Review of dance ecology in Wales to launch

An in-depth independent review of dance in Wales will be conducted to explore what future provision could look like, Arts Council of Wales has announced.

The funding body said that as part of last year's Investment Review – the process for deciding how £29.6m of public money is distributed to arts organisations across the country – it set aside £1.4m to undertake a series of strategic interventions where there were "challenges or potential gaps in provision".

It said that while its annual investment in dance has increased to £296,367 a year, it recognises that dance as a sector "needs further support".

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The review will examine all aspects of dance in Wales, involving consultation with artists, companies, presenters, audiences, and participants. It will also look at best practices in other countries and what has worked well in other art forms in Wales. 

The review’s recommendations will inform next steps and actions. 

"Arts Council Wales has known that the dance ecology is fragile since before Covid," a briefing note on the review published by Arts Council Wales says.

"[The] purpose of the review is to move the dance sector in Wales forward – to help inform and gain traction by suggesting clear and prioritised next steps to [us], the sector and other stakeholders [on] how to improve the conditions currently being faced.

"What can we do next in this context, given the limited resources and capacities?"

Arts Council Wales said that it has been implementing several other measures ahead of the review.

These include explicitly referencing dance knowledge and expertise in the published criteria for recruiting additional members to its council.