As most of you will be aware, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) and Brass Bands England (BBE) released updated guidance today for non-professional musicians.

(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts and https://www.bbe.org.uk/news/14082020-1018/bbe-offers-sector-support-advice-the-latest-covid-19-pandemic-guidelines-dcms-%E2%80%93).

This guidance currently applies to England only – it is NOT currently applicable in Northern Ireland

From this guidance issued in England this morning, the Brass Band League have been in contact with the Department of Communities (DfC), the Arts Council NI (ACNI) and the Public Health Agency NI (PHANI). As soon as we hear anything positive from these agencies, we will let you all know.

For the moment in Northern Ireland, our advice remains the same as that published 05 August 2020 (http://artscouncil-ni.org/news/arts-council-publishes-manual-for-the-safe-reopening-of-venues) which states:”Non-professionals should currently not engage in singing or playing wind and brass instruments with other people given these activities pose a potentially higher risk of transmission and whilst research is ongoing”

We are happy to field any queries and will do what we can to help.

As stated previously, we will let you know as soon as anything changes.