Barnet Labour doesn't know what art is!

 Barnet Labour recently launched its "There's Art in Barnet Campaign" (with your money). When I saw their offering, I nearly cried. How on earth could they get it so wrong? As someone who has spent their life trying to create a music scene in the London Borough of Barnet, this is a really painful debacle for me to watch unfold. When Labour were elected, their Leader Barry Rawlings asked me to help him draw up a Strategy. I did one for free. I took two weeks out of work and sent a draft to officers and councillors. I had not one comment back and eventually they all admitted that they hadn't bothered to read it. I have discussed this on the blog before. I also predicted what they would do. I said they'd bring in outside consultants, spending huge fees, to produce something that was completely useless and irrelevant. There is nothing I'd have preferred than to be proven wrong. But sadly, even the low expectations I had have not been met. 

So lets start with their video. I suggest you watch it, so you can get a flavour of what I'm talking about

If you make a video that asks the Question "Did you know there's Art in Barnet?", you'd think that there would be an answer to the question, with some examples. What do they give us? A bloke walking around the RAF Museum, which is a culturally important site, but its primary role is not as an arts venue. Now I am into music, I would have thought that the Council would use this opportunity (created with your cash), to look at genuine arts venues and examples of great art. 

As a musician, here's a list of venues I've personally played at in the Borough in the last three years.

2022

11th June, Mill Hill Music Festival, The Adam and Eve, Mill Hill

19th August, The Bohemia, Finchley

2023
17th February, The Edgware Services Club, Burnt Oak 
6th May, The Mill Hill Services Club
28th The Bull Theatre Centre, Barnet 

2024  
13th April, The Bull Theatre, Barnet

17th May, Mill Hill Music Complex Studios
29th June East Barnet Festival 
4th September, Mill Hill Music Complex Studios 

2025
12th April -The Builders Arms, Barnet

That's eight different venues, all of hich have regular live entertainment, including two local festivals. They are just the venues my band have played at. Theres plenty of others that I've been to, all of which I feature in my regular Friday Fun round up of local music. This week, we listed 26 gigs in the Borough. This is just a normal week in the London Borough of Barnet, but there is no mention of this in the video.

There are other forms of art apart from music. I am less well qualified to comment on these, but they are equally as important. We have some amazing public art in the Borough, which I was amazed to see was not featured. A great example is the Handley Page memorial Mural, that I made a video to celebrate the launch of in 2020 (just before Covid)

I also found it bizarre that there was no mention of Barnet's wonderful libraries. There are all manner of fascinating events at these. I was amazed that there was no mention of the Barnet Libraries literary festival in May.

Of course it is easy to moan and groan. I suppose you could say something is better than nothing, if we weren't paying through the nose for such sub standard rubbish, I may have kept my mouth shut. But that is not my style! So I am going to make Barnet an "Art in Barnet" video absolutely free. And if they like it they can have it. When it's done I'll give you all the opportunity to say which one you think is better. 

Updated 29/4/2025 - I had missed the fact that there is a whole swathe of "There's Art in Barnet" videos. Oddly, it seems Barnet Council thinks Tennis is Art?

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