Live Webchat with Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries (Monday 31 January, 1.15-2.15pm)

[HelenMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, will be joining us for a webchat this Monday lunchtime.

Ed's responsibilities range from libraries and art galleries to broadband access, internet and film.

Ed says said that, ever since he was appointed last May, it has been a priority for him to keep in direct contact with people who want to ask questions, raise issues or make comments and suggestions.

So, do feel free to ask away - either on the day or, if you can't join us then, by posting your question in advance here.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Anyone read Private Eye this week?

While I'm pleased and flattered they covered it and had a go at Ed and his Search for a Star / Classic FM sponsored ideas, I don't really like their focus on the webchat rather than the actual issue of music education under Con-Dem coalition or indeed an overview of the Haynes review.

That said, at least it will get it under the noses of some influential and interested parties.

[austenreader]

I heard this week that N. Clegg has told his staff not to give him memos after a certain time in the afternoon so he can concentrate on his home life. Oh to have that choice!

[MarinaResurgens]

Me too Austenreader, and jack in leading Sunday School, and give up teaching Latin in a local primary twice a week.
Goodness knows how I fit in a full-time paid job in arts education and keeping tabs on two children

[austenreader]

I should cut back the hours I spend on parish council business then!

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

Tory Peer & Cabinet Volunteering Tsar cutting back his hours because he has no time to have a job or life

[Blu]

gaelicsheep, I agree.

I am not sure whether it was arrogance, not thinking the Minister for Culture is of enough importance or that MN is full of nitwits that led to Ed Vaizey clearly having answered the questions without the help of some wonk from Cockspur St to help mould the answers to the questions into something slightly credible.

[LilyBolero]

yy, send it to Private Eye.

[gaelicsheep]

I hope My Vaizey or his office are still reading this thread. I doubt it.

[gaelicsheep]

It is a total disgrace. I am incredulous at the sheer arrogance of that man and this Govt.

[austenreader]

If the above sounds elitist, it wasn't meant to be. For 'orchestra' I could equally well have written windband/folk group/brass band/ jazz band. All these are included in our local music centre.
Hundreds of kids benefit and not just the wealthy.
No X-factor style competition is going to adequately replace this structure.

[austenreader]

gaelicsheep
I'm sorry to hear that you dropped out of music. I can't play a note but I bang on about it because my DD, an only child, gained so much from the social experience of playing in orchestras. DH and I have been to countless youth concerts over the last few years and greatly admire the work of the people who run music centres, and the peripatetic music teachers who bring on the players to a standard where they can join.

Not everyone is a soloist. Many of these wonderful young players are more than happy to be almost invisible as part of a section in an orchestra. I can think of a few who would rather die than play solo let alone compete.

That's why I'm so horrified at the cuts to a service which is such a valuable part of so many children's lives. In my DD's case, every Friday night for 11 years.

This proposal Vaisey was lauding is an insult.

[gaelicsheep]

Some really good points here.

Firstly regarding music and competition. I totally agree this is not suitable for all children. I reached a very high standard in my instruments and was strongly "encouraged" to enter music festivals etc. I found it very very stressful and hated every minute, even though I was often quite successful. This led to burn out when I was about to start music college. I'd had enough, I dropped out to something totally different and I do not play any more, even for pleasure.

Secondly, rural broadband. I haven't read the strategy Ed referred to (I will at some point but expect a lot of hot air), but all the solutions mentioned so far will only help certain parts of any community. In our area those who live close to the exchange can get 6MB and don't see a problem (well why would they). Others of us live in the outlying hamlets miles from the exchange and can't get landline broadband at all. Is the community council going to help with this for the sake of a hundred or so households? I don't think so. And yes, new satellites are being launched as EV said. But from what I've heard this will mean more reliability for the same money, NOT cheaper packages.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

ReadingTeaLeaves - interesting point about how 'democratically electing' your council won't necessarily result in policy decision you'd be happy with. Your example from Wandsworth is of a library in the one Labour ward being closed down by the Tory-run council.

Where I live, the position is interestingly reversed. I live in rural South Oxforshire (which, as has been widely reported, is losing 20 of its 43 libraries) and we are losing both of our local well-attended and bustling small village libraries. Oxfordshire CC is tory-controlled but the Tory councillors come from the shires - the inner city councillors from Oxford are all (I think) non-Tory. While the city is also losing several libraries in the poorest areas (Blackbird Lees, for example, which is a long way out from the centre) most loses will come from the small rural communities in the Tory shires. And I do wonder whether there will be an unexpected grassroots rebellion from the deep-dyed blue voters who are about to lose their facilities.

Would be nice if it happened!

