Webinar on advocacy for participatory amateur arts activity presented on Zoom on 16 January
presented by Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive of Making Music UK and Board member of Amateo
The Prague Convention 2024 is a document that puts together in a succinct way arguments you could use to advocate for amateur arts in your country. Below you will find a recording of the event, a pdf of the Prague Convention 2024 for you to download, a pdf of the slides presented at the webinar for you to download and an AI generated transcript of the event.
Meeting summary for The Prague Convention 2024 (16/01/2025)
The meeting focused on discussing the Prague Convention, a document advocating for amateur arts in Europe, and the importance of amateur arts activities across different countries. Participants shared experiences and challenges related to funding, recognition, and support for amateur arts in their respective regions. The discussion emphasized the need for better research, collaboration, and advocacy to strengthen the case for amateur arts and increase support from policymakers and funders.
Prague Convention and Amateo Network
Barbara Eifler, the chief executive of Making Music in the UK and a board member of Amateo, led a discussion about the Prague Convention, a document aimed at advocating for amateur arts in Europe. The document was written by board members during a conference in Prague. Barbara also introduced the European network for participatory arts, activity, Amateo, which currently has around 50 members from different European countries. She encouraged participants to keep their cameras off if they didn’t want to be seen on the screen and to adjust their view settings for better visibility. The meeting was recorded for future reference and communication.
Amateur Arts Importance and Funding Models
Barbara discussed the purpose and content of a document aimed at summarizing the importance of amateur arts and activities. She emphasized its utility in influencing stakeholders such as funders, partners, and policymakers. The document, she explained, provides concise arguments for the significance of amateur arts, practical suggestions for actions, and relevant research and data. Barbara also highlighted the document’s focus on active engagement by amateur artists, distinguishing it from passive participation. She noted the
document’s recognition of the different funding models for amateur arts in various countries and its aim to strengthen the case for more appropriate funding. Lastly, she compared the understanding of amateur arts to that of amateur sports, noting that governments generally have a better grasp of the latter.
Amateur Arts and Intangible Cultural Heritage
Barbara discussed the importance of amateur arts, such as music, drama, and art, and how they are often overlooked despite being a significant part of people’s lives. She highlighted that many people take up these activities for various reasons, including personal motivation, preserving intangible cultural heritage, and contributing to their community. She emphasized the importance of passing on these activities to the next generation to keep the cultural heritage alive. Barbara also noted that adults often need an ulterior motive to start an activity, while young people may be motivated by their parents or other factors. She used examples from the United Kingdom, such as cheese rolling and Morris dancing, to illustrate intangible cultural heritage.
Amateur Arts Benefits and Accessibility
Barbara discussed the benefits of amateur arts activities, particularly for young people, in terms of cognitive development, social connections, and community building. She highlighted the importance of introducing young people to these activities early on to encourage lifelong participation. Barbara also emphasized the role of amateur arts in fostering cultural understanding and community cohesion, using examples such as Beyond Skin in Northern Ireland. She stressed the need for geographical, financial, physical, and cultural accessibility for all adults. Barbara also underscored the importance of using research and data to make the case for amateur arts, and suggested building partnerships with relevant stakeholders, such as health providers. Lastly, she highlighted the significance of amateur arts umbrella networks in supporting and developing the activity.
Measuring Economic Impact of Amateur Arts
Barbara discussed the challenges of measuring the economic impact of amateur arts in the UK, citing a lack of funding and outdated research. She suggested that better research on the scale of the activity could help policymakers recognize its importance. Antje from the BMCO in Germany asked about the UK’s reluctance to measure the impact, to which Barbara responded that the activity is not seen by policymakers due to its lack of funding. Barbara also mentioned that her own organisation in the UK is too small to conduct research itself and is seeking funding with academic partners. Emilia thanked everyone involved in the development of the document and emphasized its importance for the network Amateo.
Amateur Arts and Cultural Interpretations
Emilia and Barbara discussed the concept of amateur arts, particularly in the context of music. They agreed that amateur musicians are not meant to make a living out of their activities, but there is a grey area in the UK where some hobby musicians can earn a small fee for playing with amateur orchestras or bands. Conny added that cultural diversity can complicate the understanding of amateur and professional arts, as people from diverse backgrounds may have different structures of interpretation. Barbara also mentioned that the definition of amateur arts is not simple and varies across different art forms and cultures.
Amateur Arts Importance and Research
Barbara and Jan-Willem discussed the importance of amateur arts in their respective regions. Jan-Willem shared his experience in Friesland, Netherlands, where they found that half of the inhabitants were involved in amateur arts, leading to increased support and projects. He suggested that similar research could be beneficial in other areas. Barbara agreed, noting the difficulty of conducting such research in the UK due to its larger population. They also discussed the potential of using amateur arts for projects like healthcare and climate initiatives. The conversation ended with a brief introduction of new attendees.
Amateur Arts Challenges in Portugal and Iceland
The meeting involved a discussion about the state of amateur arts in various countries, particularly Portugal and Iceland. Gabriela, a professional artist from Portugal, shared her experiences working with vulnerable groups and the importance of community involvement in her projects. She also mentioned the challenges of securing funding for her work. Vena, a professional artist from Iceland, shared her struggles with securing funding for her projects, particularly those involving amateur artists. Both artists expressed concerns about the lack of recognition and support for amateur arts in their respective countries. The conversation ended with a discussion about the potential for collaboration and the need for better funding for amateur arts projects.
Amateur Arts Funding and Advocacy
In the meeting, Vena expressed her concerns about the lack of support for amateur arts in Iceland, particularly in the face of budget cuts. Barbara suggested that Vena could approach local authorities and politicians to advocate for the value of amateur arts. Valentina proposed that Vena could also consider opening an NGO organization to access funds and resources. The team also discussed the challenges faced by Sasha in Slovakia due to right-wing politics. The conversation ended with Barbara encouraging Vena to collaborate and share her ideas, and the team agreed to disseminate their document further through culture action Europe.
This AI transcription has been checked by a human!