Chapter 9 of One Wales sets out the Government’s agenda for promoting a rich and diverse culture. It envisages high-quality cultural experiences being available to all, regardless of domicile or background. By “experiences”, we mean both participation in, and attendance at, arts events.
The establishment of a national English-language theatre for Wales was, I remind Members, a One Wales commitment. The company has brought the spotlight on Wales in a way that can only enhance our reputation as a place where culture matters.
I am delighted with this promising beginning.. Some Assembly Members would have liked the new company to have a theatre building in their constituency. The decision has been that NTW will exist without a production house. Instead, they will collaborate with existing theatre companies; in the first year, this includes the WNO, Sherman, Torch and Riverfront. I am pleased at this collaborative spirit. Of course, we already had a successful national theatre, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, as well as the much-praised Theatre Clwyd.
Sherman Theatre has begun to modernise its premises. As with Chapter Arts, Sherman is vigorously fund-raising for this project, though the Arts Council has been able to provide support. It is good news that, notwithstanding the diversion of lottery resources to the Olympic Games, capital investment in key strategic projects continues. I recently visited the Glynn Vivian Gallery to hear about their redevelopment which will make use of an allocation from the Strategic Capital Investment Fund.
Investment in the arts estate helps underpin a remarkable transformation of the arts landscape in Wales – one could cite here the redevelopment of Chapter Arts in Cardiff, of Galeri in Caernarfon, the striking Ruthin Craft Centre building and Oriel Mostyn in Llandudno, not to mention smaller venues such as Theatr Twm o’r Nant in Denbigh.
I continue to steer the implementation of Elan Closs Stephens’ Wales Arts Review. The Arts Strategy Board will meet this June to discuss the Creative Industries and the arts on the world stage. Supporting opportunities for artistic producers on the world stage is, of course, a One Wales commitment and one which we considered during a plenary debate last Autumn.
In line with our One Wales commitment, I have recently considered the question of enshrining the concept of artistic freedom in Welsh law. I have taken the view that we should not, at this stage, pursue the development of Welsh legislation, which would be superfluous in the context of an existing comprehensive legal framework. The Stephens’ review called upon the Welsh Assembly Government to make public its commitment to artistic freedom. This I am happy to do today.
I continue to oversee the work of the Arts Council of Wales on the development and delivery of policy for the arts. I have remitted the Arts Council to conduct a root and branch review of their current revenue funding model and their Board of the Arts Council will be taking decisions shortly about the organisations it will revenue-fund from 2011-12. The review has been a major piece of work for the Council and is intended to lead to a portfolio of grant-aided, financially sustainable organisations that will produce high-quality arts for both local and international audiences.
The challenge for me, as Heritage Minister, is to make the case for the arts during the recession in a way that convinces others that the arts matter. My job is to seek the best possible settlement for the arts, so that – regardless of ability to pay – the arts are available, close to home, for the widest possible audience. It is great news that there was a 7.6% increase in ticket sales last year. Arts Council research confirms that 86% of the people of Wales believe it is right that there is public funding of the arts.
Stephens looked at the role the arts could play in cross-cutting policy development, recommending that the Arts Council should become a more effective arts development agency. ACW have been successful in securing £5m in EU funds for the Reach the Heights programme, which tackles the area of young people lacking the necessary skills to find work or education/training opportunities.
We are also working with local government, not only via the statutory duty, but we – and ACW – are part of the Arts Connect partnership in SE Wales, which is preparing an innovative partnership crossing local authority boundaries. Local communities matter, and providing arts for the people of Wales, wherever they live, to watch or participate in, is essential. By laying firm foundations at home, we also ensure that we have high-quality arts to take abroad as part of our work to secure the reputation of Wales overseas.
So I am very proud to be playing my own part in achieving the Government’s One Wales commitments on the arts, as well as acknowledging the role of my predecessors. This respect for the arts has been nurtured by successive culture ministers and goes back to the earliest months and years of the Welsh Assembly. We have done this in part because – as Professor Hargreaves has recently recorded - the arts are at the heart of the economy, with over 6,500 people employed in the current portfolio of revenue-funded organisations. It’s estimated that the creative industries in Wales account for up to 30,000 jobs. Capital investment is resulting in new jobs being created across Wales, for example in Aberystwyth, where the Arts Centre’s expansion has generated 80 new posts.
Our artists and our artistic premises are award winners. They are also levering in funding from elsewhere; for example, the Welsh National Opera receives support from the Arts Council of England. Our arts are bringing in audiences: over the past 3 years, attendances have increased year on year to record levels. WMC, for example, in 2009 – its 5th anniversary year - generated a total audience of over 370,000, its most successful year ever. The birthday celebrations in November were highly successful and included a memorable concert of Karl Jenkins’ music conducted by the composer which I attended.
I am grateful to have had this opportunity to update Assembly Members on the Government’s progress against its One Wales commitments for the arts.
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