News & campaigns

ISM releases Music: A subject in peril?

For more information about the report, see our feature on page 8 The ISM’s education report Music: A subject in peril?, published as we await the government’s refreshed National Plan for Music Education (NPME), presents the findings from a survey of music teachers across England. In the absence of any meaningful consultation with teachers on the contents of the refreshed NPME by the Department for Education (DfE), the ISM invited teachers to share their experiences and views with us directly. More than 500 primary, secondary and peripatetic music teachers from all types of settings responded to our survey. Their responses tell a heart-breaking tale of the neglect and marginalisation of music in schools over the past decade. The report also makes recommendations based on its findings about what the government must do to address these issues. Launching the report, ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said: ‘I cannot overstate the importance of the ISM’s new report, Music: A subject in peril? Hundreds of music teachers took the time to tell us their experiences in the classroom and this report is an honest reflection of their experiences. This is a critical time for music education, with the refreshed National Plan for Music Education due any time now. Although the Plan has an important part to play in the future of music education, it will not be able to fix the issues which the report uncovers. We call on the DfE to adopt the recommendations of the report. In particular we need to address the huge inequalities in music education which are rooted in inadequate funding, and there needs to be a fundamental overhaul of the accountability measures in particular Progress 8. What is clear is that our music teachers are dedicated and passionate and they know what good music education is. The Department for Education must commit itself to a full consultation on the refreshed National Plan for Music Education before implementation.’

APPG for Music Education: First Session of 2022

The first session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Music Education of 2022 took place virtually on Tuesday 1 March. The meeting was well attended by politicians and the music education sector with just under 90 attendees in total. It was chaired by The Earl of Clancarty. Presentations were delivered by: • Georgina Burt, England Development Manager,

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) • Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Incorporated

Society of Musicians • Phil Castang, Director of Creative Learning &

Engagement at Bristol Beacon, Chair of the Music

Education Council (MEC) Read all of the speeches from the APPG on our website: ism.org/news/appg-music-education-firstsession-of-2022

Music Education Solutions conference

ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts was invited to deliver the keynote speech for the recent Music Education Solutions conference on Friday 18 March at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham. She covered topics including the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on music education; the upcoming refreshed National Plan for Music Education; and the need to reform accountability measures such as Progress 8. The wide-ranging speech, which was delivered to the busy conference and streamed to an online audience, also spoke of the ISM’s campaigning work and its results, up to the most recent ISM music education survey. In conclusion, Annetts said: ‘We should remember that the creative industries are now worth more than £116 billion to the UK economy and the music industry is worth £6 billion. These industries rely heavily on the pipeline of creative talent from schools. Investing in music education ultimately results in investment in the economy, and young people deserve every opportunity to develop as musicians and join this pipeline. Music must be central to the recovery curriculum, playing a vital role in schools helping their students to explore and express the varied emotions and challenges that they will have experienced during the pandemic, building stronger relationships and communities within schools and with families.’ Read the speech in full: ism.org/blog/ dca-keynote-mes-conference A solution for cabotage?

The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently consulting on a solution to mitigate the cabotage rules introduced by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in January 2021. These limit hauliers over 3.5 tonnes to a maximum of three internal movements, which is causing immense difficulties and additional costs for UK orchestras and other touring ensembles. The DfT’s proposed solution will allow specialist events haulage companies who have established bases in both the UK and the European Union (EU) to temporarily transfer their vehicles between their respective operator licences. The ISM has submitted a response to the consultation to explain that this solution will not assist orchestras and other touring ensembles who use a single purpose-built vehicle and their own driver for tours (called operating on ‘own account’). Instead, we have called for the UK to negotiate with the EU a cabotage exemption for the cultural and creative industries, and, as a minimum, to negotiate an exemption for specialist hauliers operating on ‘own account’.

Jacob Rees-Mogg looks for Brexit opportunities

Jacob Rees-Mogg was appointed as the Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency on 8 February this year. The ISM is writing to ReesMogg to ask him to focus on easing the red tape that touring musicians now face post-Brexit, including merchandise rules, ATA carnets, CITES certificates and A1 forms. All these areas could be made more efficient, including streamlining the processes for producing documentation and creating much clearer government guidance for musicians touring in the EU. Read our feature on page 18 to learn about IAMA’s international guidelines for engaging artists

See how the music sector has responded to the crisis in Ukraine on page 14 Spring Statement ‘missed opportunity’ to support musicians

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered his Spring Statement mini-budget to the House of Commons on 23 March. It came against the backdrop of rising inflation and the fastest rising price increases for 30 years. Despite the difficulties caused by Brexit and the COVID19 pandemic, the statement did not provide targeted support for the music industry. There were no new initiatives to support creative freelancers beyond the changes to the point at which people start paying National Insurance. Many freelancers fell through the gaps of government financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disappointingly, the Chancellor failed to abandon his planned VAT hike from 12.5% to 20% on ticket prices from April, which many in the industry had called for. ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said: ‘As the music sector tries its hardest to recover from Brexit and COVID-19, the Chancellor’s budget is a missed opportunity to support musicians and the music industry at this crucial time.’ Read details and full statement: ism.org/news/ spring-statement-missed-opportunity-tosupport-musicians-says-ism Invasion of Ukraine

Recent events in Ukraine are deeply concerning. As a member of the ABO, the ISM supports its recent statement on the invasion, which begins: ‘The ABO and its members are united in their condemnation of the Putin regime’s invasion of Ukraine and its violation of international law. We wish to express our support for the people of Ukraine in their struggle to maintain the independence of their nation, and for the many Russian artists and leaders of cultural institutions who have dared to express their concern at the aggressive actions taken by the Putin regime. ‘Many ABO members have already suspended or discontinued cooperation, both of an artistic and financial nature, with Russian institutions and individuals with known allegiance to the Kremlin, and we commend their decision and endorse this approach. We do not believe it is right for the Putin regime to use art and culture to legitimise its actions.’ The ISM sponsored ‘A Celebration of Women in Music’, a concert in support of humanitarian aid in Ukraine organised by the Federation of International Women’s Associations in London (FIWAL) and the Ukrainian Cultural Association in the UK (UCAUK), which took place on 4 March. Ukrainian pianist and composer Alla Sirenko, ISM member and President and Founder of the UCAUK, wrote a blog about what the UCA-UK is doing to support Ukraine. Sirenko was also interviewed for Channel 4 News about organising the concert. Read more and watch a Channel 4 news clip of the concert here: ism.org/news/ukraine

ISM External affairs team, 020 7313 9312