Robin Simpson, Chief Executive of Voluntary Arts explains why he thinks removing licensing red tape will encourage more amateur performances while easing the burden on organisers.
“Much of this legislation has been developed with the professional world in mind, where there is more capacity to manage bureaucratic processes and systems. For voluntary groups this can be a serious burden and can place huge limitations on their ability and confidence to deliver and expand activity.”
Voluntary Arts is the national representative organisation for the amateur arts and crafts. We represent tens of thousands of groups of singers, musicians, actors, dancers, painters and craftspeople across the country. These groups are self-organised, non-profit, community groups. ‘Our Creative Talent’ said:
“Crucially, the voluntary arts sector is a prime example of balancing supply and demand at a local level. This has enabled many groups to be sustainable over a long period of time, some for decades and even over 100 years, and indicates that the sector is highly valued by those directly participating in creative activity, by audiences and by the wider community.”
Clear, simple guidance on the changes to entertainment licensing will be available shortly through Running Your Group – our suite of online information services for the people running amateur groups. Running Your Group contains our library of Voluntary Arts Briefings as well as a range of new resources including interactive learning modules and live webcasts. Running Your Group is an invaluable resource for amateur arts groups, local authority Arts Development Officers, national umbrella bodies and any professional arts organisations working with amateur groups.