In June, our CEO Barbara Eifler, spoke at a conference in the Czech Republic about 'associations as a significant phenomenon of cultural life in the Czech Republic'.
I was slightly apprehensive as the conference approached. Would my talk about Making Music and its members be of interest to the Czech, Slovakian and Croatian attendees?
There was no need for concern. My hosts, NIPOS (an organisation comparable to the UK’s Creative Lives – supporting voluntary groups and amateurs in all art forms), already knew of me (and Making Music) as a fellow trustee of European charity Amateo.
I had also correctly worked out that 'associations' in the Czech Republic denotes groups constituted similarly to many Making Music members in the UK: committees of volunteers, themselves participants in the group, organising arts activities for their own and their communities' benefit.
My presentation described how Making Music functions as an association – with membership electing the Board of trustees, paying a subscription and receiving benefits, and what support Making Music provides, such as practical services, connections and a community, and speaking up on behalf of members and leisure-time music. I spoke about how members operate, how groups are run, their varied musical activities, the impact on participants, communities and society.
As the conference progressed, I felt increasingly comforted at discovering these impacts and challenges are the same in other countries. It's not difficult to break even or recruit volunteers specifically in the UK – it's the same everywhere!
A few inspirational stories stayed with me.
One association was founded in a small town outside Prague 20 years ago by parents to provide arts-based afterschool activities although the school itself was in the next town. Activities and ambition grew, creating exhibitions, concerts and festivals, until the group successfully campaigned for a school in their own town, with the arts activities embedded in its building. 20 years on, young people return to the town – having been away to study or work – to live, work, start a family, and volunteer. Having benefitted as children, they are now giving back. Start 'em young, folks!
The mayor of a small and remote mountain village, with a tiny council budget, described how nonetheless their village is a year-long hive of events and festivals with everyone involved in at least two community groups. Owing to its isolation, this village shows clearly that it is volunteer-led associations that make communities.
There are two points where I see a difference between Central Europe and the UK. One is a jitteryness about political interference, maybe in part due to their history in the former Soviet bloc. Politicians still often use culture as an influencing tool, and communities are wary. For example, in Hungary the political right claim folk arts as theirs, using them to align themselves in the public's eye positively with history and traditions.
The second difference is that many associations are funded by government, directly from the centre or by regional or local authorities. This means funding is dependent on political priorities at the time (see above...); and I have known it to mean that every small travel budget needs to be approved by a ministry (this example not from the Czech Republic). We are lucky in the UK to have Arms Length Bodies (such as the arts councils, whatever their faults) that parry blows from politicians on our behalf, whilst we can apply for funding on criteria not generally politically motivated.
I may have strayed into gloominess, so to end positively: there is an emphasis in many European countries on amateur festivals; not necessarily competitive, but as opportunities for groups with the same enthusiasms to come together to learn, be inspired by each other, and have a great time. It sounds like we are missing out a bit here – so if there is no relevant festival in the UK, how about taking your group to Europa Cantat, one of Interkultur's international choir festivals or the next European Orchestra Federation Festival? (There are others – ask us for suggestions).
I came away from that conference – and my years on the Amateo board – feeling affirmed: what Making Music members do is impactful, important and replicated in every country in Europe (and beyond). There are millions of people like us all over the world whose life is happier and whose burdens are lighter because of getting together with others to make music, art, theatre, photography etc. and to celebrate that everyone everywhere has it in them to make life sing, and zing.
