MU and ABO release joint statement on ‘culture change’

The Musicians’ Union (MU) and the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) have this week released a joint statement commenting on ‘culture change in classical music’

The statement takes an optimistic view on the industry despite current funding challenges, describing the current period as ‘a time of evolution and opportunity’. The two organisations acknowledge recent management-union disputes in the classical music sector, but quickly move on to reference the box office growth experienced by the recent BBC Proms season as evidence that the industry is continuing to grow.

The statement reads: ‘The positive developments we're seeing were particularly evident in this year's fantastic BBC Proms season, which showcased an incredible range of diverse talent including women and composers and conductors who have previously been under-represented across the classical sector. The Box Office success of the Proms is a sign that we are growing, and that new lovers of classical music are developing all the time.’

The MU and ABO also state that this growth requires ‘experimentation, consultation and collaboration’, and cite their Recruiting Classical project in partnership with Black Lives in Music as an example of a ‘change in culture’ within the industry.

The statement closes with a statement against the bullying: ‘We will stand together against bullying, harassment, abuse and discrimination. The sector should be a safe space for everyone and nobody should be attacked for simply doing their job, especially where they are doing it in the spirit of furthering the profession of music and better serving audiences. So, let's move forward together as we welcome a new orchestral season, made by all of us for everyone.’

You can read the full statement here.