Letter in the Stage -Lottery money should not be used for core funding February 27th 2025

An excellent article in June’s edition of Jazzwise by Andy Robson. NYJO are celebrating fifty years. They used to say life begins at forty but in this case,  life roars ahead at fifty. Congratulations to Bill Ashton, Nigel Tully, Jack Fallow, Mark Armstrong and the rest of the NYJO team.

Pete Allen Jazz Band gigs for October 2023 Pete’s 45th Anniversary Sunday 1st October 2023 at the Bacon Arms Hotel, Oxford Street, Newbury, RG14 1JB. Tickets £20 available from Jane on 0118 981 2598 or email Jane at: nana.macgregor@btinternet.com Large car park at the rear of the hotel. Licensed bar all day plus a range of…

Firstly the Arts Council’s magazine Create – vanity publishing in an age of austerity. I looked into the Arts Council’s publication of their magazine “Create”. “The publication cost £16,999 to commission the essays. Nineteen contributors in all, of which only three contibutors gave their services for free. £1062 an essay – nice work if you…

In the Guardian on the 28th May 2015 “Arts Council boss promises more of a two way street”. The new CEO of the Arts Council Darren Henley was at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards at the House of Commons on the 10th March 2015 when I made an acceptance speech. I drew attention to the appallingly…

So ran the headline in the Observer on Sunday 24th May 2020. It was an article by Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital Culture Media and Sport. (  https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/may/24/the-world-looks-to-british-theatre-so-lets-get-it-back-on-track ) The article presented the new task force and working groups which was the same old storey with the usual suspects in place. Of course…

Pete Allen Newsletter January 2024 Welcome to the New Year and January’s  newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like to receive the newsletter please ask them to drop me a line at allenpete886@gmail.com I will add them to the list. Wednesday 3rd January – The Conservative Club, Radway Place, Sidmouth, EX10 8TL 3 pm to 5.30 pm.  Admission  is £15 at the door,…