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MINISTER TELLS ARTS CONFERENCE –“I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU”
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Carwyn Jones, Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language has told the arts community that he wants to work with them to reach out to people who do not participate in the arts and to broaden the interest in the arts in Wales.
Carwyn Jones, in his first keynote speech since his appointment said he believed that the arts “were vital in raising people’s spirits, raising their horizons, in making people think more deeply and making life worth living”.
The Minister also said that he valued the role of the Arts Council of Wales and wanted to work closely with them. He said that he would not be changing the name of the Arts Council of Wales as it was an established brand.
He said: “The Arts Council has an important role to play in the development of the arts in Wales and I value their contribution. Their expertise is unmatched. But Government also has a role to play. The Government does not have the expertise that the Arts Council has, but it is important that Government is involved in strategy or the direction of travel. It would be an insult to the arts community not to play a role, not to care about the arts. What I want is Government interest in the arts, not Government interference”.
He also said he planned to meet with organisations groups across Wales, and to hold a series of round-table lunchtime meetings” to listen to concerns and share ideas on the future of arts in Wales. I want a better idea of what you do, to talk about what we can do better, and to share ideas and good examples of how we can reach out. “
The Minister also said that he would finally like to see the establishment of an English Language National Theatre for Wales, as it had been an ongoing debate since the nineteenth century. His view was that it should not necessarily be a building-based company but a commissioning board.
He also said that he intended to set up an Arts Strategy Board by mid July. |
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Thursday, June 14, 2007 |
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