Last week Music Network launched the Kerry Music Report, a 111-page "overview of classical, jazz and traditional music in Kerry", writes Michael Dervan. The report is part of the ongoing Kerry Music 2000 project and on Saturday a seminar is being held in Siamsa Tire, Tralee, to gather commentary and reaction at national and local level. The Arts Council's director, Patricia Quinn, will open proceedings and in attendance will be representatives of the Department of Education and the ESB, Music Network's major sponsor, as well as the wide range of individuals and organisations in Kerry who have contributed to the preparation of a document which dissects the county's musical life in detail.

The report shows Kerry as a microcosm of the country at large. Details may differ but the broad strokes, which paint the picture of educational deprivation (which affects even traditional music), difficulties of access and prejudice in relation to unfamiliar forms, will not surprise many people. What the Music Network's chief executive, Niall Doyle, expects the project as a whole to work towards is the establishment of an adequately funded partnership structure, "locally owned and locally driven", to remedy the problems outlined in the report and to address the development of all aspects of music in the area. He sees the project as "innovative and democratic, with major implications for the way local music and arts development is carried out around the country."

For further information on Saturday's forum, tel: 066-20249.