The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group Announces A Review Of Jazz In England
Following
an enforced delay due to the global pandemic and a year of unprecedented
change, challenges, and specific hardships for working musicians, the All Party
Jazz Appreciation Group (APPJAG) has commissioned
a Review of Jazz in England. The Review will be undertaken by APPJAG’s
Secretary, Chris Hodgkins, and an expert advisory panel, chaired by musician
and jazz educator Dr Kathy Dyson.
John Spellar MP and Lord Mann (Co-Chairs of APPJAG), and Alison Thewless MP and Chi Onwurah MP (Co-Vice Chairs of APPJAG), detail some of the review's objectives:
“It has been a tough year for jazz with many musicians and promoters
falling through the cracks in terms of funding. APPJAG continues to put the
case to the Department for Culture, Digital, Media and Sport to rectify this
egregious state of affairs. Underpinning the review is the fact that jazz in
England (and indeed across the UK) is “rich beyond the dreams of avarice” in
terms of human resources: jazz musicians, composers, volunteer promoters,
audiences, commercial promoters, educators, youth orchestras, jazz festivals,
Arts Council England funded jazz National Portfolio Organisations, a growing
service economy and jazz archives. But
there are some vital issues that need addressing urgently; increased
investment, frictionless touring in the EU, financial support for musicians and
promoters who fell through the cracks in 2020/21 and a fair deal for musicians
getting their music streamed. The objective of the Review of Jazz in England is
to inform Government, funding bodies, potential sponsors, Parliament and to
assist the jazz constituency in shaping an action plan for jazz in England.”
And Dr Kathy Dyson, Chair of the Advisory Panel of the Review of Jazz in
England, comments:
“As a jazz musician and educator I am well aware of how hard a year it
has been for jazz musicians, promoters, studios, technical staff, media and the
jazz constituency at large. Realistically, recovery will be slow on the
domestic scene and our touring capabilities will be hampered both by Brexit and
the myriad quarantine and travel issues globally. This current situation is
exacerbated by ten years of funding cuts which have dramatically affected the
arts and now the Government is planning to impose a disastrous 50% funding cut
to arts subjects including music at Higher Education level in England. The
pandemic has thrown petrol on flames and highlighted issues of insecurity, low
wages and exploitation of musicians by the music streaming companies. This
Review of Jazz in England is a genuine and concerted attempt by people who care
deeply about the music, musicians and all involved in promoting it, to
find out how the jazz community has fared during the pandemic, what the main
issues are that we face now; how these can best be addressed during the post
Covid period with the aim of an action plan for the jazz community
in England.”
Teesside University Business School is partnering the Review of Jazz in
England, and Associate Dean (Marketing & Recruitment) Dr Noel Dennis, writes:
“Teesside University Business School is proud to support the Review of
Jazz in England. This is a very timely project that will provide the analysis
to allow for fresh strategic thinking to ensure a sustainable future for this
wonderful music. I am delighted our students are being afforded the opportunity
to contribute to this exciting project and, in so doing, develop their
professional skills.”
Chris Hodgkins summarises the review's objectives:‘
This review concerns the operation, management and business of jazz, and its purposes are twofold:
One, to help the jazz constituency in England to understand and
use its resources in the most efficient and effective ways - and two, to
make the case for improving the support, sustainability and promotion of jazz
in England.
The review will be undertaken in two phases. The first, entitled
"Where are we now?", examines the present state of jazz in England,
drawing on revealing data from five key surveys aimed at the jazz constituency.
The second asks the question: "Where do we want to be?", and develops
a succinct action plan for jazz in England that will go out for consultation to
all interested parties, and the jazz constituency at large.'
Full details and briefing papers - 'Cold Comfort and Home Truths' – Terms of reference, the composition of the Advisory Panel, and five questionnaires dealing with promoters and venues, musicians, jazz festivals, audiences plus individuals and organisations are available at: Review of Jazz in England The closing date for the questionnaires is midnight, Monday 28th June 2021.
2 comments :
I confidently predict that this report will conclude two things:
1. That Jazz should get more funding from Arts Council England - it will include lots of statistical evidence to prove why this is true. ACE will respond by saying how they give lots of money to jazz!
2. That there should be a National organisation for jazz (despite the last attempt at this having been a miserable failure)
Those have been the conclusions of the previous reports from the same person, and I doubt this will be any different despite the stellar advisory group
This is disappointing to read especially as the person concerned hides behind anonymity.
I suggest the person looks at the terms of reference. The end result of this review is an action plan that will be placed out for consultation to the jazz community at large for them to debate, accept or revise so that they own it.
I also expect that the national organisation you are referring to is Jazz Services. Jazz Services did a lot of good work and you can see annual reports on my website. Like a lot of organisations it ran into problems. But I would not call it a miserable failure its record of good work is there.
Instead of sniping from the sidelines why don't you get behind the review and help shape the action plan.
Chris Hodgkins
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