Arts Council of Wales Plan 2009-2012

Building a stronger future for the arts

Arts Council of Wales Plan 2009-2012

Tan dance

Swallows

In April, two on the barn door.In June, four more,six composing on the aira villanelle of what they are.

It catches on, this creativity,the song and dance and poetry,the art of making - out of mud, and mind, and heart, and word.

Gillian Clarke


Image by works of Yin Shuangyi, Wales Arts International


Contents

Arts Council of Wales is committed to makinginformation available in large print, braille and onaudiotape and will endeavor to provide informationin languages other than Welsh or English on request.

This document is hyperlinked throughtout.Clicking on the headings within the contents page will take you to the relevant section.

Introduction 02

Our vision, priorities and values 04

About us 06

What we do 08

Building a stronger future 10

Our high levels targets 13

Our priorities 14

Making it happen 23

The money 24

Our financial strategy 26

Living up to our values 28

Want to find out more? 30

Introduction …

A Plan is a means of translating aspirationsinto action. Arts Council of Wales is a highlyaspirational body where ability to acteffectively as an agency for Wales is, webelieve, core to the development of civicsociety. The formulation of policy, within theoverall cross-cutting agenda set out by theWelsh Assembly Government, must nowproceed hand-in-hand with its delivery. In this document we share our vision for the arts and explain the process of managementthrough partnership that will guide us overthe next three, crucial years.

At the heart of the Arts Council of Wales’deliberations is our concept of Creativity forboth individuals and organisations. It mustrun through our national DNA – from theEconomy, to Health and Education, as a keycomponent for Regeneration and a driver fora more participatory democracy – because italone can shape our emerging society andinvigorate our social ambitions as a nationalcommunity.

We argue that rhetorical assent must now, in the deepest interests of the Welsh people,give way to real enforcement of thisunanswerable logic. For Wales to under-fundits arts is akin to hiding its face from theworld. We need to be seen and to be knownas ourselves if we are to be successful in allthe ways which an increasingly creativelyfocused world requires.

In what follows you will read sensible, yetfamiliar, words about Access, Excellence,Pragmatism, Partnership and the intrinsicattributes of the arts to serve all the areas of Wales, which require, from communities to individuals, a sense of well-being. But you will also detect a note we wish to soundlouder and ever louder a decade on fromDevolution: that civic and political leadershipmust be imaginative if we are to realise thequality of life experience for our peoplewhich an uplift in funding could return in amultiple form. The arts are not a desirableincidental. They are what makes Wales live,and they are distinctive from generation togeneration.

Dai SmithChair

02


03

Arts Council of Wales Plan 2009-2012Arts Care Gofal Celf

04


Our vision, priorities and values …

arts and culture are central to our identityas a nation, making people want to visit us and know us

artists of quality and imagination live and work

the arts are at the heart of its communityand economic revival, making them afactor in all local and national planning

the arts are more widely available, with the broadest range of people enjoying andtaking part in the arts

artists of distinction and ambition enhancethe country’s cultural reputation

vision A creative Wales where the arts are central to the life of the nation

mission We are the lead body for the arts in Wales

values

Arts Council of Wales is the country’s funding and development agency for the arts

expert

effective

creative

collaborative

open

accountable

We want Wales to be a country where …

Supporting the creation of high quality art

Encouragingmore people to enjoy andtake part in the arts

Growing the arts economy

Developing theeffectiveness and efficiency of our business

05


expert

We have within our staff and advisers the country’s largest single source of artsexpertise. We aim to improve and develop that expertise by drawing on the knowledge and expertise of artists, arts organisations and partners.

effective

The public rightly demands that theinstitutions they finance are efficient andcost effective. Those who we work withexpect us to get the basics right and toensure that we manage our affairs in astraightforward and business like way. We aspire to the highest standards ofcustomer service.

creative

The arts thrive on inspiration, innovationand creativity. We must share thesecharacteristics, being imaginative andforward looking in the way that wedevelop and deliver our work.

collaborative

We recognise the value of joint workingacross the public and private sectors. Wevalue partnerships and are committed todeveloping supportive and respectfulrelationships.

open

We behave in an open, honest andtransparent way. We treat all who we work with consistently and without bias.We publish information explaining whatwe do, and welcome suggestions abouthow we can improve.

accountable

We operate at arm’s length fromgovernment. We recognise, however, thatas a public body we must account for ouruse of public funds. We make fundingdecisions based on the facts of eachindividual case and act in the bestinterests of the arts.

