Styria alliance urges government to reverse music school cuts

Mayors, opposition lawmakers and music associations have called on the Styrian government to reverse planned cuts of 3.3 million euros to music schools, ORF Steiermark reports.

In an open letter, the signatories also urged the government to convene a roundtable as soon as possible to agree on a sustainable long-term plan. A petition accompanying the campaign has collected about 12,000 signatures.

The letter says restoring the funding is necessary to protect music school operations, teachers’ jobs and planning certainty for towns, municipalities and volunteers. It proposes that the roundtable include the government, mayors of municipalities that support music schools, representatives of cities and municipalities, the Younion trade union, and music and school directors’ associations.

The signatories warn that the cuts could lead to lessons being cancelled and waiting lists growing. They say families may also face higher fees because towns and municipalities cannot cover the funding shortfall alone.