Funding threat to Welsh jazz
There's concern for the future of the Welsh Jazz Society as National Lottery funding for the arts is diverted to the 2012 London Olympics.
The Arts Council of Wales has announced that it is withdrawing funding for the society, which is the umbrella organisation for jazz in Wales.
Hear Monty Coffin, chairman of the Welsh Jazz Society
Julie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North, has raised the issue in the House of Commons, claiming it could have serious repercussions for the whole jazz music scene in Wales.
"I asked the Minister, Phil Hope, whether he would look into the issue of all the voluntary groups that have suffered from the diversion of funds to the Olympics," she said.
"I told him that I understood that the Welsh Jazz Society, which is run by volunteers, is losing funding as a result of cuts to the Arts Council of Wales from the lottery.
"The Minister re-emphasised that the Government was protecting the funding of voluntary organisations from the Big Lottery Fund and that Arts Councils and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have announced additional funding through mainstream programmes.
"I very much hope that jazz in Wales will not suffer in this process and I hope that the Arts Council is mindful of the organisations throughout Wales, often run by dedicated volunteers, who put on music week in and week out to satisfy the needs of a significant numbers of fans.
"We want to keep all that jazz."
The Welsh Jazz Society intends to appeal against the decision and is urging all its friends and contacts in the jazz community to support the fight for survival.
Funding is also under threat for a number of venues that host jazz, including St Donats Arts Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The venue is asking supporters to write to Dai Smith, chairman of the Arts Council of Wales, Museum Place, Cardiff, to express their disappointment with the decision.
Meanwhile, the award-winning composer and musician Huw Warren has responded to the news saying it would be sad to lose any funding for jazz in Wales, while calling for the creation of a broader-based Welsh Jazz Services type of organisation, encompassing all varieties of jazz in all areas of Wales.
Click the Comments button below to read Huw's full response, and to add your own views.
The Arts Council of Wales has announced that it is withdrawing funding for the society, which is the umbrella organisation for jazz in Wales.
Hear Monty Coffin, chairman of the Welsh Jazz SocietyJulie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North, has raised the issue in the House of Commons, claiming it could have serious repercussions for the whole jazz music scene in Wales.
"I asked the Minister, Phil Hope, whether he would look into the issue of all the voluntary groups that have suffered from the diversion of funds to the Olympics," she said.
"I told him that I understood that the Welsh Jazz Society, which is run by volunteers, is losing funding as a result of cuts to the Arts Council of Wales from the lottery.
"The Minister re-emphasised that the Government was protecting the funding of voluntary organisations from the Big Lottery Fund and that Arts Councils and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have announced additional funding through mainstream programmes.
"I very much hope that jazz in Wales will not suffer in this process and I hope that the Arts Council is mindful of the organisations throughout Wales, often run by dedicated volunteers, who put on music week in and week out to satisfy the needs of a significant numbers of fans.
"We want to keep all that jazz."
The Welsh Jazz Society intends to appeal against the decision and is urging all its friends and contacts in the jazz community to support the fight for survival.
Funding is also under threat for a number of venues that host jazz, including St Donats Arts Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The venue is asking supporters to write to Dai Smith, chairman of the Arts Council of Wales, Museum Place, Cardiff, to express their disappointment with the decision.
Meanwhile, the award-winning composer and musician Huw Warren has responded to the news saying it would be sad to lose any funding for jazz in Wales, while calling for the creation of a broader-based Welsh Jazz Services type of organisation, encompassing all varieties of jazz in all areas of Wales.
Click the Comments button below to read Huw's full response, and to add your own views.
posted by Andy Roberts @ 10:07 am
1 Comments:
At 2:34 pm ,
Anonymous said...
Whilst it's sad to see any loss of funding of jazz, I can't help feeling that this could be an opportunity to maybe explore new avenues of funding and presenting Jazz in Wales?
It seems to me that what we need is a Welsh Jazz Services type of organisation where the umbrella group oversees and co-ordinates the activities of not only musicians, but promoters, educators, and listeners alike.
We need a support organisation that encompasses the whole variety of jazz ,world,and contemporary music out there-not just a small slice of straight ahead jazz, in my opinion.
There's also a geographical issue - let's get together and support the wealth of new music and talent coming from West, North and Mid Wales, as well as the established pool of Cardiff/South Wales based musicians.
I think everyone acknowledges their long track record of the WJS in supporting and promoting jazz over a long period (and during some very difficult times) - but it's debatable whether they currently meet the criteria I raise above? Maybe this news could stimululate the debate of the future of Jazz in Wales in a positive way. The Welsh jazz scene is healthier than ever in terms of producing new and exciting players and bands which are going on to national and even international acclaim.
My suggestion is to lobby the ACW to insist that Jazz funding in Wales is not lost, and lets generate a real debate about promoting and celebrating Jazz in Wales.
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