I have always enjoyed my interactions with TMSA and the people who support it. They invited me to speak at their 40th Anniversary conference which, ironically as it now turns out, was held at the Scottish Assembly (horrible building).

All the arts are facing hard times but I object to traditional music being in the front of the queue when it comes to cuts. Arts Councils are always banging on about "evidence base" for arts in the community and yet, in Wales, folk/trad/world music gets 11% of the audience share and opera (of which I am a fan otherwise) gets 6%, a figure which hasn't changed in 10 years.

I can't argue for the Arts when hospitals and schools are having critical funding issues but politicians are also banging on about the future being built on innovation and "the knowledge economy". Creativity and innovation go hand in hand so cutting the arts (and not, say, sports) is contrary to the stated goal. Within music, traditional music is all about innovation and entrepreneurism whereas classical music is about colouring within the lines for the most part.

It's very frustrating ....

sian