The University of Nottingham has announced plans to discontinue 48 degree programs, including all music and modern language courses, citing insufficient demand. This decision has sparked significant opposition from students, faculty, and the local arts community ahead of a crucial vote scheduled for November 25, 2023.
A statement from the university emphasized the need to streamline offerings due to financial constraints. However, many stakeholders view the cuts as detrimental to the institution’s cultural and educational landscape, particularly regarding its well-established music department. The decision has been labeled a “colossal blow” by the renowned Kanneh-Mason family, a group of accomplished musicians from Nottingham. They expressed their concerns in a public statement, arguing that the elimination of music courses would severely impact not only local music education but also the broader creative community in Nottinghamshire.
“We must not accept the closure of the music department under any circumstances,” the family stated. They highlighted the critical role that music education plays in fostering creativity and connections within the local arts scene. The Kanneh-Masons pointed out that two of their siblings had benefited from the mentorship of Brenda May, a distinguished piano professor at the university.
Staff members from the music department contend that shuttering the program would mark the end of over a century of music education at the University of Nottingham, which has offered music courses since its founding in 1881. They argue that the department has produced thousands of professionals in various fields, including composers, educators, and researchers, and has conducted world-class research.
A statement from faculty members underscored the department’s deep ties to the local community, emphasizing its collaborations with schools and music hubs. “The closure would dismantle a thriving academic and cultural institution,” they noted, warning that it would significantly diminish musical life and future opportunities across Nottingham and the wider East Midlands.
The response from students has been robust, with over 15,000 signatures gathered on a petition opposing the course cuts. Current and former students have rallied to support their lecturers, urging the university to reconsider its plans. The University and College Union (UCU), which has previously engaged in industrial action over job cuts at the university, stated it would suspend strike activities if no compulsory redundancies occurred before October 31, 2024 and if there were meaningful discussions about alternatives to course closures.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the university reiterated that the decision was a result of lower enrollment figures. They mentioned that the university is exploring options for extracurricular music activities, such as establishing a music club. Yet, critics, including Stephen Brown, regional organizer for the Musician’s Union, argue that such initiatives cannot replace a full-fledged music department.
Brown remarked that the union has received numerous inquiries regarding the proposed cuts, highlighting a growing concern about the future of music education in the UK. He pointed to a broader trend affecting state school music programs, suggesting that a decline in early musical education is contributing to diminishing interest at the university level.
“The erosion of music education in state schools has started to filter through to our universities,” he explained. Without adequate funding and support for music programs, he warned that the creative community risks becoming concentrated in cities like London and Manchester, which benefit from greater cultural investment compared to regions like the East Midlands.
As the university prepares for the council vote, the outcome remains uncertain. The decision will have significant implications not only for the future of music education at the University of Nottingham but also for the local arts community that relies on a vibrant and accessible music program.