[Blu]

The app thing is so ridiculous. There are increasng numbers of artists from all disciplines making digital and multi-platform work and that's great, but to suggest that apps is a way forward to economise and that increasing your audience by making screened events is a substitute for a live experience is nonsense. If Ed Vaizey doesn't think so perhaps he should ponder the difference between calling a phone sex chatline and the real thing, or perhaps put himself in front of a football crowd and explain that as footie is now available on TV the government will be closing down 30% of stadiums, to get feedback on the importance of the live event.

It's all so crass and glib.

The screenings of opera etc have been great, as an additional extension of that piece of work. It doesn't replace a local small theatre which attracts keen local audiences, and young people in particpatory classes and workshops.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I am going to send link to the Music & Musicians bit in Private Eye later but in the meantime to underline Ed talking a load of guff about Big Society.

[[
link.ft.com/r/CTBPCC/5C129L/P9T3B/EWOFK5/M92O49/AZ/h?a1=2011&a2=2&a3=1 Media Groups have said NO to government big society plans to donate ad free ad space to...the govt.]]

And about Apps "and things like that"
Apple wants profit share of all 3rd party developed apps sold outside apple store

Yes very accessible to cash-strapped arts organisations - when costs of development are so high as well.

[Bramshott]

Can't believe I missed this . The overwhelming feeling is that they're not DOING anything. They're just passing the buck, and hoping someone else is going to do it for them.

Rural broadband is a case in point - their "broadband strategy" wants local councils and private providers to take the lead. And if local councils (in rural areas mostly parish councils, who are mainly volunteers) can't / don't see the point; or private providers don't think it's worth investing, then it probably won't happen. This is the big society at work isn't it .

[Bumperrlicious]

Not even the guardian? Maybe Justine needs to poke Dh . Imagine the conversation:

JustineMN: darling did you see the webchat on MN today?
MrJustineMN: the webchat?
JMN: yes with Ed.
Mr JMN: Ed...Ba...Mill...
JMN: Ed Vaizey!
Mr MN: Yes, Ed Vaizey, that's what I was going to say. Yes, he was rather good wasn't he?
JMN: no he wasn't! Do you even read my site? The work I've built up over 10 years to become a political force? Do you?
Mr JMN: yes I do when I can. Don't you know I'm trying to run a big important newspaper, do you ever read that?
JMN: Yes. When I've finished Take A Break. By the way, let me have that tie dear, there's a tip in there for removing houmus using brown paper and an ice cube.

[thewook]

Ohbuggerandarse I know: re the media. Compare the silence to the Gordon Brown biscuit furore. Talk about an agenda!!

[austenreader]

Lilybolero
You make a good point about YM not being part of the school education. (You made many good points today.)
Of course it isn't. Music should be part of the school experience but it should not be competitive. The scheme that Vaizey was promoting today is horrifying.
Children who compete in music festivals etc., or in any form of competition for that matter, need careful guidance. It is not for all. But it is by no means rare for children to reach a very high level in their chosen field without competing. I have seen dozens of my DD's music friends who could/would do very well in the YM competition but choose not to. They play their music for sheer pleasure.

[madamimadam]

I have to say, as no fan of the Labour Government, I was really hoping that he'd come on here with some really cogent arguments for what the Coalition is doing to the arts, with concrete proposals to support culture and the arts in the long-term. Unlikely, I know, but still.

What really concerns me about this lot is their obvious arrogance, contempt and disdain for anyone who suggests that their plans might not have been terribly well thought through. (I mean, News International and the Arts Council? Where do you even start with that one?)

We've seen it here with EV but does anyone here know if there is a single Coalition proposal that has seen proper consultation, transparent process, and appears properly considered to people who are experts in the subject? I know he might dismiss us as 'Mumsnet vipers' but even Gus O'Donnell is ignored when he 'suggests' the Coalition should have a plan B for the recovery.

If we ever see you on here again, Mr V, how come Post-war Britain could afford to keep libraries and the arts going and we can't?

[madamimadam]

I just wanted to say OhBuggerandArse, you have my favourite MN nickname.

And the thought that Ed Vaguely read it again and replied to it today cheered me up a bit today. I have hidden shallows, me.

[gaelicsheep]

OMG, I have just whizzed through the webchat bit - not the rest of the thread yet. What a boorish twat! His response to LilyBolero about "Search for a Star" just beggars belief. And I thought the last lot were phillistines!

[OhBuggerandArse]

Annoyingly, I haven't found any mention of this webchat elsewhere in the media, except for Guido Fawkes picking up on Gloria de Piero turning up. Would have been nice to see people publicising what a twit he made of himself - but I guess he's just not that important or interesting to the newsrooms.

[WonderingStar]

ReadingTeaLeaves - it's ironic isn't it - because if the people in that ward had been tactical and cynical enough to vote in a Conservative councillor, they would have had a voice at the meeting which met to discuss which option to take. Of course every other ward has a councillor there to fight for their ward's library. I suspect the council think that this is democracy ... rather than looking at it from a whole-borough point of view (which btw many of us in those other wards do, most people who give this any thought don't agree with what is being proposed).