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Welsh Conservatives have called for long-term, sustainable funding for the arts outside of Cardiff. With the £106 million Wales Millennium Centre due to open, Welsh Conservatives say grassroots arts projects across the country need continued support. Welsh Conservatives remain fully committed to the Wales Millennium Centre and believe it will act as a beacon for the best in Welsh music, dance and drama whilst also showcasing some of the world's leading arts groups. But the party has grave concerns for the future funding of many projects outside the capital which serve as a focus for local communities and are often seen as the training ground for some of Wales' new talent. Despite a pledge to spend £2 million a year extra on arts schemes outside Cardiff once the Millennium Centre opens, only £250,000 will be available in the first year. Welsh Conservatives say the extra £2 million promised by the Welsh Assembly Government over the next three years is insufficient. The party has also warned that lottery funding in Wales does not reflect deprivation, while the arts risks being politicised if Rhodri Morgan makes the Arts Council of Wales part of his government. Arts groups outside Cardiff have also told the Welsh Conservatives that the lack of funding could force them to downscale plans for future productions. The Welsh Conservatives' culture spokeswoman in the National Assembly, Mid and West Wales AM Lisa Francis, said: "The Wales Millennium Centre will showcase the best in Welsh talent - but that talent has to be nurtured somewhere. "Many people in Wales will not be able to come to Cardiff so it is vital we ensure the arts outside the capital continues to flourish. "This is about making the arts accessible to everybody in Wales. "While I am sure thousands of people will travel from all parts of the country to visit the Millennium Centre we also need something that will sustain their interest in the long term. "Many local arts projects in Wales survive on the goodwill and hard work of dedicated people, many of whom are not paid for their efforts. "They are becoming increasingly disenchanted because they spend much of their time applying for grants in order to survive. "The dearth of lottery funding, coupled with uncertainty over the future of the Arts Council is forcing many people to think long and hard about whether they wish to continue working on community projects. "These people are dedicated to the arts but they operate on shoe-string budgets with few funding guarantees longer than six to 12 months. "You get a huge return for spending a relatively small amount of money on the arts in generating interest, especially among our young people. "It is essential we continue to encourage and support the work of regional dance, music and theatre groups." Lisa Francis AM http://www.conservatives.com/wales/story.cfm?obj_id=117468 |
| Welsh Conservative Party web site: www.conservatives.com/wales/story.cfm?obj_id=117468 |
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Thursday, November 25, 2004 |
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