ABTT Members' Newsletter,
July 2020
Dear <<First Name>>,
We hope that you are keeping well.
This month has been a busy one for our sector, with the government announcing a significant package to support arts, culture and heritage on 6th July followed by Oliver Dowden announcing the further easing of lockdown restrictions and outdoor theatre could re-open from July 11th.
We were then informed at a lunchtime press briefing on the 17th July that theatres can reopen from the 1st August with social distancing and pending certain conditions.
The ABTT has responded to this surprise announcement by releasing free to the industry the Guidance Notes we have been preparing with widespread assistance from throughout the sector. Guidance notes 101 and 102 (to be read in conjunction with one another) have been created to help guide the reopening of places of entertainment. This includes guidance on risk assessments and steps for returning to work.
We have also been collating other relevant COVID-19 Resources such as DCMS Guidance, working documents, articles and roadmaps for recovery to the Industry alongside financial resources, movements and initiatives that need your help and COVID-secure products that may be of interest.
Other Industry relevant resources such as Sustainability in Live Performance, Diversity and Inclusion and Mental Health and Well-being have also been collated to help our members' find the information they need to help bring about change. These topics are constantly growing and can be located on our Industry Resources page here.
We have also continued to curate and run online seminars and networking events throughout July and into August to help ensure our Industry is kept in the loop and to keep vital conversations going. This now includes the inaugural UK Theatre and Live Events Apprenticeship Networking event. More details on upcoming events below.
Do remember that the ABTT is currently continuing as normal and stands ready to offer any support it can so please do keep in contact via email: office@abtt.org.uk
Please find more information on the above items below.
Kind regards,
The ABTT Team
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The ABTT has produced Guidance Notes 101 and 102 in light of the Covid-19 lockdown to help guide the reopening of places of entertainment. This includes guidance on risk assessments and steps for returning to work following lockdowns.
These publications form part of the Code of Practice for the Theatre Industry produced by the Association of British Theatre Technicians with the support of the Theatre Safety Committee and should be read in conjunction with one another.
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Being an apprentice can sometimes be a lonely role - so we wanted to be able to connect you with others who have been through the same experiences.
Founded by ABTT Young Associate Representative Tamykha Patterson, the UK Theatre & Live Events Apprenticeship Network will offer all past, current and future Apprentices a much needed safe space to ask questions and to seek advice.
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Your knowledge needed for PhD project about ABTT!
PhD research student, Paul Roberts is undertaking a project that explores the role of the ABTT in the professionalisation of technical practice across post war, civic, and subsidised theatre
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Paul is looking for members of the ABTT to help this research by responding to these downloadable ABTT membership interview questions and completing the downloadable accompanying consent form. He is keen to hear your thoughts on the individuals, networks, and influences of the Association that have enabled the ABTT to become the preeminent organisation in technical practice.
Please fill in the above sheets and return to Paul at paul.roberts@cssd.ac.uk
For more information on this research project you can contact Paul directly on 07894660321
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Following further relaxation of lockdown the ABTT has been preparing to run it's courses once more around the UK.
We have been speaking with alternative venues since the unavoidable cancellation of our Summer School at Warwick Arts and luckily have been able to confirm some future dates for a Bronze Award Course and Silver Electrics Course for September this year. Course details found below:
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Member’s price: £640 + VAT
Non-member’s price: £740.00 + VAT
Date: 7 – 11 September
Location: Derby, Derby Theatre
The Bronze Award is a five day course which gives candidates knowledge and understanding of best practice, whether they are working in regional rep, touring, multi-art form studios, community theatre, the West End or as a freelancer.
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It delivers the first vocational step for professional development to the theatre technician and will provide candidates with an industry recognised qualification equivalent to SCQF Level 7.
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Member’s price: £700 + VA
Non-member’s price: £810 + VAT
Date: 14 – 18 September
Location: Cheltenham, Everyman Theatre
The Silver Award for Theatre Electricians is a five day course which gives candidates more in-depth knowledge and understanding of best practice in the subject. It allows candidates to specialise further and validate experience in a specific area whilst progressing on from the Bronze Award.
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Candidates wanting to pursue the Silver Award for Theatre Electricians should have gained the knowledge and skills covered by the Bronze Award prior to considering undertaking this course.
