Welsh Government cuts funding to Arts Council Wales

The Welsh Government is set to decrease the funding it gives to Arts Council Wales (ACW) in 2023/24 by 1.1%, according to its draft budget announcement.

ACW Chief Executive Dafydd Rhys called the cut to its revenue funding “naturally disappointing”, but thanked the Welsh Government for an extra £500,000 to support arts organisations amid the current cost-of-living crisis. Its budget for 2023/24 will be £33.3m.

“While we accept that Welsh Government had to make difficult decisions in these challenging and difficult times, we are naturally disappointed at this reduction in our funding,” Rhys said.

“However, we are glad to be receiving an additional £0.5m specifically to help arts organisations with the current cost-of-living crisis, that is putting a huge pressure on a sector just beginning to emerge from the significant challenges of the pandemic. 

“The Welsh Government’s support will help protect jobs and livelihoods across the arts.”

ACW will meet in just over a month’s time to confirm its spending plans for 2023/24.

Earlier this week, the funder released details of how it intends to run its next multi-year funding programme, which will be part-subsidised by Welsh Government Grant in Aid funding.