The European Brass Band Association annual financial report presented at its recent Annual General Meeting in Montreux showed that the organisation lost 2,913 Euros for the year ending 31st December 2018.
It follows reported losses of 7,334 Euros in 2017, 5,951 Euros (2016), 35,899 Euros (2015) and 18,177 Euros (2014).
That in turn has resulted in a depletion of cash bank reserves from over 98,000 Euros at the end of 2013 (when EBBA made a profit of 2,589 Euros) to reserves being brought forward at the end of 2018 of 25,801 Euros.
Progress and encouragement
However, the financial report did mark the progress made by EBBA towards returning to profitability, with the internal organisation costs falling significantly. EBBA income for 2019 was projected to exceed its expenditure.
Further encouragement came with the report of progress being made with existing mandates to negotiate, conclude and sign management contracts with Palanga (2020), Malmo (2021), Innsbruck (2022) and Stavanger (2023).
It was also confirmed that the EBBA Executive Committee will to enter into the same process with organisers Brass Bands England to potentially host the EBBC at Sage Gateshead in 2024.
During the AGM, Ulf Rosenberg (above left) was unanimously re-elected President of the European Brass Band Association. He thanked the EBBA delegates for their continued support, as well as paying tribute to the members of the EBBA Executive Committee, who he said were "outstanding"in their commitment.
Press Conference
In the EBBA Press Conference held on Friday morning in Montreux, he had spoken of his admiration of the organisation of the 2019 Championships by the host Swiss Brass Band Association.
He stated that EBBA found it was "on time, precise, well organised, well prepared and undertaken with friendliness."
He added that he was grateful for them for "stepping in"to host the 2019 event and hoped that their level of professionalism would be replicated in future years. "Everything about Montreux,"he said "was very positive".
Ulf Rosenberg also confirmed that EBBA was pleased that prize funding for the side events had changed so that it now encompassed a combination of cash, commissions and career development.
He pointed out that the three finalists in the 2018 Solo Competition in Utrecht had gone on to perform at the RNCM Brass Band Festival as well as at other major events.
He was also pleased that the 2019 would see the participation of a Spanish band, as well as the return of a competitor from Sweden and the debut of the Italian representative in the Championship event.
In addressing the question of Wales hosting a future EBBA Championships (Wales has indicated at previous EBBA AGMs and Delegate Meetings that it was hoping to work towards a potential 2024 date), he stated that at present there were "no clear signs"of major progress being made.
These were outlined as being linked to four major foundation points of a host concert hall venue, well developed transport and accommodation infrastructure, a competent organisation to run the event and one which could underwrite the financial costs of hosting it.
4BR understands Wales will continue to explore options to host a future Championship event, although Ulf Rosenberg stated that interest had now been shown from other countries to host the festival from 2025 onwards.
However, the financial report did mark the progress made by EBBA towards returning to profitability, with the internal organisation costs falling significantly4BR
Commercial links
When asked by 4BR about EBBA exploring further cultural funding avenues and commercial sponsorship links to enhance its financial robustness, the President confirmed that EBBA would once again "start to explore"potential cultural funding streams despite twice being narrowly rejected in the past, although EBBA's "current funding"restricted their ability to pay for commercial sponsorship seeking professionals.
He did hope however that they would seek further information about these types of possibilities and that it may EBBA members could explore these avenues also.
