Arts Council of Wales set for 3.5% funding increase

The Arts Council of Wales (ACW) has been allocated a 3.5% increase in funding in the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2017/18.

This will increase ACW’s budget from £30.3m to £31.35m.

Arts funding

The increase forms part of a £3m rise in general arts funding, including feasibility studies for a national art gallery and a football museum in North Wales.

Allocations have also been made to the National Museum of Wales, National Library of Wales and the Welsh Books Council.

The funding increase follows a 4.7% cut to ACW’s budget for 2016/17 – a fall of £1.5m – meaning the new increase will not quite return ACW to the £31.8m in funding it received in 2015/16.

Speaking about the news, Chair of ACW Phil George said: “This is a major vote of confidence in the value of the arts and culture to the people of Wales. This commitment from the Welsh Government, supported by Plaid Cymru, is especially welcome when budgets are so tight and there is economic uncertainty.

“In these challenging times, as we see reductions in Lottery funding for the arts, the Welsh Government’s enhanced funding will help ensure that people can enjoy the best of the arts in communities across Wales.”