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General Rules
1. STATUS Entrants must be bona-fide amateurs. For the purposes of this Festival an amateur is defined as someone who does not derive his/her livelihood from the branch of performance, defined by the class title, in which he/she seeks to enter the Festival. In any ensemble, all members must adhere to that principle. This will apply unless it is clearly stated otherwise. The Chairmen reserve the right to decide whether any entrant is qualified to compete under this rule, and to accept or refuse any Entry.
2. ENTRIES
a. Each entry must be on a separate official Entry Form (or Bulk Entry Form in respect of Speech and Drama only, copies of which are obtainable from Entry Secretaries). Forms may be photocopied.
b. Entries, together with the correct fees, should be sent to the appropriate Entry Secretary no later than the date published in syllabus. The Entry Secretaries shall not be held responsible for entries made in wrong classes. Solo entries are not transferable, and fees will be forfeited when entries definitely registered are cancelled.
c. Any competitor withdrawing from the competition should notify the appropriate Entry Secretary or, during the Festival, the Festival Office.
d. In the event of a very large entry, the Entry Secretaries reserve the right to sub-divide any class considered too large for realistic adjudication.
3. COMPETITORS TICKETS, confirming all details, will be sent out at least one week before the Festival. These act as Admissions Tickets (for the Competitor only) for the day. Teachers will be sent a complimentary ticket at the same time, together with a receipt for all monies paid if requested. Earlier acknowledgement will not be sent out unless a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed with the Entry. Competitors should retain their tickets and present them in the Festival Office when collecting Certificates/Mark Sheets.
4. AGE LIMITS are reckoned as published in syllabus, and must be strictly observed.
5. PERFORMANCE ORDER Competitors should perform in the order given in the programme. Any who are missing at the time will be called again at the end of the Class. The organisers will make every effort to avoid individual clashes of venue, provided that sufficient information is supplied on the Entry Form.
6. CERTIFICATES/MARK SHEETS The Adjudicator’s written remarks will be available for all competitors. During Speech & Drama Week the mark sheets, together with any certificate gained, can be collected from the Festival Office shortly after the end of each class. During Music Week certificates and mark sheets will be given out in the competition room at the end of each class, at the discretion of the Adjudicator’s Steward, or otherwise can be collected from the Festival Office. Certificates/Mark Sheets from all sections of the Festival which have not been collected from the Office by the end of the Festival will be retained by the relevant Entry Secretaries until the end of April and can be forwarded on receipt of postage.
7. CHILD PROTECTION It is necessary for teachers and parents to be aware of the Festival’s Child Protection Policy, which can be found in the Syllabus. Signature on the entry form confirms that the policy has been read. Where an entry is made by a child under 18, the entry form must be countersigned by a parent/guardian/responsible adult.
8. TROPHIES
a. Where trophies are awarded to class winners, these are at the discretion of the Adjudicator, provided that an appropriate standard is obtained (generally a mark of 81% in Speech & Drama or category Commended in Music). TROPHIES ARE HELD FOR ONE YEAR ONLY, AND NEVER WON OUTRIGHT, but a special certificate is also awarded to record the success.
NOTE: not all Music classes have trophies, but every class has some token of recognition of best performance. Trophies must be signed for in the Competition Rooms before leaving. Winners should be prepared to take part in any of the Festival Concerts, if requested. All trophies should be included in the holder’s Household Insurance Policy. Trophy holders are responsible for the cost of having their names suitably engraved if they so wish.
b. Trophies should be returned, securely packed to the place specified on the recall label.
9. SPECIAL NEEDS/SAFETY OF PERFORMERS The Festival welcomes entries from candidates who have special needs, but notification of the nature of any condition must be made by letter to the relevant entry secretary before entries are submitted in order that adequate provision may be made. This is particularly important for candidates who require wheelchair access. To be most beneficial to candidates, as full an explanation as possible of the nature of the condition would be appreciated, together with documentary evidence if appropriate. It is necessary for teachers and parents to be aware of their responsibilities in entering any performers with limited physical capabilities or special needs, bearing in mind the limitations imposed by the stage and surrounding environment.
10. COMMUNICATIONS When Festival classes are in progress, competitors and their representatives may not communicate directly with an Adjudicator. Any necessary communication should be made with the Adjudicator’s Steward.
11. COPYRIGHT The Festival is bound by copyright law and cannot allow flash photography, tape or video recording during any performance or adjudication.
