News

The Welsh Government has finalised its budget for 2024/25, confirming a 10.5% cut for Arts Council of Wales and the National Library.

Museum workers from the National Museum of Wales, the National Library of Wales, and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales protested outside the Senedd on Tuesday (27 February) as the budget was published.

Proposals to cut financing for National Museums of Wales by £3m and reduce support for local culture and sport by £1.9m have been maintained in the final budget.

The draft budget explained that because of “protections” afforded to employability and skills, the government had to “take the difficult decision” to reprioritise £16m of funding away from culture, sport and tourism, as well as £2m from Cadw, which works to protect historic buildings, landscapes and heritage sites in Wales.

Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales will benefit from an amendment to the final budget, with an additional £1.16m going to the former and £243,000 going to the latter.

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Sioned Williams joined the protest along with her colleagues, writing on X: "The cuts to Wales’ museums and National Library will affect so many people – jobs will be put at risk, and the protection of our historical and cultural legacy will be threatened. I, and my [Plaid Cymru] colleagues stand with unions protesting these cuts."

More than 70 arts and culture organisations in Scotland have failed in their bids to gain multi-year funding from Creative Scotland.

Announcing the results of the first of a two-stage application process, the funding body said that of the 361 applications received, 10 were not eligible for assessment, with a further 66 found to not meet the criteria, meaning their applications will not proceed to stage two. 

Iain Munro, Creative Scotland’s Chief Executive said the range and breadth of applications received were "testament to the ambition and potential that exists across Scotland's culture and creative sector". 

"Today's announcement represents the outcome from Stage One of the process, with successful applicants now progressing to stage two," he said. 

"This remains a live and extremely competitive process, and not every stage two application is likely to be successful.” 

Stage two of the application process for multi-year funding opens on Wednesday 6 March, with the deadline for applications set at 2pm on Wednesday 24 April. 

The final outcome from the application process will be announced by the end of October, with funding in place for successful organisations from 1 April 2025. 

The NT Live cinema release of Uncle Vanya starring Andrew Scott has taken over £1m in UK and Ireland box office sales since its release on 22 February.

Premiering at 737 venues, Uncle Vanya had the widest release of any NT Live production, taking £768,872 in a single night, rising to over £1m by the end of the weekend. It is the biggest success for NT Live since Empire Street Production’s Prima Facie, featuring a solo performance by Jodie Comer.

Uncle Vanya, which played sold-out runs at Richmond Theatre and Duke of York's Theatre last autumn, saw Golden Globe nominee Scott take on all the roles in a 105-minute adaptation of Chekov's classic play. The show was produced by Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Kater Gordon.
 

A Bristol music venue is teaming up with researchers at the city's University of the West of England to explore links between singing and wellbeing.

The project, called Sing for Happiness is being described as the first large-scale research initiative of its kind and is seeking up to 500 local participants to take part.

Sing for Happiness will consist of a series of in-person sessions at St George’s music venue across spring 2024, with a final performance at Bristol Beacon on Saturday 22 June. 

It's hoped the research project’s results will provide data on how singing can be used in health and wellbeing contexts such as social prescribing.

Kat Branch, Head of UWE Bristol’s Centre for Music who is leading the study said: "No research has been done on this scale before, and we’re really pleased to be collaborating with St George’s who have fantastic links in the Bristol community to make this happen.”

Natalie Cooper, Leader of Bristol-based Melody Makers Choir, which will be convening sessions during the project, said: “People often tell me after a choir rehearsal how it has made them feel so much better. 

"There’s nowhere like a choir – how many places can you go to genuinely make new friends, create beautiful music together, feel a sense of achievement, and feel safe knowing that everyone is equal?”

Eight arts organisations from across the island of Ireland are to receive up to £11,000 each as part of the Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together Arts Fund.

Delivered in partnership with Business to Arts and with support from Arts & Business NI, the programme aims to support projects that increase inclusion and break down barriers to arts participation.

This year’s funding round focused on helping arts organisations working with marginalised and vulnerable groups and included two projects in Northern Ireland.

William Thompson, Head of Consumer Banking NI, Bank of Ireland UK, said: “The Begin Together Fund recognises the important social and economic contribution of the arts and culture sector and its role in connecting and strengthening communities.

“Since the fund began in 2020, Begin Together has provided financial support to a broad range of artists and arts organisations.  

We are pleased that this round of funding will help increase participation in the arts and ensure  as many people as possible have the opportunity to explore their creativity.”