The Christchurch Music Society

The Christchurch Music Society trust was formed in 1996 to bring together different cultures for combined entertainment and education on youth issues. The main purpose of our organisation is to encourage youth involvement in contemporary, original music and cultural events in Christchurch.

We aim to bring together different cultures for combined entertainment and education on youth issues that are held in safe, alcohol/drug-free environments. To keep ideas fresh and to stay up with the trends of the different sectors catered for, we are continually reviewing our approach to youth events in Canterbury. We have seen a general move away from the traditional "band gig" which was appropriate when we started.

The Christchurch Music Society is primarily involved with arts projects with strong cultural focus which are used as a medium to facilitate youth development. Music is the perfect medium to attract young people together and share in the celebration of being young.

We have involved a lot more young people in the organisational structure of Massive (the trading name of CMS) in the past few years. They have helped with the whole event set up, from concept through to running the events. In a few cases they have organised the events, with support from the committee. The whole process of being involved in an event with a positive vibe aimed at their peers is very rewarding. Our objective is to support young people in skill development and creative pursuits. They are the best people to run events for their age group.

For 2001-02 we have diversified into a more encompassing provider of entertainment and education. We have had musicians, video artists and performers involved in as many ways as possible and have set up events that inspire them to become involved in creative and positive pastimes.

Winter Soulstice, Summer Soulstice and two Equinox dance events are subsidised by the society to widen the audience and make it affordable. It is planned to break even. If profits are made, they are used to off-set the free events. These events attract a wide audience age group. Parents have seen that they are well run and feel safe in letting their teenagers attend. To attract the more at risk youth it is important to be seen to not have any obvious council connection or preaching.

Supercharge, a healthy lifestyles promotion: We believe it is still the best safe sex/healthy lifestyles free concert/ promotion in the country and we will run it again. The Rodger Wright Centre, an outreach programme, approached us to hold something similar to Charge.

We will continue to be the sponsors of an artists subsidy which helps musicians be able to work on their development. Over 45 mostly musicians are currently on the scheme. We have the knowledge of how to run events and will look at helping young people attain their goals.

We are also looking at self sufficiency. However, the major problem is finding corporate partners that are interested in the youth market. They are reluctant to spend any of their marketing budgets away from traditional mediums, especially TV. Youth events are always riskier because they involve young people. It is easier to spend money on advertising that portray images of events the type of which we organise, than to actually support youth initiatives. For free events there will always need to be some subsidy from organisations like Lottery Youth (great supporters of the CMS). Other potential funding agencies have largely ignored the events we have staged as they all assume that it is not their funding responsibility and have a fear of possible interpretations. We will continue with the lobbying side of the organisation throughout the year. This is a more behind the scenes aspect of the society and has been part and parcel of staging youth-orientated events. The education of organisations and funding sources as to the perceived problems of youth events and pastimes is one issue. The other main issue is one of providing alternative entertainment with a theme outside licenced venues, where alcohol is a focus. This also restricts the age of attendees.

The Christchurch Music Society will continue to challenge this status quo to promote youth culture...

MUSIC IS THE CATALYST