Consortia to deliver creative learning in Wales

Four new arts and education consortia have been granted funding by the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) in partnership with the Welsh Government. The networks will take a leading role in delivering Wales’ action plan ‘Creative Learning through the Arts’.

Minister for Education and Skills Huw Lewis said the announcement was “great news”. “I’m sure the four Regional Arts and Education Networks will play an important role in improving the opportunities for our young people so that they can enjoy the many benefits that the arts have to offer,” he continued.

The consortia, which are drawn on the same boundaries as Wales’ existing Regional Education Consortia, will be led by:

• Flintshire County Council in North Wales;
• Arts Active Trust in Central/South Wales;
• University of Wales Trinity St David’s in Mid and West Wales;
• and Caerphilly Borough Council in South East Wales.

Each network will receive between £175k and £250k a year for five years. They will work with schools, the Regional Education Consortia, local authorities and stakeholders in the education, arts and cultural sectors to increase and improve arts experiences for young people. A key objective is giving schools greater access to professional artists and arts organisations, to enhance and complement their teaching.

Director of Participation and Engagement at ACW Diane Hebb said: “We need to do as much as we can to support creative and cultural education through initiatives such as this. Better partnership working and a more strategic approach is key and we look forward to seeing the results of this vital new addition to the scheme.”