Grassroots Arts Provision In Wales Should Be Lauded And Supported
‘National Youth Arts Wales has raised the alarm about the “shameful” state of youth arts funding in Wales, calling on the Welsh Government to address the ‘urgent’ situation and ensure every young person can access the ‘transformative power’ of the arts.’
There are a variety of art services provided by long-standing independent organisations in Wales. These are ignored by the Arts Council for Wales who have said to me they have no intention of finding out what arts provision is available in Wales. This leads to the funding of start-ups and ‘mates businesses’ which adversely impact those who plug away at delivering great arts services. There can be no impact assessments prior to funding when there is zero knowledge of the current marketplace.
The simple solution to arts provision in Wales, if funding arts services is to be a thing, is to give vouchers to be used for attendance at existing provisions. This then supports rather than damages existing services and the 'customer' decides what to attend. Every school and college-attending child and young adult should be given a book of 10 vouchers with more available by request. Every pensioner the same. Indeed, every citizen of Wales should benefit from such a scheme and make use of and so make vibrant and sustainable grassroots arts services in Wales.
Here is our post from early 2023, still clearly relevant today, detailing the profligacy and shameful market disruption presided over by the Arts Council for Wales:
Arts Council of Wales Funding
I asked one of Wales best known and loved artists what he thought of The Arts Council. He said ‘They are cunts’. Another active performer and practitioner is similarly minded, stating that the Arts Council fund the big institutions but ignores working artists, quality of work, and damages the marketplace for independents to flourish and grow.
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