About us …

Arts Council of Wales is an independent charity, established by Royal Charter in1994. Its members are appointed by theWelsh Assembly Government’s Minister forHeritage.

Our principal sponsor is the WelshAssembly Government. We also distributefunding from the National Lottery and raiseadditional money where we can from avariety of public and private sector sources.

Working together with the Welsh AssemblyGovernment, we are able to show how the arts are helping to meet the government’s One Wales policy ambitions.

Our staff are based in offices in ColwynBay, Carmarthen and Cardiff.


07


07

Music Therapy, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (photo: Kiran Ridley)

08


support and develop high quality artsactivity – we invest public funding,provided by the taxpayer, and allocated tous by the Welsh Assembly Government. Wecurrently spend around £31million eachyear, helping the arts to thrive in Wales

distribute Lottery funds – throughapplications to our funding programmeswe are able to invest in projects thatdevelop new arts activity, supportingindividuals and organisations

provide advice about the arts – throughour staff and our advisers we have thelargest concentration of arts expertise andknowledge in Wales

share information – we are the nationalcentre of a network of information andintelligence about the arts in Wales. Wealso have strong international links in theUK and beyond

raise the profile of the arts in Wales – weare the national voice for the arts in Wales,making sure that people are aware of thequality, value and importance of thecountry’s arts

generate more money for the artseconomy – initiatives such as Collectorplan(our scheme to encourage more people tobuy art) and our success in securingEuropean funding brings more money intothe arts economy

influence planners and decision-makers –the arts take place in many differentsettings. They can have a dramatic impacton the quality of people’s lives, and theplaces in which they live and work. The arts are also frequently at the heart of initiatives for economic and socialregeneration. Our job is to ensure that thecontribution that the arts can make isrecognised, valued and celebrated

What we do …

Ruthin Craft Centre (photo: Dewi Tannatt-Lloyd)

09


10 facts about the arts in Wales …

1 Over three quarters of people in Wales (76%) support the viewthat “arts and culture makeWales a better place to live”

2 Eight out of ten (79%) Welshadults attended arts events lastyear (66% ten years ago) – nineout of ten (92%) 16-24 year olds go to arts events

3 A third of all adults in Walestake part themselves in artsactivities, with the highestincrease in participation in 2008 being among those whoare least affluent (+28%)

4 People from all walks of life in Wales aretaking part in the arts. The gap inparticipation levels in arts activity between themost affluent of the country’s population (37%)and the least affluent (27%) narrowed by eightpercentage points in 2008 compared to 2007

5Our partnership with PrincipalityBuilding Society supports our artpurchase loan schemeCollectorplan – this generatessales for 80 galleries acrossWales

6 In 2007/08 our communitytouring scheme Night Outpresented 535 events in 330venues, organised by 2,169volunteers and enjoyed by morethan 33,000 people

7The Arts Council supports over 100 revenue fundedorganisations each year acrossWales, employing over 6,500people

8 Every £1 invested by the Arts Council in its revenuefunded organisations delivers £3 of other income

9 Our investment inCommunities Firstareas in 2007/08was just over £11m,an increase in 12%over three years

10 Revenue funded organisationsare at the heart of the country’screative industries (which in totalare worth around £1.1bn to theeconomy in Wales)

10 Building a stronger future…

We are ambitious for the arts in Wales. Our vision is of a creative Wales where thearts are central to the life of the nation,making our country an exciting and vibrantplace to live, work and visit. Our workreflects the Welsh Assembly Government’sOne Wales goal of promoting a rich anddiverse culture.

The success of the arts in Wales depends onthe imagination and creativity of our artists,the quality of their work and the value thatwe, as a society, attach to this work. We needto create an environment in which ambitious,enterprising artists can grow and flourish.

Our work will be guided by the followingbroad principles:

establishing the value of art – the WalesArts (Stephens) Review included a spiriteddefence of the arts:

“… the arts are not ‘added value’ to

‘real’, ‘serious’, practical living; they are

not marginal, nor are they decorative or

‘entertainment’. They are not a leisure

activity. They are a core human activity

inseparable from personal and social

being …”

Who could disagree? But we know thatsome do. The arts need a clearer story totell about how they improve our quality oflife, and so why they should be supported.

