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MU Welcomes Cardiff Music School’s Decision to Remain Open and Urges More Support for Arts in Higher Education

Proposals to close the School of Music at Cardiff University won’t go ahead, but further work is needed on the detailed plans and culture across Wales.

Published: 04 June 2025 | 12:37 PM
Young women sat at a piano in an auditorium.
"We hope that redundancies can also be avoided through further discussions between the University and unions". Photo: Shutterstock.

The MU welcomes the news that music will continue to be offered at Cardiff University and that its previous plans to close the School of Music, announced in January, will be cancelled.

The Union’s understanding is that the updated plans need to be agreed by the University’s Council later in June and trusts that will happen as expected.

The fact that staff at the University remain at risk of redundancy is concerning and the University must continue to work with unions to avoid redundancies and maintain high quality provision in the School of Music, which is a vital part of the cultural ecosystem in Wales.

Culture and the creative industries are vital to the Welsh economy

Andy Warnock, MU Regional Organiser for Wales and South West England, said: “I’m pleased that these damaging proposals to close the Cardiff University School of Music have been cancelled, and hope that redundancies can also be avoided through further discussions between the University and unions.

“We know that Higher Education in Wales is facing significant challenges and it’s crucial that Welsh Government works with universities, unions, and businesses to ensure that students across Wales can study subjects in the arts, and humanities. This is needed to support the important contribution culture and the creative industries make to the Welsh economy.”

 

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