Music to our Ears: Green Party Supports Bristol Music Trust at Cabinet Meeting

Bristol Green Party will acknowledge the fundamental importance of music to the children and young people of Bristol tomorrow, by supporting the transferral of the city’s music education service to the Bristol Music Trust.

Bristol’s current music education service, called “Bristol Plays Music”, is delivered by Bristol City Council in conjunction with the independent Bristol Music Trust, who run the commercially successful Colston Hall.

Funding has been provided by the Arts Council England until April 2015.

Last year, Bristol Plays Music provided approximately 8,000 students with weekly music tuition, as well as access to musical instruments and I.T. software.

It should be noted that the Council are not obligated to provide musical education to the people of Bristol.

Transferring the Bristol music education service wholly to Bristol Music Trust will help expand the service in Bristol and secure its funding, by putting it under the jurisdiction of a nationally-recognised charitable arts trust.

Music has been demonstrated to be important both to education and mental health, for example dementia.

Green Councillor for Bishopston Daniella Radice said,

“We recognise why the council is transferring services to the Trust and that it is the best option in the current climate of severe budget cuts.”

“Music and having the chance to learn a musical instrument can be fundamental to people’s lifelong happiness.”

“The music education service has been invaluable to Bristol schools for several years now… and although the Council is giving it free use of the building until 2015, it is vital that it does get a new Arts Council grant otherwise the great benefits will be lost.”

The transferral will be voted on by the Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson’s cabinet, at a public meeting tomorrow at Filwood Community Centre at 6pm.

The cabinet includes the Green Party Councillor for Ashley, Gus Hoyt.

To show your support for the transfer, contact one of the Bristol City Council cabimet members at www.bristol.gov.uk.

Further Information

Link to website advocating music in learning process:
http://www.howtolearn.com/products/mozart-effect/

Link to Google page showing two peer-reviewed journals advocating music in the treatment of dementia: http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=music+dementia+bristol&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=L9HuUZTnJ6bG0QXkt4CoCw&ved=0CCkQgQMwAA