CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND THE CLASSICAL MUSIC INDUSTRY

Overview  Programme  More Information

10:00 Registration and coffee
 
10:20  WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Simon Crookall Chairman, Association of British Orchestras
 
10:30 IS CLASSICAL MUSIC READY FOR DIVERSITY?
A keynote address by Lord Claus Moser Chairman, British Museum Development Trust
 
10:50 PERCEPTION vs REALITY
Professor Lola Young Head of Culture, Greater London Authority asks how the Classical Music sector can face up to a 21st Century Britain in an examination of the measurements to build successfully integrated orchestras.  If after ten years nothing much changes, what will the future look like for classical music?  Is enough of the right kind of work being done at grassroots levels to make the change and how fast should this change be?

Panel: 
Kim Evans Executive Director of Arts, Arts Council England
Professor Edward Gregson Principal, Royal Northern College of Music
Stephen Maddock Chief Executive, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Roger Wright Controller, BBC Radio 3
 
11:45 DIVERSITY IN PRACTICE: SPACE & LOCATION
Is the future bright?  Roger Lewis Managing Director and Programme Controller, Classic FM introduces three organisations, each sharing their powerful experiences of working with communities and schools, conveying the ‘on the ground’ response to classical music and venues.

Panel: 
Michelle Abbey Audience Development Officer, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark Stephenson Artistic Director, London Musici
Katherine Zeserson Director of Community Music, The Sage Gateshead
 
12:30 Break for lunch
 
13:30  AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT LAB
Two-way focus groups, in which questions about the obstacles & opportunities in reaching a culturally diverse target audience will be addressed in three mock laboratories.  The invited target audience will be able to ask delegates facilitated questions about what they would like to see at venues, on the stage and in the surrounds.   
Chair: Kirsten Mason Head of Professional Development, Arts & Business

Location, location, location
Facilitator Hilary McGrady Director of Programmes, A&B
Reaching out to communities. How accessible is classical music both physically and metaphorically? How deep do outreach projects go? Includes a response from the community about partnerships.

Posh and Past it
Facilitator Linda Griffiths Creative Training & Development Associate, A&B
What messages does mainstream classical music send out?  What are the factors which contribute to attendance or non-attendance ? What needs to change?
 
What's in it for me?
Facilitator Rosie Sturges Professional Development Manager Wales, A&B
Expectations and perceptions of classical music and orchestras - the venue, the audience, the marketing, the experience? What is its relevance to diverse communities? How can orchestras make the attendance of such events more appealing - communication and actual experience?

Followed by feedback at 14:45.

15:00 DIVERSITY MEANS BUSINESS
A panel of business leaders share how they have embraced equality and diversity as a growth strategy to secure the best talent, improve staff retention, build new markets and address product development issues.  Chair Sally Taylor Interim General Manager, Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble assists in drawing parallels from consumer-based businesses.

Panel: 
Pam Farmer HR Manager, Equality and Diversity, BT plc
Roger Putnam Chairman, Ford Motor Company Limited
Hilary Wiseman Head of Diversity, HSBC Bank plc
 
16:20 DIVERGENT THINKING – OPENING DOORS
Bonnie Greer writer, broadcaster and Board Member, Royal Opera House takes a look at Covent Garden’s upcoming project A Nitro at the Opera with celebrated classical musician and composer, Clement Ishmael and ROH2 producer Phyllida Ritter.
 
16:50 THE SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND
A call to action for British Orchestras from Beverley Mason Managing Director, medar pysden creative industries associates
 
17:00 CLOSING REMARKS
Simon Crookall Chairman, Association of British Orchestras