Welsh arts organisations share £675,000 grant

Arts organisations in Powys are set to benefit from a share of £675,000 of grant funding from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF),

The successful bid from Powys County Council's Arts Service focused on supporting resilience, sustainability and transformation in the county's arts and creative industries.

Part of the funding will be used to bring the organisations together in a collaborative peer-learning network for the remainder of 2024 to support each other in delivering their projects.

Organisations to receive a share of the grant include Mid Wales Opera, which last year warned it may be forced to close after losing its core funding from Arts Council Wales. The company will receive £75,906 for SPF to redefine its mission, business model and future funding prospects.

Creative hub Carad will receive £66,071 to implement a new business plan, provide training and support for volunteers, develop new partnerships, and develop a refocused arts programme, while dance company Impelo will get £106,842 to support redefining, remodelling, and testing its business plan and operations.

Also receiving funding are Gregynog (£52,153), The Lost Arc (£68,000), Mid Wales Arts Centre (£56,000), Peak Cymru (£78,401), Presteigne Festival(£51,400), The Welfare, Ystradgynlais (£75,129) and Wyeside Arts Centre (£45,098).

Councillor David Selby, Cabinet Member for Prosperous Powys, said: "The cultural sector in Powys plays a vital role in delivering creativity, education, well-being and cultural tourism as well as strengthening the economic life of the county's communities.

"We recognise the difficulties that the reduction in public funds is having on the arts and we are actively seeking ways to continue to support the sector during these challenging times. The Shared Prosperity Funding that we have successfully secured will enable us to support the arts sector in Powys."