by Author Steve Hawker

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Survey results - Music hubs, a community music perspective

The survey results are in, and give some interesting insights into the way hubs work, with respect to community music. But above all it provides some thought-provoking comments that encourage a re-evaluation of what hubs are there to do (what should their purpose be?), how to best achieve those aims, and the reasons why some appear to function better than others. There's also a hope that by having open debate, hubs might be encouraged to share good practice, and that the elements that combine to make an effective hub might become clearer.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1U2ymxEbO9rbmoZv8MEOjllOIEoRTbvO5P7W4ffTMnXY/viewanalytics

Although its only a small informal survey, there are many reasoned and well thought-out comments on the successes and challenges faced by hubs - which have the huge task of bringing formal and non-formal music organisations together (that can have very different philosophies, values, aims, and methods) for a common purpose.

Several common themes emerge in the responses which show some key questions can be asked about the "Hub Project" as a whole:

  • Are the differences between formal and non-formal music sectors treated by music service hubs as an opportunity or a threat?
  • Have the (sometimes conflicting) demands of Arts Council, DfE, and Ofsted diverted the outcomes hubs are looking to achieve away from the aims of the National Plan for Music Education?
  • Have hubs embraced the collaborative potential asked for in the NPME? Or have some used the funding (which replaced the Standards Fund for music services) to continue to subsidise/promote the music service?
  • Where there are issues of hubs not effectively communicating and advertising community music events/organisations (in newsletters/websites/social media), how much of this is due to council media restrictions, and how much is down to pedagogical differences or financial interests?
  • How are rural hubs run differently to urban ones?

These are controversial questions. But a few years into the national project/experiment that is "music hubs", perhaps its time for a little reflection and evaluation. Please post a comment with your thoughts!