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Welsh government urged to introduce ‘preventative’ spending for culture

National Youth Arts Wales calls on the Welsh government to address the ‘shameful’ state of youth arts funding after parliamentary committee report finds the country’s cultural sector to be ‘under-resourced and brittle’.

Mary Stone
5 min read

Welsh government budgets should include a “preventative” category of spending that recognises the value of culture in improving physical and mental wellbeing, a committee report has recommended.

Published earlier this month, A decade of cuts: Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport said that “relentless” cash cuts had left the sector “under-resourced and brittle”, noting that in Europe, only Greece spends less per person than Wales on cultural services.

In December, the Welsh government allocated the culture sector an additional £6m in its draft budget proposal for 2025/2026, following an £11.9m funding reduction to the sector last year.

However, the culture, communications, Welsh language, sport and international relations committee chair Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell said hose cuts, compounded by inflation and rising costs, were having “a profound impact”.

“We must tackle this to ensure that spending per head on culture and sport becomes comparable with other nations,” said Jewell.

“Culture and sport are vital threads in the fabric of what makes life worth living: they enrich the human experience, and not merely luxuries to be enjoyed during times of plenty.

“Without significant changes, Wales risks being left behind in cultural and sporting achievements, endangering our national character and the well-being of our communities.”

‘No room for error’

Evidence given to the committee details the challenges facing several of the country’s best-known cultural organisations, including Welsh National Opera (WNO), which receives the largest annual grant from Arts Council Wales (ACW).

In 2022, WNO received £6.2m from Arts Council England and £4.6m from ACW, but its annual funding from both bodies now stands at £4m.

WNO told the committee it had made savings, allowing it to “survive the next two years”, but explained the situation is “incredibly perilous” because, given the current state of finances, “there is no room for error and any slip in any direction could put the company in jeopardy”.

The company also noted the challenges in generating funding from other sources, describing “a very noticeable lack of philanthropy in Wales compared with other nations”.

ACW came in for criticism during the evidence with Ruthin Craft Centre calling for “a radical look” at the way it allocates its funding, suggesting larger organisations such as WNO have more potential to raise funds to cover their own costs, which could “release more funding” for “a more balanced level of support”.

Meanwhile, Mid Wales Opera, which had its funding cut by ACW, called on the Welsh government “to conduct a thorough review of the governance and operations of ACW”, stating that in their view: “their priorities completely ignore the perspective of actual and potential audiences, in favour of an emphasis on experimental work which appeals only to a narrow elite of metropolitan arts professionals.”

ACW, which had its own budget reduced by 10.5% in 2023, told the committee that cuts in grant-in-aid had meant that lottery income has been used as a supplement.

“This has put additional pressure on our lottery programmes and an overall reduction in the number of applications we are now able to fund, with some grant rounds achieving a success rate as low as 35% due to budget constraints. Applicants and other lottery distributors have noted increased demand and competition,” said ACW.

Championing a ‘renaissance in Welsh arts’

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) warned the report reveals “a landscape of neglect and chronic underfunding, jeopardising not only the arts but also our cultural identity and the development of future generations”.

Evan Dawson, CEO of NYAW, said that a long-term plan is needed that reconsider the arts, and in particular youth arts, as “critical infrastructure for a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous Wales”.

“Crucially, this must be a comprehensive strategy that integrates budgets for education, culture and health,” he said, calling on government to reconsider how resources are allocated by placing renewed emphasis on prevention as a strategic investment.

He added: “We cannot afford to be the generation that watches from the sidelines as our cultural legacy and the potential of our youth are stifled by shortsighted budget cuts.

“Let’s champion a renaissance in Welsh arts, not just for the sake of culture but for the holistic development of our society.

“Our children deserve a Wales where their creative expressions are not only heard but celebrated, where their involvement in the arts is seen as a fundamental part of their growth and our collective future.”

In response to NYAW’s concerns, a Welsh government spokesperson said: “Wales’ cultural, arts and sporting sectors make a vital social and economic contribution to our society, enriching our communities and inspiring future generations.

“We have, however, had to take very difficult decisions to protect frontline services following years of difficult funding settlements from the UK government.

“The latest UK government settlement has provided an opportunity for us to allocate increased funding for our vital cultural, arts and sporting institutions in the draft 2025/26 budget.”