We will tell this story more clearly andconfidently, and invite the country’s artistsand arts organisations to join with us inhelping to shape this story. We know that if we are to enhance our authority as acredible advocate for the arts, ourdialogue with artists must be open, regular and meaningful

celebrating Welsh language and culture –the history and richness of the Welshlanguage is a distinct and unique part ofthe cultural life of our country. The arts areideally suited to expressing the values,vitality and bilingual character ofcontemporary Wales. We are committed tothe Welsh Assembly Government’s visionfor a bilingual Wales

an unwavering commitment to quality – we must strive to encourage the best thatwe can, all of the time. We must challengemediocrity and demand the best fromourselves and from the organisations thatwe fund. As stewards of public funds weshould not spend money on what is not, or does not have the potential to be,excellent and of quality

The hallmarks of quality are vision,leadership and the confidence to innovateand take risks. These characteristics can be found in organisations large and small- those operating on a national stage, aswell as those whose focus is more local

championing the contemporary, living arts – without the living arts, culture risksbecoming a museum for recycled works,and a showcase for new interpretations of



“

”

… the arts are not ‘added value’ to ‘real’,

‘serious’, practical living; they are not marginal,

nor are they decorative or ‘entertainment’. They are

not a leisure activity. They are a core human activity

inseparable from personal and social being …

Sean Tuan John - Creative Wales Award winner 2008/09 (photo: Roy Campbell-Moore)

11

12


the cultural traditions of the past. We mustrespect our cultural heritage, but beparticularly interested in the new andcontemporary – work that finds andconnects with new and wider audiences,while deepening the experience of existingones

increasing public engagement – if the arts are to flourish and grow, they need an audience. The most creative artsorganisations are those that are driven by an artistic vision, and who understandhow to lead and develop their audience.They are also committed to reaching new,different and more diverse audiences,tackling the barriers that prevent peoplefrom enjoying and taking part in the arts.They draw people to work of high quality,work which at times can be challengingand difficult

We need to create more opportunities forpeople to take part in, and enjoy the arts.Whether as a participant or volunteer,there are many ways for people to learnabout, and contribute to, the arts

building a more inclusive culture –inequalities of wealth, health andeducation must not limit access to culturalexperience. We must recognise the dangerand address it. The health of futurecitizenship, especially amongst the young,is inseparable from our goal to ensurewidespread engagement with the arts

making the most of our public partnerships – the public funding that wereceive through the Welsh AssemblyGovernment is central to our investment inthe development of the country’s arts. Butwe need to do more to plan together withthe Welsh Assembly Government and withthose others that we work with across thepublic sector

Of these, our local government partnersare especially important. Local authoritiesare our essential partners, either in jointlyfunding organisations, or as collaboratorsin strategically important arts developmentprojects. We need a relationship with themthat is open, respectful and collaborative

We will explore with local government new ways of partnership working thatmakes best use of resources, knowledgeand expertise. We will also work with the Welsh Assembly Government and localgovernment to find the best way ofimplementing the One Wales commitmentto introducing a ‘cultural duty’

working across government – the intrinsicvalue of the arts is now widely recognised.But the arts can also illuminate and givelife to the wide range of strategies thatunderpin public life. From arts and healthto cultural tourism, public art to towncentre re-generation, the arts bringmeaning, authenticity and joy to oureveryday lives

promoting the arts of Wales on a worldstage – the excellence and creativity ofWales’ arts can contribute powerfully to thedevelopment of our cultural relations withthe rest of the world. Many of Wales’s artsorganisations are internationally significantin their own right, and there is more to bedone in developing their role as culturalambassadors for Wales

ensuring value for money – our Plancoincides with one of the most challengingperiods of economic decline in recentmemory. There will be intense pressure on,and competition for, public funding. Wehave a particular responsibility to ensurethat every pound we receive achieves thebest possible artistic outcomes

13


Our high level targets …

Supporting thecreation of highquality art

By 2012 we will be investing in a portfolio offunded organisations better able to succeedartistically and financially

Encouraging morepeople to enjoy,and take part in, the arts

By 2012 we will have increased levels ofparticipation in the arts in Wales by 3%

Growing the artseconomy

By 2012 we will have increased our turnover withat least 10% of our income coming from newsources

Developing theeffectiveness andefficiency of ourbusiness

By 2012 we will be amongst the top 50 bestemployers to work for in Wales

14


The success of the arts depends on the vision and creativity of our artists and artsorganisations. They will be our essentialpartners in achieving the ambitions set out in our Artform Strategies.

