Present: Steve Ball, Cathy Rollins, Tony Graham, Vicky Ireland, Paul Harman, Wendy Harris

From 4pm: Becky Swain, Maria Evans

 

 

1.          Apologies: (Guy Holland, Tim Webb, Jude Merrill, Nina Hajiyianni, Miranda Thain, Steve Aal)

 

·         SBa to speak to NH & KD re mentoring programme

·         Positive meeting with SB, TG and Mark Ball re Lift festival

·         30^th June event in Oxford was a success, One Small Step well received. Other building based theatres may be willing/able to support TYA events in future.

·         Tory culture e newsletter: http://www.vaizey.com/home.aspx?id=1 Steering group members encouraged to subscribe to weekly newsletter.

 

·         VI: Unicorn have offered a space, around 25 people signed up currently, flyer has been circulated to various groups/committees etc.

·         Action: TG to set up recording of discussion/workshops, CR to transcribe

 

 

·         JM and BE not in attendance at meeting; this item has been on the agenda for a long time

·         Action: SBa to talk to JM and BE  

 

·         VI: Talked to Jenny Sealey, discussing a couple of dates in October when Jenny is available, looking for a venue.

·         Action: VI to speak to Chris Elwell about having the event at Half Moon on one of the dates Jenny can do.

·         WH: Could include people like Mind The Gap in Bradford.

·         Action: VI to discuss with Jenny, Tim and Chris and possibly Mind The gap.

 

·         VI trying to get money from AC Wales, but it may be easier to leave to ACA

·         VI: Several companies are doing an opera so it would be good to bring to everyone’s attention.

 

 

·         TG: Opportunities between different centres are very interesting and should be exploited/encouraged.

·         Action: PH to speak to other three nations to encourage engagement and better relationships, find out why their ASSITEJ steering groups aren’t happening in all cases.

 

·         PH: The only activity has been the world arts and education forum in Newcastle, apart from that the script database which is a UK driven concept and is work in progress.

 

·         CR: TEF initiative has gained us around 10 new members who have joined for free until April 10.

·         There is now a Google docs central database which can be updated by CR and SA but other steering group members need to be given access.

·         Action: CR to ask SA to allow other steering group members read only access to the central database.

·         CR has spoken to GH about getting information on members who pay subs by BACS as at the moment she only has access to information from those who pay by cheque. In the meantime PH will continue to send newsletter etc to everyone on the list until it has been established who has paid directly.

·         PH proposed that he create a much wider distribution list of people within the sector for some kind of regular newsletter. There may be certain things that prior members get access to and members should get a discount to events etc - Proposal unanimously carried

·         PH will use his bursary money to set up a newsletter format and send out every 2 months of so to everyone, then there would be more frequent newsletters to members only. All general mailings should flag up that events are organised by TYA, and if we keep creating opportunities which are valuable to people it may encourage more people to become members

 

 

·         SB: Recap: One of four aims of TYA is lobbying and advocacy and we have been concerned for a while about the relative benefits that music and dance sectors have received from the Music Manifesto and Tony Hall’s Dance Review. . A small working partnership has been established which has met 3 times. At the last meeting it was felt that a drama and theatre manifesto should be drafted which would require a ministerial response.  Issy Hawson identified £7k  funding to emply Becky Swain and Maria Evans to work as consultants to draw up a feasibility report.The next Drama and Theatre steering group meeting is in Manchester on 16^th Sept 12-2 to coincide with the Decibel festival which Becky is planning to attend.

 

·         ME & BS led and took notes from the discussion.

 

·         CR read out SA’s notes on Rarely Cover issue

·         PH: We have a slot in Arts Professional to report on this issue in October and it may be good for TYA to do some research amongst our membership to see if bookings are up or down.

·         VI: It’s going to be popular for teachers and is a good thing for them.

·         Action: PH to help CR draft a questionnaire for members to be returned by end Sept and then TYA will decide on a response which needs to be political and measured.

 

Monday14^th December, 11am-1pm

The Unicorn Theatre, London