By Michael McGlade, Community Relations Council.
Londonderry Bands Forum contributed to the launch of the Culture Now – More Than Music research at New Gate Arts & Culture Centre.
The Community Relations Council supports LBF through its Core Funding Scheme.
Speaking at the launch, Andrew Lynch, Londonderry Bands Forum, reflected on what the findings mean for marching bands and the wider community, highlighting the following in particular:
- Bands are about much more than performance.
- Behind every uniform are young musicians learning an instrument, volunteers giving up evenings and weekends, parents supporting their children, experienced members passing on skills, and friendships being built that can last a lifetime.
The Culture Now findings help put evidence behind that story. Key metrics among the findings are the following:
- 47.9% of marching band respondents identified improved wellbeing as the greatest benefit of taking part.
- 97% of People that took part said that being part of a marching band contributed to positive mental heath.
- 191 out of 193 respondents (99%) said their activity was important or very important to their local community.
These findings strongly connect with the direction of the Londonderry Bands Forum and the work they are developing around mental health and wellbeing, musical development, Good Relations, violence against women and girls, governance, skills development, and heritage.
Projects such as March of Time and their forthcoming Beyond the Uniform exhibition are also helping to tell the story of the people behind bands.
Andrew said, “Sometimes people only see the final product, but there is a huge amount of work and human investment behind that moment.
“Culture is not simply something we watch. It is something people do, learn and share. It connects generations, develops skills, creates friendships and plays an important role in community life.
“The Culture Now research gives us an opportunity to tell a fuller story about marching bands and to build on the positive contribution they make across the North West.”
Londonderry Bands Forum believes this research will help evolve future conversations around music and culture.
Andrew said: “We will continue investing in our member bands, supporting the people behind them and putting people at the centre of everything we do and we would like to thank Hamilton Flute Band , William King Memorial Flute Band Londonderry and East Bank Protestant Boys Flute Band for taking part in the research.
“Beyond the uniform. Beyond the performance. It’s about people.”