13/03/2008
Minister of State for Culture Media and Sport, Margaret Hodge, has given the Music Manifesto a ringing endorsement and praised the work of the Music Manifesto Partnership and Advocacy Group (MMPAG).
"I'm as excited as you are about the £332 million [music education funding] and I want to say thank you to all you guys who've been beavering away from day one, when we had nothing," she said, joining the MMPAG's meeting on 10 March.
"I'm passionate about this area, and have been for ever and ever. I think music is hugely important, for what it unlocks in children."
Margaret went on to talk about a visit she had made to a school in Dagenham, where she saw the Wider Opportunities programme in action. "I saw a whole class of nine-year-olds strumming away, little lads on their trumpets and violins, kids who often might not have picked up a violin in the past. It was fantastic."
The MMPAG and the minister discussed the government's new 'cultural offer' - the ambition for every child to have the opportunity to participate in five hours of cultural activity per week. "The cultural offer is incredibly important and I think you're ahead of the game," Margaret told the MMPAG. "I think it's great. I'm grateful to you all."
The MMPAG are busy defining their priority areas for action, to be announced very soon, and the full minutes from Monday's meeting will be published shortly.