:...We must stand against the disrespect shown to
our national institutions and to the arts in general, as well as
those working in the industry. We saw a perfect example of that
disrespect just yesterday from , who infuriated musicians with his
disrespectful comments...
:...The people I worry most about are the
musicians in our communities, because for them the
coronavirus restrictions have been particularly onerous. I know
that Clwb Ifor Bach did attempt to reopen during the summer, when
the lockdown was lifted, and were doing a reasonable business just
as a bar in the city centre, on Womanby Street, but when the 10
o'clock restrictions came they felt they just had to close because
70 per cent of their takings were after 10 o'clock in the evening.
So now it is hard to know what organisations like Clwb Ifor Bach
face, who have been so important in ensuring that we have a vibrant
music industry in Cardiff, and for developing the musical abilities
and success of so many of our bands. So I fear for the future for
some of these organisations, particularly our
musicians, and so far the support that's been
available, particularly for freelancers, is insufficient to retain
these people in the industries for which they are so well suited.
So we have very varied challenges and very significant challenges
ahead, and we are absolutely not out of the woods...
:...The UK Tory Chancellor, , yesterday was asked what was his message to
musicians, actors and freelancers in the arts, and
the Chancellor eventually told ITN that everyone is having to
adapt. Quite frankly, that is not good enough. Llywydd,
musicians, actors and freelancers in the arts are
integral to the cultural and economic soul of our great nation. It
is imperative that this Senedd, this Welsh Parliament, refuses to
let the UK Government stand by idly and sacrifice our cultural
landscape during this pandemic.
Since my election to this place, I have strived to establish
musical events and I'm privileged to now chair the cross-party
group on music. Through this group, we have sought to bring
together key stakeholders from across the entire music sector in
Wales, from music educators to world-class orchestras, community
choirs, brass bands and international artists. From the meeting
of this key group, it was very apparent how devastating the
impact of COVID-19 has been on the entire music sector in Wales.
From this meeting, three key themes emerged from the challenges
facing musicians: guidance around assuming
activities; financial support for professionals in the music
sector; a strategy for their sustainability. These challenges
were shared with key Ministers from Welsh Government, and further
to my correspondence I was grateful to the Deputy Minister for
culture for meeting urgently with me to discuss these issues
raised by the CPG. I know that we will all want to, as stated
already, see music practice and performance resume safely as soon
as this is possible and, of course, this has got to be guided by
science...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
