11 November 2025

Delyth Jewell MS

Chair of the Committee

The Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee,

Welsh Parliament

Cardiff Bay CF99 1SN

Dear Delyth,

Thank you for your letter regarding our recent appearance before the Culture Committee. You are asking for additional details regarding our Strategic Interventions, so I enclose a summary of where we are at the moment.

Strategic interventions September 2025

In 2023 the Arts Council of Wales conducted an Investment Review. Subsequently a series of strategic interventions were launched to develop focus, innovation and change structures where appropriate in the fields of dance, theatre and traditional music.

This is the current situation –

Traditional music

- Funding the post of Traditional Music Development Manager, at Tŷ Cerdd

Tŷ Cerdd hosts Wilia - meetings with the sector to guide the creation of a value fund of

£200,000 to support traditional music with a focus on community/grassroots opportunities

across the country.

- Financially support Tŷ Cerdd to extend its artist development program, CoDI, to music/traditional music creators (£15,000).

- We have increased our funding to Tŷ Cerdd's small grants program to fund various traditional music projects (£20,000.)

- We continue to fund key projects and initiatives via the Lottery including Gwerin Gwallgo (Trac) and Wyth (Menter Maldwyn, traditional dance).

Local Offices/Swyddfeydd Lleol:

Cardiff/Caerdyddm Colwyn Bay/Bae Colwyn, Carmarthen/Caerfyrddin Registered Charity Number/Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig: 1034245

We welcome correspondences in Welsh and English, corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay.

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg, ni fydd gohebu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

- The Council's new lottery community fund responds to demand for small one-off grants

for community/voluntary groups which is a means of providing traditional music.

- Developing a proposal with Youth Arts Wales for a traditional music residency

in collaboration with the musical services.

The theatre

- Appointing new positions in the field of theatre: Head; Relationship Manager; A new fund for major productions to support ambition. Applications open for up to £300,000 (Lottery funding) Total fund £600,000.

- A new professional development fund for individuals (in the new year, Lottery money).

- Working with partners including Creu Cymru and AM to improve access to research and development.

- Continue to evaluate Wales in Edinburgh considering other international opportunities in 2026 (but continuing with Edinburgh as a minimum).

- Continue to support and develop Craidd in its second year. It is a collaboration between Theatr Clwyd, Sherman Theatre, Pontio in Bangor, Torch Theatre in Milford Haven and the Welsh College of Music and Drama. The aim is to drive sustainable change in the mainstream of our theatre sector for Deaf and disabled people by offering accessibility and inclusion.

- Continue to discuss the other recommendations with other production theatres

Dance

- Recruitment in the field of dance: Head and Relationship Manager to increase the work on the

recommendations.

- Discussing training opportunities in Wales CAT (Training Centre - Extended) and what

can work for Wales in the short and medium term

We have committed to:

- A review of art in the outdoors in quarter 4 but it will be informed by the Articulture report which is already underway and was funded by our business development fund

- Reviewing the visual arts - in quarter 4 we will finish the brief. It will include and evaluate Perspective(s), our partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru and our experiences with Wales in Venice and CELF

Other commitments:

Local authorities

We will sign agreements to co-fund the post of Arts Development Officer and collaborate with Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent. The appointed individual will start a 5-year programme of work in the local authorities here that usually do not

receive and seek financial support from us. We will also develop our work with Anglesey.

(£50,000 per annum with match funding from the local authority)

Business development

We are increasing our ability to support businesses and develop partnerships with other organisations such as Arts and Business

Information is also requested regarding our Capital strategy for the future. The work on preparing a new strategy is already underway and we aim to complete this by February/March 2026 in the hope of being able to invite proposals for the new fund (if it comes) soon in the new financial year.

Kind regards

Dafydd Rhys Chief Executive