Featured Artists Coalition Visits The House of Commons
The FAC team and guests attended the UK Music Summer Party at the House of Commons earlier this week. It was an opportunity for MPs and policy makers to hear directly from artists, the importance of music education in schools and the importance of grass routes venues were key issues for us.
This was underlined by a speech to invited guests by the FAC’s recently appointed Chief Executive Lucie Caswell. Speaking about music education in schools, Lucie noted that “music and arts education are also shown to improve overall learning, providing an outlet for expression and a catalyst for focus”.
On the matter of live music, where grass roots venues have closed and where those remaining venues face administration and financial burdens, Lucie noted “Gigs and festivals are a vital lifeblood for artists and we need to do everything we can to ensure that the extraordinary figures UK Music is reporting, continue to grow. Music adds enormous value to the finances and identity of the UK; it is our cultural capital.”
Amongst those politicians attending the event were Culture Minister Matt Hancock MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy Chi Onwurah MP and Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central and member of the APPG Music committee.