28/11/2010 by admin.

Dear friends - You are no doubt aware that there are due to be massive cuts in the IOW Council budgets in the next few months. This, and the way that adult education will now be funded, or not, means the future of the Carnival Learning Centre is under serious threat.

BUT MAY BE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY!

If there is sufficient community support there might be a way forward to ensure the survival of the centre and the carnival development programme that is recognised nationally as a best practice model. The bare bones of a plan would entail:-

• Establishing an independent organisation with charitable legal structure, management committee and robust business plan. The Carnival Academy??
• Like minded projects and organisations would need to be based here with a clear understanding of how they can work independently and collectively to develop work both on and off the Island.
• Agreeing an asset transfer arrangement with the Council. The Centre was refurbished and much of the equipment was purchased with external funding. There are caveats within the funding agreement that the building and it’s contents should be retained for arts and learning purposes for a number of years.
• Successfully tendering for contracts from the IOW Council (or whoever will be responsible for delivering adult and community learning) to deliver outcomes for the Skills Funding Agency. These would need to be delivered through activities of the core organisations working from the building.
• Agreeing a three year funding package with the Arts Council. The Arts Council are aware of these early plans and are supportive. They believe there is a considerable legacy to protect.
• Retaining all of the existing contracts with organisations like Art Asia, Youth Music, PUSH, WWLP and developing new ones.

Obviously there is a long way to go in a short space of time. To make this have any chance of becoming a raging success we need to be sure that the carnival community is behind the idea and wants to be an active part of the plan.

As such we are calling an initial meeting so interested parties can contribute to a plan. The above may be it - probably a better one will emerge!

So - if you can contribute, if you have an opinion or an idea, please come to a blue sky meeting at the Carnival Learning Centre on Thursday 2nd December at 7.30 - 8.30. (Frankie and I will buy the mince pies). If you can’t make it, but want to help, support, offer advice please give me a ring or email.

With very best wishes

Chris

Carnival Centre Development Manager
Carnival Learning Centre
Westridge
Brading Road
Ryde
Isle of Wight
PO33 1QS
Tel 01983 817283 | Mob 07976 009040 | Fax 01983 817280

www.thecarnivallearningcentre.org

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09/11/2010 by admin.

The Government has helped broker a new deal between charities and music creators on the music licensing system.

From now on, a public venue, including those used by a charity or not-for-profit organisation, where music is played from records, CDs, the radio or television will now require a licence from both PPL and PRS for Music. These organisations collect and distribute royalties on behalf of copyright holders such as composers, lyricists, music publishers, record companies and musicians.

The new system will be fair for both musicians and charities. Those involved in creating music will be rewarded for their work while a package of measures have been agreed to protect charities from excessive costs.

In July 2008 the Government carried out a consultation into amending this legislation. In November last year the then Government responded to the consultation by saying it would reform the licensing system.

This was followed by more than 18 months of negotiations with PPL and charity representatives.

Since May this year it has been agreed that:

• Charities will be exempt from paying for a PPL licence for the first year giving them 12 months to prepare for the change
• The lowest tariff of £40 a year has been extended to cover more than 60 per cent of the buildings where voluntary groups meet instead of only 30 per cent of buildings
• The licence for community buildings has been extended to cover outdoor events like village fetes and carnivals
• The vast majority of charity shops will pay the lowest tariff of £54 a year
• The charity shop licence will cover back offices as well as the shop floor.

Charities will not face more red tape and bureaucracy. PPL and PRS for Music will create a single licensing system so organisations will only have to make one application.

Ministers have carefully examined the issues, looking at the results of the consultation and the months of negotiations between charities, not-for-profit organisations and PPL.

A statutory instrument ending the exemption was laid in Parliament today.

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said:

“We have worked hard to ensure that charities, particularly small organisations and charity shops, get extra protection and that the impact of any changes is minimised.

“It will be difficult to satisfy everyone but we have achieved a fairer balance between the need to reward musicians for their work and the need to protect charities from excessive costs and additional bureaucracy.

“In addition, we hope that the agreed delay in implementing these changes will give the whole sector time to prepare and will allow discussions to continue.”

Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox said:

“The major aspects of the new licensing system have been addressed. The new system creates a balance between musicians and charities.

“Charities have been fully consulted throughout this process. The new licensing arrangements are balanced, just, and fair.”

Charities and not-for-profit organisations will not begin paying until next year allowing time for further discussions.

A new way to address complaints will be created by PPL. If organisations believe they have been treated unfairly, they will be able to appeal to a new independent reviewer.

PPL will operate the same voluntary exceptions as PRS for Music - at family occasions such as weddings, religious services, on hospital wards and for medical therapy.

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