This course provides the candidates with an industry recognised qualification equivalent to SCQF Level 8.
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This online training course is largely based on AutoCAD’s 2D functionality with a short bonus 3D tutorial at the conclusion of the course. It is used within the Theatre industry to develop technical drawings for a range of different uses. If you are on the technical drawing side of set or theatre design, this course is for you.
The course is specifically tailored to the needs of users in a theatrical environment.
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It consists of six parts and is structured so you can create simple drawings after Part 1. The course will provide you with a foundation of skills, allowing you to use the program straight away and build your knowledge. Each part should take approximately 10 hours to complete, this will vary from person to person as it's structured to allow you to you work at your own pace.
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Tuesday 4th August at 2pm BST
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At this Event we hope to introduce you to other Apprentices and enable the attendees to ask questions regarding their current or future Apprenticeships too.
We will have a range of experts in the field available to tell you more about what Apprenticeships are available, how they work, what they cover and what to do once you’ve finished.
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Coming up this August : Date TBC
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In this seminar we will be celebrating the innovation and resourcefulness of our industry to try and produce theatre despite the current situation.
We will be looking into how people have been thinking outside the box in their approach to trying to get back to producing work and hearing from various speakers about how they have gone about achieving this.
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We will investigate the practical issues that were faced and the safety measures implemented to create works during the pandemic and what, if anything, we can learn and take forward into the future production of work.
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For those of you unable to attend the June or July Seminars that have already happened, these recordings are now available on our Online Seminars Page.
Our latest seminar "Sustainability: Time for systematic Change" ran yesterday evening, but don't worry if you missed it - we have already uploaded it on to the ABTT Website for you!
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A follow on seminar from , in this seminar we were joined by Join Carol Scott, Principal Advocate for Sustainability at TAIT and SIPA, (The Sustainability in Production Alliance) and a panel of industry experts in discussing how we can use this current hiatus to let go of old habits and create a new more sustainable ways of working.
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Other previous seminar topics have included:
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A list of resources and guidance to help prepare for our Industry's post-lockdown fightback, including websites, webinars, declarations and calls-to-action. Current intiviativeas and movements that may be of interest have also been highlighted.
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The ABTT's COVID Guidance is available here, plus working documents provided by organisations and companies attempting to work safely in our Industry. These documents must only be taken in the context for which the companies have created them.
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These products have been created by our Industry Supporters in an attempt to help our Industry work safely during and after the pandemic. These products are not being endorsed by the ABTT but rather collated for easy access for our members.
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We know many of our members are struggling during this confusing time. So please see here a list of relevant links to financial resources, support and schemes that may be suitable for you. If you know of any further resources please let us know.
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We know many are using their unexpected free time to acquire some new skills and training. Please see this list of free tutorials, webinars, courses and videos. If you know of any resources that should be included please email office@abtt.org.uk.
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Need something to do or watch during lockdown? We have put together list of online activities, streamed theatre and more. Please see below. If you know of any resources that should be included please email office@abtt.org.uk.
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We know that our council and members want to help achieve greater equality, diversity and inclusion within theatre and the arts. As such we have put together list of relevant resources, initiatives and petitions that need support .
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#MentalHealthAwareness is more important than ever. With more people than ever struggling with their mental health during these unprecedented time if you require support, including helplines, counselling and more please check this page out.
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Achieving greater sustainability within theatre, live performance and the arts is at the forefront of action at the moment, so please use this list of organisations, seminars, initiatives and petitions to that need support .
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Many of our freelancers are using this unexpected free time to acquire some new skills. Please see here a list of available training. If you know of any free training we should be promoting please let us know on office@abtt.org.uk
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The ABTT is continuing to work hard to make sure that our sector is being supported during these unprecedented times.
As a registered charity, we are dependent on our membership subscriptions and donations as we do not receive any government subsidy, or regular financial help from local authorities or the Arts Council. If you are able, please pay any outstanding membership subscriptions. If it is possible and you would like to make a donation to support the ABTT in surviving in these incredibly challenging times, we would be extraordinarily grateful.
Any donations will help us in continuing to set and uphold standards in technical excellence, safety and compliance for live performance; to assist technicians and support relevant industry projects.
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