South Islanders snubbed by music convention?

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 8

South Islanders snubbed by music convention?

South Island musicians and music administrators had been snubbed by the organisers of a recent music convention in Wellington, a group of Christchurch arts administrators asserted yesterday. The two-day convention in Wellington on April 7 and 8, was advertised as being open “to ail people already involved in or wish to get started in careers in writing, performing, recording, merchandising and promoting music.” But in a letter sent to the convention’s organising committee, the 14 arts administrators said it ignored the South Island music industry and musicians and they strongly criticised the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for funding the project. Among those who signed the letters were the assistant director of the Arts Centre of Christchurch, Rosemary Hawkey; the events officer of the Christchurch Town Hall, Steven Carpinter; the orchestra manager of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Paul Claman; the president of Jazz South, Frank Collins; and the cultural adviser at the United States Information Service, Maggie Hillock. The group was “outraged and disgusted at the obvious inadequacies of the planning of the convention," according to

their letter to the secretary of the New Zealand Music Promotion Committee, Mr Tony Chance. "There are a large number of industry professionals living and working in the South island who have the experience and qualifications to be excellent panelists. Instead, members of the panels at the convention were culled exclusively from the North island. “There is an even larger number of industry professionals working south of Cook Strait who would have been interested in attending this now-farcical event.” South Island recording artists continued to play a major role in the growth of New Zealand’s recording industry. “The Minister of Overseas Trade, a South Island member of Parliament, can hardly deny the significant percentage of exported music which originates from the South Island,” the letter says. It questioned funding arrangements for the convention, asserting that the organisers had obtained a $lO,OOO Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council grant “Why did the Arts Council see fit to make this grant and then fail to even inform one of its regional councils? With only three regional arts councils in New Zealand

• *■ ‘y-'v - . £ >.<■■■ it follows that one-third of the grant should be marked as South Island money dedicated to involving South Island industry professionals. “We question the impact, significance and success of the convention given that it had not the thought to include anyone outside the North Island.' “How can the New Zealand Music Promotion Committee put its name and the name of the country to an event of which the South Island is neither represented on the panels nor invited to attend?” “I’m incredulous at this reaction,” said Mr Chance in Wellington. “Their criticisms are misplaced — news of the convention was announced in a press release in December, 1986. This was followed by further information in February. “Information was also widely circulated. The secretary of the Musi- - clans’ Union in Christchurch was notified by letter and telephone and asked to circulate his members with news of4he project." “People should have known that the convention was being held, and if they were interested, they could have attended. The South Island was certainly represented.” Mr Chance is a South Islander. The manager of the

The manager of the

Arts Council music pro* gramme, Mr RretMta* Smyth, said that the Arts Council funding followed its programme of support for the development of the New Zealand music industry. The convention had invited representatives ot the recording industry, S and broadcasting and professional musicians from the North Island and '■ South Island to attend. At least three out of five recording companies with South Island links had sent representatives. Mr Frank Collins was also present Notice of the convention and its agenda was sent to all regional arts councils in both islands, record companies in the South Island, the Musi- 5 cians* Union, Acton Equity, and radio stations in both islands. The news media were also sent information. “I have to say that most of the people who signed this letter do not appear to be directly affected by the issues discussed at the convention. They appear to be part of a group of arts administrators,” Mr Smyth said. “It should also be noted that the organisers predicted a registration of 120 delegates. They had to close the list off at 270 because of fire regulations. Word about the programme had obviously spread widely.”