and Foundations, and Individual Giving, so they reflect to some extent the investment and regional significance of money from Northern Rock Foundation.

The figures also show there are a large number of small sponsorships in the region, as might be expected from the branch economy in the North East, and that giving to culture by individuals is pretty undeveloped in comparison to the rest of the country.

National figures show almost £600m total investment with about half coming from Individuals and £171m from business. For more information and a copy of the report please see www.aandb.org.uk or contact Jane Tarr at Sponsors Club for Arts & Business on jt@communityfoundation.org.uk.