The Stage

Welsh culture budget gets £2.2 million boost

Published Friday 9 October 2009 at 17:00 by Lalayn Baluch

Welsh Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones has announced a £2.2 million boost for the country’s culture budget.

The cash has been allocated as part of a drive to “protect front-line services and counter the effects of the recession in Wales”.

The funding pot for the heritage department – which includes arts, museums, and the historic environment – will now stand at £147.4 million for 2010/11. This is an increase of 1.5% on the 2009/10 figure.

Making the announcement at Sandfields Library in Port Talbot, south Wales, Jones said: “People have told us that they want us to continue our programme of investment in artistic and cultural activities as these activities make a real difference to people’s lives. This budget allocation meets those demands.

“But we must use our resources effectively and efficiently. All Welsh public services will have to achieve more with less and I have targeted the extra money at activities that will bring about long-term savings and reflect my commitment to promoting closer co-operation between the organisations that I fund.”

Of the extra cash, £285,000 has been allocated to the Arts Council of Wales to “develop creative networks”.

An additional £200,000 has been allocated to the council to join forces with the Welsh Assembly Government’s Department of Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, to deliver the Reach the Heights project, which aims to help disadvantaged young people receive training through local arts organisations.

ACW chair Dai Smith said: “Arts Council of Wales and all its revenue clients will welcome this commitment to sustain and develop the arts in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government.

“I’m really grateful to the minister for responding so positively to our arguments about the importance of the arts to the economy of Wales which will help lead us out of the current recession.”