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Please see attached for the syllabus for the upcoming Mid Ulster Outdoor Solos
Entries will open shortly
We are asking all bands to fill out an MS Form (link here) before Friday 2nd July 2021 to indicate if the band plans on attending the Pipe Band Festivals on Saturday 7th August and Saturday 4th September 2021,
Bands will be asked to perform for approx. 10 minutes - playing music of your own choice,
If you have any queries or issues, please do not hesitate to contact the secretary - secretary@rspbani.org
According to current restrictions,
Bands are permitted to practice outdoors, permitted that -
(i) the band does not engage in a procession;
(ii) no person in the gathering engages in singing;
(iii) the gathering consists only of the band; and
(iv) the gathering fulfils the conditions in paragraph (5) (see below)
(b) In this regulation “band” means a group of two or more persons each of whom
engages in the playing or sounding of a musical instrument or carries a musical
instrument for the purpose of playing or sounding it, along with any conductor or
instructor.”
Paragraph 5
The conditions which must be fulfilled by a person to whom this paragraph applies are that the person responsible for organising or operating the gathering—
(a) has carried out an appropriate risk assessment (see paragraph 10); and
(b) takes all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, including implementing the preventive and protective measures identified in the appropriate risk assessment undertaken under sub-paragraph (a).
Links to the documents containing this information and the paragraphs -
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/covid-consolidated-regs.docx
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-covid-restrictions-amdt-2-regs-2021.pdf
When the announcement was made that Static Band Practice and rehearsals would be permitted in agreed outdoor locations from 23rd April, we contacted the Arts Council NI for clarification on what this meant
We wanted to seek clarification in regards to the "agreed public spaces" and if there is any further guidance on the use of woodwind instruments
We do know that Bands must ensure that they have an up-to-date risk assessment and that social distancing guidelines are adhered to at all times. Practices are for members only and should not have any spectators
We hope to have an answer to our queries this week and we will update all bands when we have more information
At the Branch Meeting on Saturday 27th March, the bands in attendance were in support of the Executive's recommendation to explore the possibility of running 2, possibly 3 showcase events in August/September 2021 (in line with government restrictions),
The Executive committee will now go ahead and engage with sponsors and begin planning for such events,
If any bands have any ideas for these outdoor showcase events, please ask your band secretary to submit them via secretary@rspbani.org
The RSPBANI Executive Committee have met and decided that they will make a recommendation at the next Branch Meeting on Saturday 27th March 2021, that there will be no contests in April, May, June or July 2021,
The RSPBANI Executive are actively considering organising Pipe Band "Festival" events on two Saturdays in August 2021 (potentially one in September).
The detailed format of the ‘Festivals’ remains to be determined as the Festival is still in the early planning stages, however, the intention is that they would involve showcase performances by the bands who are in attendance,
Bands will understand that the ‘Festival’ events would require considerable planning to ensure that they are organised to be Covid-19 safe,
Prior to undertaking this planning, we would be very grateful if bands could advise us by emailing secretary@rspbani.org indicating if they could commit (subject of course to Government regulations at the time) to attending such a Festival
See email below from the Ulster Scots Agency,
Please contact Danielle if you require Derek's mobile number
The Ulster-Scots Agency has secured additional money from the Department of Communities to support groups under our Covid Small Grants programme.
I have noted that your group did not apply under the first round of funding, I would urge you to consider applying for this final tranche which opens today and closes on the 22nd February but is delivered on a first come first served basses. All items funded under the programme must be purchased by the 31st March and while I appreciate that time is short, the Agency will endeavour to process applications as quickly as possible.
Please find below the registration link, once you submit the registration form an application and guidelines will be automatically emailed to you. The form is very simple and should not take any more than 30 minutes to complete. Please spend a few minutes reading the guidelines especially the eligibility section and section outlining what we can fund. There are only two questions in the form, please read them carefully before submitting you answers. Please note, you only need three quotations if a single item is valued at £1,000 or more.
To assist you a member of the Agency staff will contact you in the next day or so to answer any questions you might have, or you can contact me on my mobile
Regards,
Derek Reaney
Community Development Officer.