Creu Cymru additional responses for the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee.

October 2024.

What else could the Arts Council do, beyond additional funding, to mitigate the impact of reduced funding on the arts?

ACW could promote and facilitate partnerships between arts organisations to share resources. This would allow organisations to pool limited resources, reduce operational costs, and create synergies in programme delivery.

ACW could play a larger role in advocating for the value of the arts to the public and the government. A coordinated advocacy campaign, in partnership with the sector, could raise awareness of the cultural, economic, and social contributions of the arts, potentially unlocking alternative funding sources or influencing policy decisions.

They could be doing more around providing arts organisations with strategic guidance for sustainability, such as helping them plan for long-term challenges, navigate economic changes, and adapt to shifts in audience behaviours. This would involve not only financial planning but also encouraging flexible programming and diversified income streams.

Have you applied for the Arts Council’s additional funding for resilience in the sector? Do you have any comments about the pace and design of this funding?

We haven’t applied as I believe there are other organisations with more urgent need for this funding. General feedback has been that whilst organisations understand the quick turnover for applications in order to get money out the door, it puts organisations under pressure and is not helpful with applicants with additional access needs.

Do you have any observations on the timings or scope of the Arts Council’s reviews into English language theatre and traditional music? (They are being conducted 11 months after the Investment Review, when National Theatre Wales lost its funding)

The reviews (which also includes dance) have been a long time coming but some of that is due to the appeals process, so I do understand. The lack of immediate action following the initial announcement in September 2023 has caused some frustration, and not ideal for some of the main organisations effected (Trac, NTW, Rubicon etc).

Had the reviews been conducted earlier, they might have provided clearer guidance for future funding and support strategies.

It’s not ideal that all the reviews are happening at the same time as it means lots of surveys / meetings / consultation events in parallel as each other.

A respondent to the committee’s consultation said “There is a sense within the arts sector that the Arts Council are under pressure, and should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary”. Is this a fair description?

Whilst I believe that ACW are under pressure with limited staff, financial and time, I don’t feel like they can’t be approached or disturbed.