Governance

Irish Jazz Forum Charter

This charter defines our structure, values, and operating principles as we work together to build a unified, national platform for Ireland's jazz and improvised music sector.

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1. Purpose|2. Values|3. Membership|4. Structure|5. Decision-Making|6. Communication|7. Data|8. External Relations|9. Accountability|10. Amendments
1

Purpose

The Irish Jazz Forum exists to provide a unified, national platform for Ireland's jazz and improvised music sector.

Its purpose is to coordinate the sector's needs, strengthen advocacy, develop shared infrastructure, and represent the interests of artists, promoters, educators, festivals, and organisations across the island.

2

Values and Principles

Collaboration—sector-first, not organisation-first
Transparency—open communication and shared information
Inclusion—representation of diverse voices, regions, and identities
Integrity—artistic independence and fair representation of Irish artists
Sustainability—long-term thinking, environmental responsibility, and fair working conditions
3

Membership

The Forum is open to:

Independent musicians

Promoters and venues

Festivals

Educators and institutions

Jazz/improvised music organisations

Sector-support bodies

Individuals contributing to the ecosystem

Membership is voluntary and free during the development stage.

4

Structure

4.1 Plenary Forum

  • Full-group meeting of all members
  • Meets 3–4 times per year
  • Approves major positions, recommendations, and sector submissions

4.2 Steering Group

  • 6–8 members
  • Balanced across geography (North/South/East/West) and roles (artist/promoter/org/education)
  • Term length: 18 months, renewable once
  • Role: coordinate meetings, oversee working groups, communicate with funders, and consolidate sector feedback

4.3 Working Groups

Working groups implement agreed priorities. Initial groups include:

Advocacy

Data & Research

Education & Youth

Inclusion & EDI

Festival & Events Development

Cross-Border Collaboration

Each group has a coordinator, meets as needed, and reports back at every plenary.

5

Decision-Making

The plenary approves sector positions by simple majority (50%+1)
The steering group handles operational decisions between plenaries
Working groups make recommendations but do not set Forum-wide policy
6

Communication

One official communication channel (Slack/Google Groups — to be decided)
Monthly sector update: deadlines, opportunities, advocacy alerts
Shared document repository for minutes, data, templates, and policy files
7

Data & Evidence-Sharing

The Forum will coordinate:

Collection of national sector data
Shared tools (e.g., Looker Studio)
Annual review of key statistics to support advocacy
Anonymised reporting where appropriate (e.g. Arts Council feedback)
8

External Relations

The Forum acts as a unified voice in dealings with:

Arts Council

Culture Ireland

Local Authorities

Media

International Partners

Art-form Networks

Submissions, briefings, and position papers are approved by the plenary or, when time-sensitive, by the steering group.

9

Accountability

The Forum commits to:

Publishing an annual summary of sector activity and priorities
Sharing outcomes of meetings with funders
Transparent reporting on working group outputs
10

Amendments

This Charter can be updated by majority vote at any plenary meeting.

Questions about the Charter?

Contact the steering group for clarifications or to discuss membership.

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