A selection of artists and musicians have spoken out against a planned budget cut to universities arts departments.

After an unimaginably hard year for the arts, the government is now proposing halving the budget for “high cost” subjects, including music, dance and performing arts. The reaction from influential figures in the arts has already begun- Pulp frontman and solo artist Jarvis Cocker has spoken out against the plans along with Maxine Peake and author Bernardine Evaristo.

The funding cuts especially affect people from working class and low-income backgrounds who are dependent on institutions like The University of the Arts in London (where Jarvis himself attended) and the opportunities that they provide. This is not the first time the creatives have felt let down by the government; a controversial ad campaign suggesting a job in ‘cyber’ is better for dancers”, and to “Many have felt that an industry that continues to enrich peoples lives, especially in and out of lockdowns, has been undermined by the government

“I think it will really just put off people from a certain background and that’s a pity because it’s about mixing with people with different ideas, and then you get this cross pollination of stuff that makes things happen.”, Cocker told The Guardian. Music owes so many of its best albums, prodigal sons and legendary bands to kids from working class backgrounds: stripping funding from them is a kick in the teeth to children and young adults who look up to Oasis, Slowthai, Stormzy and many, many more.

The cultural sector is worth a staggering amount (contributing £34.6bn to the overall UK economy in 2019) and government efforts to support the industry throughout Covid and Brexit are laughable at best. It seems disingenuous to undermine an industry that continues to enrich peoples lives, especially in and out of lockdowns.