It's all change at the top of the UK arts scene as the government's Culture Secretary Maria Miller resigns after becoming embroiled in a scandal over her expenses (she was cleared of the major charges, but still has to pay several thousand pounds of claimed expenses back). Music pros on social media were hardly lamenting her departure, but neither as yet were they over-optimistic about her successor, Sajid Javid.
A cool reception for Mr. Javid was somewhat predictable, partly because he comes from the Treasury and has no known track record for involvement in the arts. One person in the classical music industry pointed out on Facebook that in an old interview he had named U2 as the music he most admires (which will not be music to the ears of orchestra chiefs and the like).
Still, assuming Mr. Javid has no affinity for the high arts -- and there is in fact no real reason to assume that yet at all -- a Treasury guy in the position may be no bad thing. If he comes with no pre-decided agenda, it is up to the arts industries to make the financial case for their funding. And there is a strong case to be made. The UK classical music industry alone brings in millions of pounds in both its main and associated revenue streams. Tourism, service providers, corporate incentivising - the arts are one of the greatest assets that the UK has. And the Association of British Orchestras and their fellow lobbying bodies will be already gearing up to make the case that now is the time to prime the pump, to borrow a phrase from the Great Depression, not to poison and eventually destroy the well. The big quesion is whetherr the new man at the top is the kinnd of guy to listen.
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