We want to see a country of strong, durable,successful and innovative artists and artsorganisations who are creating, presentingand promoting high quality arts activities. We will work hard to try and create anenvironment in which the arts can flourishand grow – locally, nationally andinternationally.

We are committed to supporting the best,and we will continue to take bold anddecisive funding decisions. We are aboutdevelopment. The arts change and grow –our funding must reflect that. As a publicbody, we will always have to face the criticismthat we lean towards backward lookingconservatism on one hand, and animpetuous embrace of ‘the new’ on theother. We will not be afraid, when it is right,to take risks.

We believe it is important that we try to raisethe level of critical debate within, and about,the arts in Wales. Everyone has a view onwhat is ‘good’ art. And we know, too, thatperceptions of quality are subjective,influenced as they are by people’sexperience, knowledge and taste. Yet art thatis conceived with integrity and imagination, iswell crafted and produced, and whichreaches out and touches audiences, is often highly distinctive and easily recognised.

A particular focus will be our investment inour revenue funded organisations, our nationwide network of organisations who we fundon an annual basis. However, we will notlose sight of the fundamental importance ofthe individual artist. It is after all the artist, inall disciplines, addressing the world aroundthem who reinvents cultural expression thatstrikes a chord with our experience of lifetoday. We must find, nurture, and celebratethe artists who can fulfil this important role.

Our priorities …

Supporting the creation of high quality art …

15


artform development

We will work with artists, arts organisations and partners toimplement our Artform Strategies.

support for artists

We will continue to promote our Creative Wales Awards and will introduce a new scheme to support Creative Ambassadors.We will also find ways of improving the quality of advice andbusiness development support that is available to artists.

international work

Working through Wales Arts International, we will work toensure that the arts from Wales are increasingly visible andrecognised internationally, as well as seeking to bring the best of overseas talent to Wales.

excellence, qualityand innovation

We will continue to encourage exemplary activity that sets newstandards and encourages a spirit of ambition andentrepreneurship.

monitoring and evaluation

We will develop better and more open ways of reporting on,and sharing information about, the arts activity that wesupport.

We will focus on five areas of activity:

16


We want as many people as possible toexperience and enjoy the arts: to be inspiredby imagination and creativity, excited byambition and spectacle, fascinated by thenew and unfamiliar. We want to increaseparticipation and attendance across the artsas a whole, and also in the organisations wefund. We will invest in campaigns toencourage the broadest range of peopleacross the country to enjoy and take part inthe arts.

Across Wales there is a strong sense of localidentity which is influenced by – and in turnitself influences – arts and culture. We adoptthe broadest possible definition of culturaldiversity, reflecting the cultural reality of life inWales today. We will focus on race, ethnicbackground and disability. We promoteequal access to arts venues and events,artistic expression and participation in thearts.

We care about how and where people takepart in the arts, especially when this happensat a very local level. Our Night Out scheme,for example, reaches into communitiesacross Wales providing access to high qualityperformances that would otherwise bebeyond reach of some people in Wales.

Vibrant and sustainable communities areabout neighbourhood and place. They areabout the everyday issues of communityspirit, safety, health and education – the tiesthat bind people and communities together.Our partnerships with local authorities reflectthese concerns, and we place particularemphasis on those areas of Wales that aredesignated within the Communities First

programme. We also value our connectionsacross government departments which helpsupport projects such as our Arts and Healthstrategy.

One of our most important tasks is toencourage more young people to take partin the arts.

Engagement in the arts and in creativeopportunities transforms the way childrenand young people learn and explore theworld around them. It can change the waythey see themselves – even what they dreamof for the future – as well as helping them todevelop specific skills. We want to show howthe arts can tackle youth poverty, inspiringyoung people with new ambition andconfidence, challenging poverty ofaspiration.

Through early childhood to young adulthoodand beyond, we believe that everyone shouldbe able to engage with the highest quality ofarts and creative experience. By listening tochildren and young people and valuing theirown creativity, we aim to provide relevantopportunities that stimulate a lifelong passionfor the arts and a lifetime involvement as aspectator or artist themselves.

