September 4, 2022 – 10:42 PM
Charlotte Higgins paints a realistic picture of the appalling plight of small music venues – “Soaring MDF prices, extortionate interval drinks, cash-strapped audiences: the arts are staring inflation in the face”, The Guardian, 19th August 2022 – however the bad news is it is actually worse than this. If you factor in the volunteer promoters […]
September 4, 2022 – 10:33 PM
Lisa O’Carrol’s article – “Brexit stage left: British band tells of farcical barriers encountered on EU tour”, The Guardian, 10th August 2022- shows the Government’s incompetence and ineptitude with regard to Brexit, the music industry, and sound planning. Instead of asking “where are we now? Where do we want to be? How are we going […]
I read a report in the Sun newspaper that Jacob Rees-Mogg was asking for people to write to him about petty EU regulations that should be abolished. Whether my recent experiences of red tape emanate from the EU or as a result of BREXIT I am not sure but they are in any event prima […]
There was an article in the Guardian on the 12th June 2021, “Oliver Dowden – The paymaster who is calling the tune in the culture wars”. The article highlighted what a wonderful smokescreen culture wars are for the inadequacy of the Secretary of State for Culture and the DCMS. They serve to reinforce the findings […]
Yorkshire Bitter The other day I noticed an article in the Guardian, “Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra brought back to life after 66 years”. The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra has been revived seventy-four years after it was first formed. The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra has been revived to support musicians in northern England hit by the pandemic. A few idle thoughts […]
Ealing Council has adopted a policy where it would seem that the taller the development the better as if West Ealing is trying to become the New York of the “Great Wen”. Here are two documents the first is a guide to objecting to planning developments and the second is my objection to planned developments […]
September 15, 2020 – 10:07 AM
The Arts Council has launched a new ten year strategy which they say is not dreamed up by a bunch of bureaucrats sitting in a room on their own – well tough as this is what it reads like out of touch and given the resources probably unachievable. Musicians, dancer, painters, poets, writer, singers have […]
September 7, 2020 – 11:18 PM
I filled in a questionnaire on the review of the Labour Parties performance at the last general election. The questionnaire did not allow me to fully represent my views. I have therefore set my views and findings down in the attached document. I make no apologies for what is a frank and candid appraisal of […]
The leader article, “Ministers have come to the rescue. Artists must seize this chance” in the Guardian on the 2nd June (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/06/the-guardian-view-on-15bn-for-the-arts-the-shows-will-go-on) sounds reasonable till you analyse the Arts Council’s 10 year strategy “Lets Create”. “Let’s Create” reads as if written by people remote from the practical issues which the arts face every day and […]
Congratulation to Oliver Dowden Secretary of State Culture, Media and Sport on listening and delivering a £1.5 billion rescue package for the arts. However there are caveats; where and how will the money be spent, who will deliver the money to beleaguered organisations and musicians? Will under-represented musics find a place in the sun?