12. LOST PROPERTY The Festival cannot accept any responsibility for property left at venues during the Festival. Any lost property will be held at the Festival Office.
13. MODIFICATION OF RULES The Committee reserves the right to qualify or determine any of the rules; to change or supplement the Adjudicators; and to modify any provisional timetable issued, should the need arise.
Health and Safety Policy
The Mid- Somerset Festival takes place annually and is a charitable organisation, run by voluntary personnel, which promotes the performing arts. Creative Writing, Speech & Drama and Music events are based in multiple venues in The City of Bath, Dance is based in one venue in Frome. The Festival recognises its responsibilities as an organisation to ensure (so far as is reasonably practicable) the health and safety of their personnel, performers and any other persons with whom they may have contact.
This will be achieved by:
- Assessing the risks arising from the events
- Providing adequate control of the health, safety and welfare risk arising from the events
- Providing information and instruction for personnel
- Ensuring all personnel are competent to do their tasks and to give them adequate training
- Preventing accidents wherever possible and, when they do occur, learning from them
This policy statement and relevant documentation will be reviewed (and where necessary) updated from time to time but at least annually.
Child Protection Policy
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:
The safety of children and vulnerable adults is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. All the Charity’s trustees, staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.
PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF ORGANISATION:
The objects of the Festival are to encourage amateur performance at its most enjoyable level: also to advance the education of the public in the study, performance and appreciation of Music, Speech & Drama and Creative Writing, together with an educational assessment of performance by a relevant professional adjudicator.
TO WHOM DOES THIS POLICY APPLY:
This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years. It also relates to those vulnerable persons of any age taking part who are identified to the organizers prior to their arrival at the Festival. This should be done by contacting the relevant Entry Secretary at the time of entry. In recognizing the needs of children from minority ethnic groups and children who are disabled, the Festival actively seeks to meet needs notified to the Festival by parents/guardians/carers and/or teachers.
PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL:
This Policy is sent to all parents, teachers and schools. Entrants will have received it either with their entry tickets or via their teacher.
School entries will receive a copy of the Festival’s Child Protection Policy but it is assumed that teachers will have obtained all necessary permissions from parents before making the school’s entry.
THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT:
The Festival seeks to inform and involve parents/guardians/carers/teachers in a partnership in order to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, a safe environment within the Festival venues. It should be understood that the Festival is run by volunteers and cannot accept sole responsibility for the children who attend.
THE FESTIVAL CANNOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN MOVING BETWEEN THE VARIETY OF VENUES WITHIN THE CITY CENTRE OR WHEN VISITING THE FESTIVAL OFFICE.
FESTIVAL PERSONNEL:
All Festival personnel are volunteers. The roles of all Festival personnel are considered during recruitment. The Festival holds full contact details for all personnel. Where they are working in sensitive areas with children or vulnerable adults, details of these helpers will have been processed and cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau. All Festival helpers are fully aware of and support this Child Protection Policy.
Festival personnel are vigilant in monitoring areas where children and vulnerable adults are in attendance. They will challenge any adult/s in restricted or sensitive areas if they are not accompanying children or vulnerable adults.
In the case of a problem, anyone wearing a badge may be approached and will be able to direct you to someone who will be able to help. All problems will be taken seriously and will be documented and dated.
PERFORMANCE AREAS AND CHANGING AREAS:
The Festival wishes to draw attention to the fact that areas such as toilets, corridors and warm up rooms needing to be used by entrants will be monitored as reasonably practicable by Festival personnel. It is expected that children will be accompanied by a parent/teacher. The Festival cannot accept full responsibility.
Single sex changing facilities will be provided where necessary.
PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPES and PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY:
The use of all audio or visual recording equipment is strictly forbidden throughout the Festival, except by the official Festival photographer or Press photographers. The official Festival photographer, identified by a badge, will seek permission from a responsible adult attending with a child or vulnerable aduld for photographs/video to be taken. Press photographers, also identified by a badge, may take photographs by prior arrangement with Festival organisers. This Policy makes it clear that, where parents do not wish photos to be taken, then the responsible adults attending with children or vulnerable adults are responsible for ensuring that children are not included in Press photos.
THE LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY:
The Children Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998, The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
POLICY REVIEW:
The Festival organisers will constantly review their policy, revising and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to The British & International Federation of Festivals for support and that body, in turn will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.
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