NO CAMERAS PLEASE: Parents object to rules that don’t allow them to photograph their children performing at the eisteddfod. Photo: JEFF DEATH 0907jdesidtedord02
ORANGE City Council may be forced to review its policy on the use of photography at Orange’s annual City of Orange Eisteddfod following complaints from parents unhappy they’re banned from recording their children’s performances.
A spokesman for council, which owns both the function centre and Orange Civic Theatre where the eisteddfod is held, said the policy had been in place for some time and was designed to protect both the copyright of the works being performed and the safety and privacy of the child performers.
Council’s Allan Reeder said the policy prevented the recording and photographing of performances and was devised in consultation with eisteddfod organisers.
Mr Reeder said council became aware of the parents’ unhappiness over the policy via comments left on council’s Facebook page.
“It’s understandable that parents would want to capture special moments like their children’s performances ... but this is a complex society.”
“It’s against the law to make a recording of a piece of music ... unless a licensing fee has been paid,” he said.
While event organisers and official videographers will have paid to use or record the music, individual parents had not, Mr Reeder said.
Mr Reeder said the proliferation of social media and technology also made it easy for people to unknowingly distribute material containing images of children who may be the subject of child protection orders or in the middle of a child custody dispute.
Mr Reeder said council would meet with organisers to clarify a range of “grey issues” including media coverage of performances and signage notifying parents of the rules.
tracey.prisk@ruralpress.com