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Dateline: 29th June, 2010
ACW Announces New Strategy Arts Council Wales has announced its new strategy for the arts in Wales, the first phase of a major overhaul of its investment in the arts. Over the past year, the Council has been working on one of the most detailed funding reviews it has ever undertaken. The new strategy, says Dai Smith, the Council's Chair, will "keep the arts vibrant and strong for tomorrow. "We're taking bold decisions to ensure that the best of the arts in Wales thrives in the future. By making clear our priorities, investing funds where they're most needed and deserved, we're setting the foundations for the longer-term success of the arts. We want the arts in Wales to thrive, not just survive. We'll support work of quality and excellence in order to engage the widest possible audience across Wales, and to signal the vibrancy of contemporary Wales to the world." From 2011/12, the Council is proposing to provide annual revenue funding to 71 organisations. They include a wide variety of organisations from orchestras, theatres and galleries, to arts centres, carnival and community arts organisations. "Sadly," the ACW statement say, "today doesn't only bring good news. 32 organisations (who are currently receiving annual revenue funding) will, from April 2011, see this arrangement end. They will be able to receive support from a transition programme, and in future will also be able to apply for project funding. Council has had to reduce or discontinue funding to some so that it can properly support those who remain." Dai Smith said, "We've looked carefully at what we can support. We started this process a long time ago. It's never been about cuts, it's been about using taxpayer's money well. We're not using the worsening economic climate as a convenient excuse, nor are we deflecting responsibility onto potential government funding cuts that might come at some point in the future. These are our decisions, and we take responsibility for them." In December, Arts Council of Wales hopes to learn the amount of funding it will receive for next year from the Welsh Assembly Government. At that juncture, individual funding allocations to the 71 organisations will be confirmed. The Council will also, at the same time, announce how it intends to reduce its own administrative and running costs. Among those organisations which will receive funding are Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Welsh National Opera, National Theatre Wales, NoFit State Circus, Chapter Arts, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Theatr Iolo and Arad Goch. "We're not naïve," Smith added. "Wales will have to make cuts in public spending, and the Assembly Government will have its own choices to make about its funding priorities. We hope to persuade them of the prime value of investing in the arts as a key social and cultural driver for twenty-first century Wales." Arts Council of Wales currently provides just over £23.5million to revenue funded organisations.
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