CLAIMING A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR MUSIC – IMPALA JOINS 75 ORGANISATIONS IN AN OPEN LETTER TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 1st July 2021,
Along 75 other organisations from the music sector, IMPALA co-signed the following open letter “Claiming a front row seat for music” which was sent to the European Commission, European Parliament and national governments.
Read the letter here and below:
Claiming a front row seat for Music
“Music is at the centre of the well-being of our spirit, of our body and mind. It’s not only entertainment, it’s more than that!”
Angélique Kidjo in her keynote at the 2021 European Forum on Music
After more than 15 months of lockdowns, and hardly any concerts, festivals, collective singing, band or orchestra practice, clubbing and music education in or out of schools, the music sector in Europe and the world is at risk of turning into a stigmatised sector where only very few forms will survive.
“In addition to the current health and economic crises, humanity faces nothing less than a potential global “cultural catastrophe”, with severe, long-lasting consequences for cultural rights – and other human rights – if necessary action is not taken immediately by all relevant actors. Karima Benoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights
We enjoy the recent re-opening of many parts of the music life and we hope that societies can start to recover from this unexpected pandemic. We welcome the “EU’s guidelines for the safe resumption of activities in the cultural and creative sector” (1) and we can confirm that the music sector has always put health and safety first and will continue to do so. Nevertheless, infection rates may go up again, and therefore, we turn to you today with the request to take into account the societal relevance of the music sector in your political actions. We are grateful for the diverse and rapid support that the EU and national governments have provided as a reaction to the crisis. (2) Now comes the time to think long-term and to fully acknowledge the artistic, social and economic value of the music sector.
According to the Study “Rebuilding Europe” (3) the music sector faced a loss of 76% in turnover in 2020 as a consequence of Covid-19; the loss in music practices with a cultural and social value will be equally high.
Despite all the restrictions, the music sector demonstrated that it is flexible and able to adapt quickly to change. In the past years, more and more small, organic, non-hierarchical initiatives have seen the light of day. Additionally, venues, centres, festivals across the globe are changing their models and opening their doors in previously unknown ways, embracing concepts of digitisation, co-creation, co-direction, inclusion and shared leadership. Likewise, music education and community music practices have embraced digital learning tools for keeping up with active music making.
We therefore ask you to:
We are convinced that the music sector has the capacity to help overcome the Covid-19 crisis. The music sector will contribute to the digital, green and inclusive recovery of Europe. We will use all our potential to come out of the crisis stronger and we ask you to support us in doing so.
1 July 2021
SIGNATORIES
European and International Music Organisations
AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen CIA – Confédération Internationale des Accordeonistes
EAS – European Association for Music in Schools
ECMTA – European Chamber Music Teachers Association
ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
EFA – European Festival Association
EFNYO – European Federation of National Youth Orchestras
EJN – Europe Jazz Network
EMC – European Music Council
EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange
EMMA – European Music Managers Alliance
EMU – European Music School Union
EOFed – European Orchestra Federation
FIM – International Federation of Musicians
GESAC – European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
Green Music Initiative
IAMIC – International Association of Music Information Centres
IAML – International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres IAO – International Artist Organisation
IMC – International Music Council
IMMF – International Music Managers Forum
IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association
IMPF – Independent Music Publishers International Forum
IMZ – International Music + Media Centre
ISCM – International Society for Contemporary Music
JMI – Jeunesses Musicales International
Julie’s Bicycle
Live DMA – European network for live music venues, clubs and festivals
Liveurope – the live music platform for new European talent NAMM – National Association of Music Merchants
Opera Europa
Pearle* – Live Performance Europe
REMA – Early Music in Europe
WFIMC – World Federation of International Music Competitions YOUROPE – The European Festival Association
National Music Organisations
A.R.T.E.- Asociación de Representantes Técnicos del Espectáculo, Spain ACCESS, Spain
Aktionsnetzwerk Nachhaltigkeit, Germany
AMEC Metropolitana, Portugal
Asociación Cultural Reyes Bartlet, Spain Associazione Emiliano Romagnola Cori, Italy Austrian Music Council, Austria
Circuito, Portugal
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Cyprus Dansk Live, Denmark
Estonian Music Council, Estonia
Federació Catalana de Societats Musicals, Spain Federació Catalana d’Entitats Corals, Spain Festival Folofest, Portugal
Festival Internacional de Música da Primavera de Viseu, Portugal GMCL – Grupo de Música Contemporânea de Lisboa, Portugal Hungarian Music Council, Hungary
Incorporated Society of Musicians, United Kingdom
István Vántus Society, Hungary
Latvian National Music Council, Latvia Live Music Now Scotland, United Kingdom LiveFIN, Finland
Making Music, United Kingdom
Miso Music Portugal, Portugal
MMF NL, The Netherlands
Moviment Coral Català, Spain
Music Innovation Hub, Italy
Music Venue Trust, United Kingdom
MUSICAMERA PRODUÇÕES, Portugal
Night Economy Association of Lithuania, Lithuania
Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa – Associação Musical, Portugal Polish Music Council, Poland
Portuguese Music Research & Information Centre, Portugal
riZoma – Portuguese Platform for Intervention and Research in New Music, Portugal Scottish Music Centre, United Kingdom
Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble, Portugal
Swiss Music Council, Switzerland
Trib’Art Association, Romania
Unison – Croatia Music Alliance, Croatia
VNPF – Dutch association music venues and festivals, The Netherlands
Contacts:
Simone Dudt, Secretary General European Music Council, dudt@emc-imc.org
Ruth Jakobi, Secretary General European Music Council, jakobi@emc-imc.org
(1) https://ec.europa.eu/culture/sites/default/files/2021-06/COM-2021-4838-covid_en.pdf
(2) We appreciate that the impact of the CCS for the economic and societal recovery was highlighted in the Council conclusions on the recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors from 18 May
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/49703/st08768-en21.pdf
We would like to point to the joint open letter signed by more than 110 cultural organisations on the inclusion of culture in the RRF plans
https://cultureactioneurope.org/news/make-culture-central-for-the-eu-recovery-open-letter/
(3) https://www.rebuilding-europe.eu/
(4) a musical artist is a performer, author, director, composer, creator of music