The imposition of a statutory duty to provide the “support, improvement and promotion” of culture on local government in Wales has come a step closer with the publication of the Welsh Assembly Government’s (WAG) Committee Report on the Legislative Competence Order (LCO) proposed by Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones. The LCO will devolve powers to WAG to allow it to enact new laws in the arts, museums, sports and archaeology sectors. Currently it is only able to issue guidance to local councils on the arts and culture. The Committee took evidence from 39 organisations including the Arts Council of Wales (ACW), the Wales Association for the Performing Arts, Theatr Fforwm Cymru (The Welsh Theatre Forum) and the Welsh Local Government Association. The consultation revealed a broad welcome for the plans, although the Art Fund proposed the inclusion of “an explicit commitment for local authorities to protect museums, galleries and libraries and their collections”. Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive of ACW, told AP that he supported the move, but added that WAG should recognise “the full breadth of the arts and the creative industries, and [encourage] local authorities to adopt ambitious and progressive strategies for developing the arts”.
