The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) has been asked “to carry out a root and branch review of its funding models”, which will see winners and losers, according to a speech given by Alun Ffred Jones, the Minister for Heritage for the Welsh Assembly Government. Warning that resources may have to be concentrated on fewer organisations, he said that “arts experts [need] to tell me why every pound matters, and what every pound can achieve. I do not expect anyone to take funding for granted”. He was speaking at ACW’s annual conference in Barry on 30 April, which brought together 250 attenders including 120 representatives from arts organisations across Wales. Jones spoke in support of the outstanding work of arts organisations in Wales, but urged them to ask themselves “questions about the responsibility you have to help communities in various ways”. Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive of ACW, said that the aim of the Investment Review is “to emerge from the exercise with a portfolio of organisations which are artistically vibrant, financially durable and with a level of investment that will enable them to thrive".
