Cross artform

Arts Council of Wales (ACW) has opened a consultation into the way it allocates its funding to arts organisations.

Known as The Investment Review, ACW has traditionally reviewed its funding process every five years. This review was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed by the pandemic.

The funder is proposing a simplified application process and a move away from funding a portfolio of companies towards a mix of multi-year revenue and project funding agreements. It is also suggesting three-year funding arrangements, rather than the existing five years, with the option of an additional three years based on performance.

The new funding model would sit alongside ACW’s other programmes that are funded by The National Lottery.

ACW says it is “seeking as many views on the new proposals as possible”. Eight online consultations will be take place on Zoom through August and September, with booking available on the funder’s website. An online survey is already open and email responses are welcomed.

The consultation period runs until 10 October, with final details of the new process expected to be released on 21 November. 

Funding applications will then open in January 2023, with decisions delivered in September 2023 ahead of the release of funds beginning in April 2024.

Wrexham will make another bid for the title of City of Culture in 2029 after recently losing out to Bradford for the 2025 title.

Members of Wrexham Council's executive board approved launching another attempt to win the title at a meeting this week. They also supported a number of other recommendations including inviting the National Eisteddfod to Wrexham in 2025.

Hugh Jones, the arts portfolio holder, said he was confident about the council’s chances of success in 2029.

He said: “If you look at the facts with Bradford and the size of their team, they had eight full time staff and a PR agency that had been working on the project for two and a half years.

“In just over six months, we came so close to winning this and that gives an indication of the achievement that we had in Wrexham.

“Clearly, we want to bid for 2029 and why wouldn’t we because 2025 is probably worth somewhere in the region of £300m."

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has produced three new short films as part of its Pandemic and Beyond project, each focusing on a different way that arts and humanities research has contributed to Covid-19 response and recovery.

Led by Professor Pascale Aebischer of Exeter University, in partnership with resident filmmaker Benedict Morrison, the films are entitled “Coping Creatively”, “Getting the Message Across” and “Coming Together”. They are available to watch on the project website.

The Pandemic and Beyond project is a virtual hub for researchers, journalists and policymakers that brings together more than 70 different research projects that suggest solutions to urgent problems that have been created or exacerbated by the pandemic.

“Coping Creatively” focused on five AHRC projects that have explored the contribution made by the arts and humanities to helping vulnerable groups and individuals cope during the pandemic, using activities including drawing, theatre and walking.

“Getting the Message Across” focuses on five AHRC projects that have studied the contribution made by the arts and humanities to supporting communication during the pandemic, including the dissemination of public health messaging.

“Coming Together” looks at four AHRC projects that have explored ways in which the arts and humanities adapted to maintain audiences and communities of performers during lockdown, using tools such as outdoor performances, virtual dance technologies, telepresence and poetry.