Update on Seized Bows; How to Lobby Congress to Allow for International Travel with Violin Bows

Written by Laurie Niles
Published: June 4, 2014 at 7:22 PM [UTC]

According to the New York Times, the orchestra had documentation for each bow, with photographs and letters from bow makers stating that they contained no banned ivory, said the orchestra's director, Stefan Englert. On Tuesday the bows were returned and sent back, after the orchestra showed the documentation and paid a total of $525 in fines and fees.

Obviously this situation, with its unpredictable outcomes even when an orchestra has obtained necessary documents, is untenable for traveling musicians.

What can we do?

Here is one step that many of us can take: American citizens can lobby their representatives in Congress with the help of an E-Advocacy page set up by the The League of American Orchestras. (Thank you to bowmaker Matt Wehling for pointing us to this page.)

Here is the link to that page.

This gives a template for a letter, but it also allows citizens to customize the letter with their own concerns. Among possible concerns:

• Musicians traveling to the U.S. need clear instructions and a workable system that allow them to attain necessary permits to comply with these rules, in a timely manner.
• Musicians need to be able to travel with their legally crafted, legally purchased musical instruments that contain endangered species material, without penalty
• Allowances are needed for the legal sale and re-sale of existing, legally crafted musical instruments that contain small amounts of African elephant ivory

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• European Orchestra Caught in Bureaucratic Snag over Ivory in Bows
• Bows with Ivory Tips in Danger?