Assembly demands inflationary uplift

Seven detailed action points are given, which ACW will be expected to deliver. Specifically, an inflationary uplift is being demanded for all revenue clients, to build the capacity of arts organisations and ensure their sustainability; and there are calls for an increase in the production capacity of companies in Wales, and for a strategic approach to be devised for the provision of English language theatre production, including youth theatre. More opportunities in the Welsh language are also a priority and Welsh National Opera will be expected to offer bilingual surtitles in all foreign language productions, and programmes for national companies will also be expected to be bilingual. To complement the range of arts programmes that will be based at the Wales Millennium Centre, ACW will be required to ensure a good spread of artistic product at the mid-scale and at community level across Wales, particularly in ‘Communities First’ areas, designated as being areas of greatest deprivation. Continued efforts to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act will also be required, as will efforts to secure smoke free policies at all ACW funded venues, to contribute towards the Government’s target of a fall of 7,000 in the of deaths from smoking related diseases.

The remit letter detailing the Government’s requirements was sent to ACW last month, and was on the agenda for discussion at a meeting of Culture, Welsh language and Sport committee on March 4, to which ACW Chair, Geraint Talfan Davies, and Chief Executive, Peter Tyndall, were invited. ACW is being issued with more detailed supplementary guidance on some of the requirements, and has been asked to submit an Operational Plan to Alun Pugh AM, Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, by early March. A spokesperson for ACW said, “While there are direct points of reference, such as addressing issues of English language theatre, we recognise we have a wider role to play and believe ACW can contribute to the wider agenda as set out in Wales: A Better Country.”