Threat to Brighton and Hove's Music and Arts budget

By GeorgeHA | Wednesday, January 04, 2012, 17:28

Could the council really be proposing to slash its 'outstanding' Music and Arts service?

‘Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, and life to everything. . . . Without music, life would be an error.’ Plato
"...Currently, more than 2,500 children benefit from instrumental lessons and ensemble workshops every week in the city..."
..."without financial support such opportunities will become wholly the preserve of the better-off..."

A letter to yesterday's Guardian from Dr Keith Turvey, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton, spotlights the threat:

"The music and arts service in Brighton & Hove has long been rated outstanding and is valued highly across the city," Dr Turvey writes. "Even so, it is facing a 33% cut over two years in its central fund.

"On top of this, the Green-led council is proposing the complete phasing out of the local subsidy.

"Currently, more than 2,500 children benefit from instrumental lessons and ensemble workshops every week in the city.

"This includes more than 500 families on lower incomes, who are able to access up to 80% subsidies. The National Music Plan is full of good intent on widening access, but without financial support such opportunities will become wholly the preserve of the better-off.

"Without an adequately funded service offering area-wide provision for music and instrumental lessons for all, teachers of music will have no other option than to find employment elsewhere; public schools and the private sector seem the most likely.

"Music and arts education is extremely valuable to the social, emotional and intellectual development of all children as has been emphasised by the Henley review and the National Music Plan. However, music services are at serious risk of falling through the funding cracks.

"Over 2,000 people have now signed a petition to urge Brighton & Hove council to reconsider its proposal to cut the local subsidy to the music service."

Dr Turvey's petition can be found here.

Other action you can take:

Write to your local councillors to ask them not to cut the service. It's important that they receive as many letters as possible on this issue before 26 Jan. To find the names of your councillors, go here

'Like' the Facebook page 'Protest against the Green Council in Brighton and Hove slashing Music budget'.

Email stopmusiccuts@gmail.com by 6 Jan to say how you or your family have benefited from the music service and your views will be passed on to the Council.

Go to the lobby of the Council meeting where the petition is being presented at 4 pm on 26 January, Hove Town Hall.

Join the campaign – Email stopmusiccuts@gmail.com to go on the mailing list.