Dear Reader,

Youssou N’Dour confirmed as Key speaker at 4^th IMC World Forum in Music!

Preparations are well underway for the 4^th IMC World Forum on Music which will take place in Tallinn this September. Co-organised by the International Music Council, the European Music Council and the Estonian Music Council, with the help of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Forum is set to be an exceptional opportunity for the music sector to engage in serious debate on current key issues. The title of this year’s Forum is Music and Social Change, and we are proud to reveal that Youssou N'Dour (Senegal), a musician who is active socially and politically, has now confirmed as keynote speaker. Our second keynote speaker is Joe Lamond (USA), President and Chief Executive officer of NAMM, the International Music Products Association. Themes addressed in the Forum sessions include music as a tool for social change, challenges and opportunities of music education, music distribution and export, music and development and youth, all of which are of crucial importance to the world of music.

The EMC Annual meeting will take place ahead of the Forum on 26 September. The IMC General Assembly will take place directly after the Forum on the 30 September and 1 October. The new Forum website, launched at the end of May, offers up-to-date information on the Forum programme as well as practical information for travelling to Estonia. Register now! See you in Tallinn!!

The Working Group Youth of the European Music Council's Manifesto for Youth and Music in Europe, outcome of its Access! project and a direct result of the European Youth Forum on Music 2010 in Torino, has now been finalised. Partners in the Access! Project were Europa Cantat, Feniarco, JMI, EFA and CIDIM.

The Manifesto, which was officially launched at the European Music Festival for Young People in Neerpelt, Belgium at the end of April,  focusses on the themes of lifelong learning, professional training, mobility and dialogue, employment, resources, and youth as a resource.

Have you already signed the We are more campaign Manifesto? If not, now is the time to do so! The presentation of the European Commission's budget proposal formally launched the negotiation process. The fight continues for a decent share of the budget, a strong presence of culture in the Structural Funds, and for the many dimensions of culture, and not only the economic ones, to be recognised in the next budget cycle. Join the 17,000 people who have already signed the manifesto. Sign now!

The We are more campaign is gaining in momentum and intensity. To ensure its visibility and that the cultural sector’s concerns and aspirations are heard in this critical time of budget negotiations, Culture Action Europe has launched a fundraising action to raise funds for campaign activities. Please demonstrate commitment to the campaign by making a donation to the cause.

Are you looking for facts and figures to help support the case of culture and its role in society, the economy and cohesion of Europe? Then this is something for you! Eurostat has published the second edition of the Cultural statistics pocketbook introducing including facts and figures on cultural participation, employment in the cultural sector, the economic situation in cultural sectors, external trade in cultural goods and household expenditure on culture from the 27 EU member states, EFTA and candidate countries. The presentation of cultural statistics is particularly important now, as following the adoption of the Europe 2020 strategy which aims to find innovative solutions to current challenges, we must highlight the role culture can play in meeting the EU’s objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. View publication in electronic format or order a printed copy here.

The European Culture Congress, one of the flagship projects of Polish EU Presidency’s cultural programme, will take place from 8 to 11 September in Wrocław. The artistic projects and discussions will address issues in contemporary culture and its future development. Exciting debates will be guaranteed as guests at the congress come from a broad range of cultural backgrounds often representing radically different viewpoints ― from representatives of public organisations or bloggers to members of the European Parliament, from well-known and distinguished names to less conspicuous people that play an active role in building civic society.  An important event in the European cultural calendar – find out how you can take part by visiting the website.

In memory of its founder and of his profound dedication to the promotion of new composers, CIDIM announces the 1° National "Francesco Agnello" Composition Competition of Symphonic and Chamber Music. Francesco Agnello’s solicitude for composers, and in particular young composers at the outset of their careers, was always one of the main themes of his activity in the music field for many years. The competition is open to composers of Italian nationality born after 31 December 1971. The deadline for the submission of scores is 28 November 2011. More information available on the CIDIM website.

EAS held their 19^th Conference in Gdansk from 18 to 21 May during which a new Board was elected. Ari de Vugt is the new President. This was also the European Regional conference of ISME with whom EAS works in partnership. 160 delegates from 30 different countries participated. The EAS Doctoral Student Forum was successfully launched and this will be further developed for the future. The Student Forum (for undergraduate student teachers) included 30 students from 13 countries. The 2012 Conference will be in The Hague from 19 to 22 April. See EAS website for details www.eas-music.org

Superact has led the development of an innovative project investigating how employability and personal skills can be gained and accredited through an arts programme.  Personal Effectiveness and Employability Through the Arts (PEETA) is looking at the transferability of a BTEC Qualification which was developed by Superact in partnership with Exeter University, UK and accredited by Edexcel. With funding from the European Commission  Lifelong Learning Programme the award in being piloted in prisons in The Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Turkey and Portugal. If you’d like to learn more about the project and how it might benefit your own activities, please visit www.superact.org.uk 

2011 has been an exceptionally busy and productive year for the Scottish Music Centre. This success continues in June with the release of its Summer Composers’ Digest and podcast featuring Cryptic’s Artistic Director Cathie Boyd and the hosting of two new events: an informal showcase featuring students from the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton and a Human “Music” Library in association with the Scottish Refugee Council. For more information on all of the above, visit the Scottish Music Centre's website.

The International Federation for Choral Music presents ‘Choirs Transforming Our World: A Symposium’ to be held at Yale University, USA from 19-23 June 2012. The Symposium is being organised in collaboration with the Conductors Without Borders (CWB) network of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. The symposium will explore - through workshops and presentations - real world examples of CWB's mission in action, as well as potential directions for the future. Deadline for applications for workshops /presentations is 20 August 2011 which must be submitted electronically at sean.maher@yale.edu. Selections will be announced by October 1, 2011. Registration for the Symposium for non-presenters will be open by 1 October  2011 at www.yalegleeclub.org. Questions may be directed to Jeffrey Douma jeffrey.douma@yale.edu

The 3rd edition of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers – initiated by the European Festivals Association – took place from 14-21 May in Singapore. This 7-days training programme is unique in the field of festival programming and management. It allowed 34 participants from 20 countries and five continents to meet, exchange, establish sustainable ties for the future, and to benefit from the wealth of experience of some 15 renowned festival directors, artists and cultural managers. Today, the Atelier can look on an ever-growing network of “alumni”: after three editions, 102 young festival managers and 32 presenters from all over the world have participated in the Atelier. More information can be found of the EFA website.

From 19-11 May the Polish Music Council  together with Polish Composers' Union and the Institute of Music and Dance organised the first Convention of Polish Music in the National Library in Warsaw (http://www.konwencjamuzyki.pl/pl/organizatorzy). The 16 panel discussion concentrated on: musical education, new models of music institutions, music in electronic media, music in internet, contemporary, jazz, traditional and folk music, and music for film and theatre.The 6^th edition of Ad LibitumIn  International Festival of Imporvised Music will take place in October 2011. As in 2010, this festival will be organized together with SIC! improvised dance festival. Visit the festival website for more information.