The MU actively collaborates with the NEU to support motions that promote music and arts education. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The 2024 National Education Union (NEU) Conference took place from 3-6 April in Bournemouth. Delegates passed a motion on the importance of arts education, and the MU took part in a fringe event about the same issue.
The MU and the NEU actively collaborate as partner unions
The MU and the National Education Union (NEU) are partner unions, working together to promote music in schools and to support those who teach music, including through our discounted joint membership offers.
The MU regularly attends the annual NEU Conference as part of our active collaboration with the NEU. We exhibit there and talk to joint MU-NEU members at the MU stand; we participate in fringe events about arts education; and we support motions that champion music education.
New motion to support arts education passed unanimously
In the conference hall, we were pleased to see another motion in support of music and arts education, following the successful motion put forward by joint MU-NEU member Victoria Jaquiss at last year’s conference.
This year’s motion aimed to update delegates on work undertaken since last year, including sector-wide consultations to create a shared statement in support of arts education that can be taken to MPs. The motion was passed unanimously.
MU National Organiser for Education Chris Walters spoke at an evening fringe event that introduced the above-mentioned statement to delegates, with delegates encouraged to discuss details and consider next steps. We will share this work with MU members as it progresses.
Save the date for the MU’s 2024 Education Conference
We also met with a small group of joint MU-NEU members who attended the conference to discuss union activism across the interest areas shared by our two unions.
This year, in partnership with Roland, we also gave away an electronic drum kit for a delegate to gift to their school. We will publish details of the winning school in a separate news item.
The next opportunity for members of the MU Education Section to meet will be at the MU’s 2024 Education Conference, which will take place in Glasgow from Friday 25 to Saturday 26 October.
We encourage you to save the date and will supply more information soon.