News from the ABO

Sector resilience and growth - In working to build future sector resilience, the ABO continues to call for the permanent extension of the uplifted 50% Orchestra Tax Relief rate - a low cost, high impact measure which is the most critical and effective measure which can enable UK orchestras to generate activity and return for the UK.

Removing barriers to international touring - ABO's evidence was included as part of a report published by the House of Lords European Affairs Committee on 'The future UK-EU relationship' which highlights the continued challenges facing our sector and solutions the ABO are calling for in relation to the movement of people, trucks and customs arrangements. ABO members’ EU touring experiences were recently featured in the Sunday Times and on BBC Radio 4.

UK Visa Fee Waiver Secured for Ukrainian Orchestras - The ABO worked successfully alongside IMG Artists (UK) Ltd, Askonas Holt and UK policy makers to again ensure the waiving of visa fees and expediting of visa applications for the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine touring to the UK this year.

Cultural Soft Power -The ABO sat on the UK Soft Power Group - a group of the UK’s leading soft power organisations, co-convened by the British Foreign Policy Group and the British Council - and contributed to this report launched in June 2023 on the role of culture in the future of the UK's soft power.

Classical Music All Party Parliamentary Group - As Secretariat of the APPG, we convened the group's AGM, which was well attended by members of both the Houses of Commons and the Lords, discussing the sector funding landscape, international touring, music education and sector trends. Parliamentarians heard first hand from ABO members the London Symphony Orchestra and Aurora Orchestra.

24 - 26 January 2024: ABO Conference - The next ABO conference, our major annual event and gathering of the classical music sector, will take place in Bristol, hosted by Bristol Beacon.