Post-16 Education and Training Committee ETR-12-00(p1d)
Date: Wednesday 24 May 2000
Venue: Committee Room 1, National Assembly Building
Title Arts & Culture Policy Review: Cardiff & District Multicultural Arts Development Ltd (CADMAD) Paper
CADMAD is a multicultural arts organisation based in Cardiff which develops and promotes the arts of the diverse cultural groups in Wales. It works towards cultural equity through:
lobbying for increased resources
developing and implementing projects and programmes in education, community and professional settings
programming and marketing a range of arts and cultural events directly and in partnership with other organisations
providing advice and information services
providing race awareness and cultural diversity training programmes
CADMAD is currently working towards the creation of a Multicultural Arts Centre for Wales
CADMAD is owned by its members and managed by a board of trustees who reflect the wide diversity of cultures in Wales.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY - The Vision
" Originally seen as marginal, with ownership almost entirely vested in ethnic communities, Cultural Diversity is now recognised as a major player in the ongoing dynamic at the heart of British cultural life. As such, it needs to feature centrally, not only in arts policy at large, but in all the mechanisms that animate culture – from employment policy to touring policy, exhibitions programmes to museums’ collecting policies. Change needs to be answered by consistent institutional change along a broad axis that essentially covers the four principles of access, advocacy, diversity and development. "
(Cultural Diversity Action Plan ACE)
BACKGROUND TO WELSH CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Cardiff’s black and ethnic minority communities have a long history, from settlement here as a result of seafaring in the nineteenth and early twentieth century to the newer immigration of the nineteen-fifties and sixties and the arrival in Cardiff, more recently still, of people displaced from parts of the world suffering civil war or oppression.
The proposal that these communities should have access to cultural facilities in which to enjoy the expression of their varied cultures and to share them with the wider community can be traced back twenty years in specific form.
The creation of CADMAD with Urban Programme funding, in 1991, was an important expression of the commitment of key partners in the arts, local government and the Welsh Office to the provision of better cultural services and facilities for the ethnic minority communities in the city and region.
CADMAD has used the years since 1991 to patiently build up a practice which generates significant activity in partnership with the many communities it services, combining a sensitive political and cultural touch with professionalism in its management and respect among the cultural structures of the city.
At the same time CADMAD has been able to develop its role nationally. Whilst a substantial part of the organisation’s work takes place in Cardiff and South Wales, the expertise of the organisation in promoting cultural equity and helping arts professionals to integrate culturally diverse work in their programmes has led to a partnership with the Arts Council of Wales to deliver training and support work across Wales. CADMAD regularly advises and supports initiatives around Wales, in festivals and community and mainstream venues, mailing information, holding Wales-wide databases and responding to specific enquiries.
CADMAD’s education programmes are in demand across the country and the One Tribe Festival, a year long programme developing culturally specific artforms within ethnic minority communities and culminating in a high profile festival, has established itself as Wales’ premiere multicultural arts festival.
Membership numbers have continued to rise. There has been a substantial increase in numbers from the Swansea, Newport and Valleys areas.
KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ACW
Representation within ACW
ACW does not reflect the diversity of Wales either within its staff or voluntary decision making structures. It has one ethnic minority member of staff but until recently never had any during thirty years plus of its existence. Neither are any positive measures in place to attract any black and ethnic minorities into employment and representation.
Within its panels and committees there are four black and ethnic minority representatives: two from Race Equality first, one Commissioner from Commission for Race Equality and one member of the Access Committee.
Within its very recently appointed new Council yet again not one member from the black and ethnic minority from Wales.
How can CADMAD and the rest of the black and ethnic minority community have any confidence in the Arts Council of Wales?
Cultural Diversity and the Arts in Wales
ACW has not yet implemented a Cultural Diversity Strategy for the Arts in Wales. This is despite commitments made to CADMAD and CRE in April 1998 that immediate policy and practical steps would be taken. The Arts Councils in England and Scotland implemented Cultural Diversity strategies ten years ago.
Support for Professional activities
Failure of ACW through its Assembly allocated funds i.e. non-lottery, to support professional black and ethnic minority artists, has forced multicultural arts to remain almost solely a voluntary and community based activity. This short-sightedness is not only patronising but indicates a continual fundamental misunderstanding about the artistic aspirations of Wales’ black and ethnic minority arts and artists by ACW.
Whilst the majority of black and ethnic minority people in Wales are happy to participate in the arts in a voluntary and community based capacity, Wales’ has a high number of artistically gifted multicultural artists who continue to work without recognition or the support of ACW. This cannot be allowed to continue.
Funding for Multicultural Arts Centre
A key feature of CADMAD’s work has been the establishment of a Multicultural Arts Centre to serve all of Wales. The proposal has been integral to CADMAD since its inception and has over the years been developed into a comprehensive plan through community discussion, consultation and partnership.
However, though it was supported in the development stages through key partners in the arts and public sectors, it has had little real support in the final crucial stage which would have seen it to its completion.
The recent debacle in the way the decision was taken by ACW’s main Council, to not approve a crucial grant for the Multicultural Arts Centre, after the lottery capital committee had recommended funding, is an example of the disregard shown to the cultural diversity sector.
CADMAD has met and exceeded all expectations of professionalism to which projects like this are rightly subjected but we have been made to jump higher and higher hurdles in a way which is manifestly unfair. We believe that there has been a prejudiced attitude of a lack of trust in black and ethnic minority peoples to run their own facility.
KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN IN THE YEAR 2000
Inspite of the many years of hard work the arts & cultural diversity sector is still marginalised within the Welsh Arts scene.
There is very little recognition of the contribution made by people from diverse black and ethnic minority communities to the cultural and economic life of Wales.
Inspite of the rhetoric, funding and support for multicultural arts is pitiable.
Black and ethnic minority communities are not seen as fully part of Welsh society and deserving of equal status for their arts and cultures.
PRIORITIES FOR THE ASSEMBLY AND CARDIFF AS THE CAPITAL CITY
There needs to be leadership and responsibility from the Assembly
"The proper application of Equal Opportunities principles – and attainment of equal Access – involves constant reassessment, a conscious awareness of old mindsets and previously unquestioned assumptions. This is a challenge, and calls for inspiring, persistent and principled leadership from the top"
Cultural Diversity Action Plan ACE
Cardiff has an important role as the Capital City to lead the way, for the region and the rest of Wales, in ensuring that Cultural Diversity has a central place in policy and planning. It has a key responsibility to support and promote the rich diversity of Cardiff and Wales to the outside world.
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