The community music sector has come a long way in the past ten years, and the growth of Sound Sense, the UK development agency for community music, has mirrored that evolution, writes Anita Holford.
What began as a small, informal gathering of community musicians, who wanted to discuss their common aims and support each other, has grown into a professional arts development agency. It is still led by the musicians that make up its constituency, but now provides a strategic programme of information, professional development and advocacy for and on behalf of community musicians.
Information is at the core of the organisation?s work, and in the last three years we have had contact with more than 6,000 people interested in community music. We produce a range of publications, respond to enquiries, and provide advice and information about music and disability through the National Music and Disability Information Service. Professional development has become an important issue amongst arts practitioners, and musicians are no exception. Since 1997, we have run a series of gatherings across the UK to support the professional development of community musicians and others interested in participatory music. These events enable people to share good practice, to network, and to learn about particular areas of work. An important part of Sound Sense?s work which is often unseen by the organisation?s members, is advocacy and constituency development. This ranges from representing community musicians at meetings, conferences and on steering groups, and providing written responses to government and other reports and papers, to a range of comprehensive marketing campaigns involving targeted newsletters and articles written for a variety of sectors.
As more and more people recognise the arguments in favour of the community arts, it?s crucial that community artists have the support they deserve. Organisations like ours can help community artists to have a voice, represent their views and support their development.
Anita Holford is Head of Communications for Sound Sense t: 029 2045 1317 e: anita@sound-sense.demon.co.uk, w: http://www.soundsense.org