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Resident columnist Lola Adesioye reflects on this week’s comments on the Proms by Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge MP. 

Culture Minister Margaret Hodge’s criticism of the Proms this week shows just how out of touch and over zealous the PC brigade has become when it comes to issues of diversity and minority inclusion. Don’t get me wrong, diversity and inclusion are important – when it comes to things that actually matter such as inequality in the workplace, the legal system, socio-economics and education. Of all the issues facing minorities, ethnic representation at the Proms comes very low on the list – if anyone really cares about it at all.

Hodge’s criticisms about the lack of diversity at the BBC Proms are misplaced. It is a wasted effort for her to criticize harmless aspects of British culture, such as the Proms, when there are other elements of the culture - representation of minorities in the media for example - which have been, and still are, in need of fixing and are of much more relevance.

I have yet to go to the Proms but I make an effort to watch it on television every year. I’ve always wanted to attend for the very reasons that Margaret Hodges offers criticism – partly because it is a particularly British phenomenon. Not only is there a fantastic selection of classical music, but it is also interesting to experience something different.

It is important that people of all backgrounds are able to participate in the arts in general. That issue has been and is being addressed by initiatives such as free entrance to museums and the £10 Travelex season at the National Theatre. The arts fall under a broad umbrella and not everything will appeal to all people. Nor should they. The arts should be diverse – not only in terms of participants, but in the types of creative expression that are encompassed. This politically correct insistence on homogeneity in all aspects of modern life is troubling.

A certain demographic and type of person tends to consume and listen to classical music, and the same goes for Hip Hop, Indie and other forms of music. Some things will necessarily be unrepresentative in terms of the ethnic or social composition of the audience. This is not problematic so long as others have the option as to whether or not to participate, and they do currently have that choice. What next, quotas on the number of ethnic minority participation at the Proms?

It’s also patronizing to suggest that in order for something to be inclusive to others it must somehow incorporate things that minority groups know, or are familiar with. A classic politically correct attitude is that in order for classical music, for example, to be relevant to black people, it must include Hip Hop, or to be relevant to India must include Bhangra. In any case, Hodge’s comments are not accurate. The Proms has embraced jazz and world music, and last year featured music from the likes of contemporary Indian artist Nitin Sawney and the Soweto String Ensemble.

There appears to be a growing anti-multiculturalism sentiment taking place at the moment, and a public sense that the promotion of diversity is somehow eroding British culture. This type of comment fuels that sentiment. It’s a shame because representation at the Proms is not something that I believe minorities are particularly calling for.

The audience at the Proms may be ‘unrepresentative’ of the general population, but I don’t believe that many people feel that they can’t go or they wouldn’t feel “at ease” there, rather than they just don’t care to go! It’s not as if the Proms is full of shaven headed, bovver-booted BNP supporters. Margaret Hodge seems to be talking on behalf of people who, quite frankly, have better things to worry about. She’s better off talking about cultural issues that are of more importance.

Lola Adesioye is a freelance writer who specializes in commenting on socio-political and cultural issues affecting the black community.