Kier Starmer on Radio 3 Private Passions

family mad!!! - man.

I watched a programme featuring Melvyn Bragg the other night and he was saying that he couldn’t understand why the arts weren’t supported more when it came to government funding as they contributed more to gdp than eg farming. I remember chatting to someone at the gym a few years ago who told me his arts teacher wife was being made redundant. My grandson did music as one of his A Levels and there were only two in the class. At one time Leicestershire was renowned for it’s teaching of music in schools. Going back to when I was a teenager and used to hitch everywhere a couple gave me a lift one day and they told me that they did music therapy, something I’d never heard of at the time; I bet there’s no funding for it now.

I watched a programme featuring Melvyn Bragg the other night and he was saying that he couldn’t understand why the arts weren’t supported more when it came to government funding as they contributed more to gdp than eg farming
😂

I'm not laughing at you, Msybee but at Melvyn Bragg's inane comment!

Of course the Arts, including music teaching in schools, needs more funding. As the mother of a musician whose passion for music began with lessons in primary school, although we had to buy the instrument and later on pay for private lessons.

But to bring it down to a matter GDP and comparing it with farmers providing food for the nation is just ludicrous.

Sorry, I posted before checking
As the mother of a musician I fully support more funding.

All of ours played instruments throughout school, one has a degree in music technology.

I have always been of the opinion that music calms and focuses our minds.

GrannyGravy13

All of ours played instruments throughout school, one has a degree in music technology.

I have always been of the opinion that music calms and focuses our minds.

Without music what are we?
I do agree.

But bringing GDP into it, Melvyn? 🤔
Muddying the waters.

Anyway, we've wandered off piste!!

I'd like to know what Keir Starmer picked. Solid and reliable, but a bit stodgy? No Stravinsky?

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/kwGyvq7hClhsW5YRd4xCQQ/five-things-we-learned-about-keir-starmer-s-music-taste-from-private-passions

Allira

^I watched a programme featuring Melvyn Bragg the other night and he was saying that he couldn’t understand why the arts weren’t supported more when it came to government funding as they contributed more to gdp than eg farming^
😂

I'm not laughing at you, Msybee but at Melvyn Bragg's inane comment!

Of course the Arts, including music teaching in schools, needs more funding. As the mother of a musician whose passion for music began with lessons in primary school, although we had to buy the instrument and later on pay for private lessons.

But to bring it down to a matter GDP and comparing it with farmers providing food for the nation is just ludicrous.

“Arts and culture has overtaken agriculture in terms of its contribution to the UK economy, according to research from Arts Council England, whose chair is warning that continuing cuts threaten further growth.

Sir Nicholas Serota was speaking as ACE published a study quantifying the contribution of arts and culture to the UK’s GDP. It showed that the sector added £10.8bn to the economy at the last count in 2016, £390m more than the previous year, more than the agricultural sector and roughly equal to cities such as Liverpool and Sheffield

At the same time the report revealed that 74% of arts organisations had been affected by public funding cuts.

Serota praised the resilience and commitment of theatres, galleries and other arts organisations that continue to thrive despite receiving less public money. He said the success in the face of adversity “tells you about the brilliance of the people running these organisations, frankly.

“It tells you about their commitment and determination in spite of the cuts. It also tells you if they had a bit more money they would do something rather wonderful with it.”

Only a small, sad nation robs its people of arts and culture
Frances Ryan
Frances Ryan
Read more
One of the biggest challenges facing arts organisations are local authority cuts, with libraries, museums and the arts often in the front line.”
This article is a few years old but I think it proves Melvyns point. It reminds me of how high profile fishing was during the referendum debate given that fishing contributed very little to the gdp of the country.

But the comparison is pointless.

Bringing both the Arts and food production into a competition about which is contributing more to GDP is just wrong.
They are both essential imo and this just debased them.

But that's only my opinion.
What do I know compared to Baron Bragg and Sir Nicholas Serota?

All I tried to point out is that people, in general, don’t realise how much the arts contribute to our economy. They’re regarded as an expendable frivolity. Until I watched the programme I had no idea how much money they contributed to it.

Wow, very talented and lovely insights.

he sounds choice wise a bit like my Dad, who only really had time to listen to the music he loved when he was washing up in the evenings, nowhere to play it really often in a small house with 4 children.

How he would have loved modern technology. But Dad a bit more adventurous - like Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Debussy, Shostakovich, Mahler. I played the cello.

But it gave me my love of classical music I'm very very thank full and at school free tuition and instrument, paid for local youth orchestra and more.

I so wish children could be helped to be alive to how music can speak, comfort, explain, be a companion, be allowed to sing out of tune..et al.

Yes I wish there was the funding. But...NHS versus music? Care for elderly and end of life care v the arts? support for...you get the picture, I've no answers.