Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol| Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Effaith Gostyngiadau Cyllid ar Ddiwylliant a Chwaraeon | Impact of Funding Reductions for Culture and Sport
Ymateb gan: Unigolyn 02, Sail Personol | Evidence from: Individual 02, Personal Capacity
1. What impacts has reduced funding had on your organisation and sector so far?
It has been very difficult to keep our local arts centre Wyeside open through recent reduced funding from local authorities and with less revenue funding from the Arts Council than we had applied for. Coming out of Covid this has been very challenging.
2. What measures have you taken in light of it, such as changing what you do and how you do it.
The arts centre has asked the public for support to help it to continue and also applied for other available funding to keep going through this year and to look to what can be done for a sustainable future to be achieved.
3. To what extent will these impacts be irreversible (e.g. venues closing, or specialist skills being lost rather than a temporary restriction in activities)?
It is only through public generosity that the arts centre has managed to keep the doors open. If the venue closes it will probably be lost for ever. Some key staff have been lost over the last few years. It is hard for an organisation to recruit when the future is uncertain.
4. What interventions would you like to see from the Welsh Government, beyond increased funding?
Actual positive support for the arts sector and support for recruitment opportunities in the sector to allow succession planning. Recognition of the positive wellbeing benefits for the local communities that our arts centres provide. Also recognition of the high amount of voluntary time that is provided by people to support their local venues and to keep the doors open.
5. To what extent do the impacts you describe fall differently on people with protected characteristics and people of a lower socioeconomic status?
The arts centres are extremely important to these people and play a positive role in the lives of so many in our local communities.
6. Do you have any other points you wish to raise within the scope of this inquiry?