EC Meeting July 2017

1. A 2014 survey by Help Musicians UK revealed the high levels of mental health problems within the musician community. Of those surveyed, 67% had, on occasion, suffered from depression or other psychological problems, 75% had experienced performance anxiety and 62% had experienced relationship difficulties. 2. There has recently been an increased awareness of mental health within the creative industries and this is something that the entertainment unions’ welcome, since the unusual nature of a performer’s working life can make them more vulnerable to certain mental health issues. Musicians, actors and other performers regularly face antisocial hours, loneliness, worries about money and strain placed on relationships due to touring, all of which can be detrimental to their mental health. This combined with the pressure of working in the creative industries can lead to performers developing issues with alcohol and drug abuse as a coping mechanism. Cases such as the death of Amy Winehouse have highlighted that the music industry and the creative industries in general need to do more to support performers. 3. The BGCM supports all efforts to promote better mental health within the creative industries, and highlights the work of the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) in treating both physical and mental health issues in performers and Help Musicians UK for supporting this essential work.

ACTION

Motion 10 Musicians Union

Music Co-operatives

1. The Musicians’ Union (MU) released its third report into the state of music education in England in 2016. The report highlighted that yet more instrumental music teachers have lost their jobs or left the profession due to worsening terms and conditions over the last year. MU members also highlighted their concerns about the inconsistency of music education provision across the country due to the varying attitudes of schools and head teachers towards music. Instrumental music teachers faced with redundancy or worsening terms and conditions have, in some areas, been setting up co-operatives and independent trusts. These appear to be working very well and are examples of how high quality, accessible and affordable music education delivered by a committed and skilled workforce can still be provided. The MU is a member of Co-operatives UK and is providing advice and assistance to MU members who wish to set up their own co-operatives. For example, the MU assisted a group of members in Milton Keynes to form their teaching co-operative following the council’s decision to make the majority of their instrumental teaching workforce redundant.

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