Arts Council Wales to consider funding shake-up for large-scale theatre

A review into support for English language theatre in Wales has proposed changes to the way large-scale productions in the country are funded.

The review, conducted by author and broadcaster Dr Jon Gower, found there are many ambitious theatre projects which fulfil existing criteria for support but do not get it due to various restrictions.

Publication of the findings follows the closure in December of the National Theatre Wales, which had been criticised for performing in English, and lost its core funding from Arts Council Wales (ACW) in 2023.

The review found the current starting route for theatre research and development funding is ACW’s Create programme, which offers grants of up to £10,000.

There are also a number of deadlines across the year for large grants of between £10,000 to £50,000, open to projects of all artforms, including theatre.

In exceptional circumstances, organisations can apply for up to £100,000 of Create funding from ACW by prior agreement.

To do so, organisations need to demonstrate they have clear partnerships, that the proposal has national significance, involves the creation or touring of work and the potential to impact communities in an innovative and imaginative way.

‘Funding caps and restrictions’

“During the review process it was clear that there are many ambitious theatre projects which fulfil the above criteria but are difficult to develop further because of the funding caps, restrictions and paucity of other funding,” a report summarising the findings of the review states

It goes on to say that a more bespoke application process for large theatre production grants could mean that applications are “looked at in the round”, and there would be a “clearer line for development from research and development if a project has been developed though that route”.

The report says possible models for more ambitious theatre-making might resemble some of those in Ireland where, for the past 10 years, the arts council has used a tiered system of Theatre Production Awards to encourage large scale, ambitious work.

“An option to encourage ambition and work at scale [in Wales] could be a single route for theatre productions and projects between £100,000 to £500,000, (perhaps tiers in between), with specific criteria such as audience development to help focus the decision making, allowing ACW to bring the right people around the table to help in the process of comparing applications,” the report says.

The report adds that another possible and additional funding model might be Arts Council England’s (ACE) new Incentivising Touring: Repayable Grants for Theatre – a scheme aimed at reducing the risk of touring large-scale productions around the country by offering repayable grants of up to 25% of a production’s capitalisation costs, to a maximum of £500,000.

“The ACE model might perhaps be gainfully explored in Wales and potential demand assessed,” the report says.

Theatre panel

In total, the report makes 25 recommendations for ACW, including the creation of a theatre panel to oversee progress, an annual calendar of events and training initiatives to strengthen the sector, as well as enhanced venue marketing and data insight capabilities

In response to the findings and recommendations of the report, ACW said it is putting a fully-costed action plan in place for the coming financial year, to support and nurture English language theatre in Wales.

Dafydd Rhys, chief executive of Arts Council Wales, said: “Some actions will be able to proceed sooner than others.

“Work is already underway to ensure the findings of the report inform changes to how lottery funding is structured, and to explore opportunities to invest in new writing and theatre maker development. All 25 recommendations will be considered in further detail at our council meeting in May.

“We look forward to working with the sector on implementing the actions which have been identified as key to the future of English language theatre in Wales.”