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RULES AND INFORMATION

The festival is intended for amateurs

  • Professionals may take part as Adjudicators, Accompanists, Conductors and Officials.

  • For the purpose of the festival, professionals are those for whom income is, or

has been derived from the branch of the profession in which they wish to compete or perform or who have completed a full-time college course in the specialist subject in which they wish to compete or perform.

The committee reserves the right to:

  • accept or reject any proposed entry.

  • sub-divide or combine classes with a large or limited number of entries.

  • appoint replacement or additional adjudicators and to alter, modify or cancel any of the                arrangements detailed in the syllabus.

Entries

  • The entries should be sent to the Entry Secretary by the date specified. 

Age Limit

  • In all sections the operative day for determining age is 1 February in the year of the festival.

Standards

  • Standards are indicated either by age, grade, or by experience in tuition.  Where a class is                             divided into grades, the entrant should be able to play to that standard, but not yet have             passed a higher grade than that specified.

  • The piece played must reflect the standard entered, ie a piece set for a grade 5 exam should not be played in an Elementary (grade 4) class. Only one grade may be entered in all graded classes, and entrants and/or teachers are responsible for ensuring the correct grade has been selected.

Multiple Entries

  • (Music Classes only) Entrants may perform once only in each class, except in duet, trio             or ensemble classes where an entrant may perform more than once provided a different             part is performed. Entrants who are members of more than one choir or ensemble are             permitted to perform as a member of each choir or ensemble to which they belong.

  • (Speech Classes only):  A performer may only enter a class once.  When performing in             a duologue or group class a second entry is permitted provided a different part with a                  different partner/group is performed.

Own Choice Pieces

  • The festival is under a legal obligation to supply the Performing Rights Society with details              of all items to be performed.

  • Own choice titles and composers must be given on the entry form for all sections.

  • A copy of each Own Choice piece must be handed to the adjudicator’s steward at the                 time of the performance.

  • Photocopies are acceptable provided an original is used for the performance. The               photocopy will be retained and destroyed after the adjudication of the class.

          Speech & Drama Section  

  • Entrants do not have to seek copyright permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic             items performed, to a time limit of 10 minutes. 

  • Duologues and group dramatic activity are not covered by this agreement, and copyright             for these items should be sought by performers at the time of entry. 

  • Solo dramatic items must be announced with title and author at the time of performance to             qualify for copyright indemnity, and the performer must not change the words or gender of             the character.

 

Time Limits

  • The time limit for each class is shown in the syllabus and this must be strictly adhered to. 

  • Any performance in which there is an excessive overrun of the time limit will be stopped by             the adjudicator or adjudicator’s clerk. 

  • Where the performance is obviously ending as the time limit is reached, the adjudicator’s             steward will allow the performance to conclude, but will inform the adjudicator when the             time limit is reached, and his/her category and remarks will not cover material performed             after the time limit is exceeded.

  • Although time limits are specified you are required to time your piece/s and enter this under             “Performance Time” as accurately as possible on the Entry Form.

Photocopying of Music   

The festival cannot legally allow anyone to play/perform from photocopied music and has no choice but to disqualify performers who do so, unless before their class starts, they can produce evidence showing that the publisher’s agreement has been sought and given. 

The only photocopies the festival can allow in law are:

  • Copies for the adjudicator’s use, which will be destroyed at the end of each class.

  • For an awkward page-turn which may hinder a performance.

Accompanists

  • Entrants are advised that the festival does not engage official accompanists. There are             suggestions on the festival website or you may bring your own.

Notification of time, date and venue of performers’ classes

Performers will be notified as to the time, date and venue of their class/es as soon as possible after the closing date for entries, and not later than 21 days before the commencement of their section. This information will be emailed to you if an email address has been provided.

Certificates

  • All entrants will be issued with a certificate and an adjudication, providing the Festival                 rules have been complied with. 

  • The categories awarded will be in accordance with the standards laid down by the British             and International Federation of Festivals as follows:

95+        Exceptional

90 - 94   Outstanding

85 - 89   Distinction

80 - 84   Commended

75 - 79   Merit

70 - 74   Progressing

65 - 69   Developing

 

  • The winners of each class will be announced.  Further placings will be awarded at the                discretion of the adjudicator.  (Please see sections for specific arrangements.)

Adjudicators

  • Only festival officials directly concerned with the section may approach the adjudicator               while the session is in progress.

  • The adjudicator may stop any performance when his or her judgement has been formed.             The adjudicator’s decision in all cases is final.

Photography and Recording

  • Photography, videotaping and audio recording is permitted providing you have the permission of all performers captured.

  • Parents or teachers entering children individually or in groups will be asked to indicate on entries those children who are not to be photographed, video-taped or filmed.

 

 

Child Protection

  • The Festival’s Child Protection Policy and approach to Creating Safer Festivals for                      Everyone is published explicitly in our Syllabus, Programme and Website. By completing             and signing the entry form (or online entry system) all parents / guardians / carers and                teachers of entrants under 18 (or vulnerable adults of any age) confirm that they give (or                       have obtained) the necessary consents for the entrants to take part in the festival.                         Without consent the entry to the festival cannot be accepted.

Any decision of the Committee in all matters arising out of, or not specifically covered in these rules, is final.

 

Child Protection Policy

Milton Keynes Festival of the Arts for Music, Dance and Drama

The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech works for amateur festivals everywhere to help create thousands of educational performance opportunities for children and young people each year.

The Federation, and our member Festivals, are committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind.

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them.

This policy applies to our Board of Trustees, paid staff, Adjudicator members, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the Federation and our member Festivals.

We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child/young person is paramount.

  • all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual              orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

  • working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other                       agencies are essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

The purpose of the policy:

  • to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in our festivals,               including the children of festival members. to provide staff and volunteers with guidance             on        procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person                         may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.

We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

  • valuing them, listening to and respecting them

  • adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff             and volunteers

  • recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

  • sharing information about child protection and safe working practice with children,                       parents, staff and volunteers

  • sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving                    parents and children appropriately

  • providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and             training.

 

The Federation will review this policy each year in November in line with any changes in legislation or guidance.

 

 

 

Child Licensing Regulations regarding Child Performances

(children aged 16 or under)

The children involved in the festival will be authorised by a Body of Persons Approval organised by the festival with Milton Keynes Council.

Body of Persons Approval (BOPA)

A BOPA removes the need to apply for individual licences for child performers and it is   granted to the organisation that is responsible for the performances, ie Milton Keynes Festival. It is therefore the organisation that is approved as a suitable group. It can apply to one performance, or a series of performances so it covers our whole festival. The dance section of the festival will organise its own BOPA.

 

The festival performances must meet at least one of the following to require a BOPA:​

  • A charge was made in connection with the performance (e.g an admission fee)​

  • It took place on licensed premises for alcohol supply

  • It was broadcast performance 

  • It was recorded to be broadcast

  • Performances organised and produced by your child's school are exempt.

  • ​In order to satisfy the local authority that our festival is a suitable organisation to be                     granted a BOPA, the local authority needs to see evidence of the following:

  • Clear and robust safeguarding policies

  • Designated Safeguarding Officer

  • A regularly updated Child Protection Policy in place

  • Evidence of any safeguarding training undertaken by festival team

  • DBS checking of volunteers

  • The supervision of children from sign-in to sign-out, including provision for supervision               backstage if applicable.

 

Our festival satisfies all the above requirements. Your help and assistance with this is greatly appreciated and if you have any queries or concerns please do let us know.     hello@miltonkeynesfestival.org

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