Being part of a project that has a largerresonance beyond the single event itself canbe a tremendous boost to pride andconfidence. We are investing in an excitingprogramme of events to celebrate theCultural Olympiad. By 2012, thousands ofschoolchildren and their families will havetaken part in projects that connects Wales to itself and to the rest of the world.

Encouraging more people to enjoy, and take part in, the arts …

17


participation We will support projects in areas of high deprivation. We areespecially keen to support community arts activity that has thepotential to transform the experiences of individuals andcommunities.

audience development

We will support arts organisations which have clear and welldeveloped strategies for encouraging more people to attendtheir events.

engaging young people

We will support a range of practical strategies that will increaseopportunities for young people to engage with the arts asaudiences, participants and artists.

We will focus on three areas of activity:

18


Growing the arts economy …

We want to increase the money that isavailable for the arts in Wales. As well as thepublic funding that we receive through theWelsh Assembly Government and from theNational Lottery, we have also successfullysecured funds from a variety of differentsources such as the European Union, the UK Legacy Trust and the British Council.

We are already working hard to find newsources of funding for the arts. In partnershipwith the Welsh Assembly Government wehave secured £12million of Europeanfunding for the Reach the Heights project.This investment into grass roots arts activitywill help young people to overcome barrierspreventing them from engaging in education,employment and training.

Another example is Collectorplan. Operatingin 80 galleries across the country, there havebeen 25,500 loans taken out since thisinterest free purchase loan scheme waslaunched 25 years ago. This has encouragedthe purchase of art and craft worth over£11.15m.

The arts are important in their own right. Butwe also know that the creative and culturalindustries are a vital engine for Wales’economy. They contribute directly in terms of job and the generation of wealth throughthe creation, distribution and retail of goodsand services.

The dominant global companies of the pastused to be concerned with industry andmanufacturing. The key corporations of thefuture will be increasingly in the fields ofcommunications, information, entertainment,science and technology. These require high

degrees of creative imagination andentrepreneurial vision – qualities that artsand culture are ideally placed to nurture andpromote.

The use of digital technologies, especially in relation to the creative industries, is anincreasingly important area of activity. The dramatic increase in the use of digitaltechnology is opening up new creativeopportunities for artists and easier access for audiences and consumers. However, theproliferation of images, text and informationcan be as confusing as it is liberating. Thereis a key role for artists to play in helping us tonavigate, understand and exploit the manyopportunities that digital technologiesrepresent.

Some parts of the cultural sector formsignificant tourism attractions, generatingdemand for transport, accommodation,catering and other tourism-related business.But they also help put Wales on theinternational map. Our cultural landmarksdon’t just define the image of Wales, they are big business in their own right.

In developing the country’s creative economywe are working closely with the WelshAssembly Government (whose Spatial Planprovides the context for our regionalpartnership working). We are investing inworkforce training to develop skills, and new workspaces for artists and creativeentrepreneurs. Placing the arts at the heart of Wales’ regeneration is central to ourplans, and we will be developing andpublishing the next phase of our LotteryCapital strategy during the life of this Plan.

19



identifying new sources of funding

We will increase our income through a clear and structured fund raising plan. We will be targeting a range of public andprivate funding for specific projects and initiatives.

enterprise andbusiness growth

We will support the cultural and creative industries tocontribute towards the growth of our economy.

workforcedevelopment

We will work with Creative & Cultural Skills to develop thecreative workforce, creating more opportunities for training and professional development.

cultural tourism

We will ensure that arts and culture is at the heart of howWales promotes itself to the rest of the world.

campaigning We will promote the achievements of the arts in Wales bycelebrating success and demonstrating the essentialcontribution that the arts make to the life of the nation.

20


Developing the effectiveness and efficiency of our business …

It is very important that arts organisationsthat receive public funding perform well. The same applies to us. Like any successfulbusiness, we need to develop our businessstrategy in the context of what is happeningin the world around us, and be able torespond to change.

We have a clear and effective strategy for delivering our work that relates to our objectives. We will continue to beaccountable for our work, monitor andreport on our performance, and makestrategic changes when necessary. We will be open and transparent in explaining howwe manage our business, and how we reporton our achievements.

We are committed to working in partnershipwith other organisations in order to resourceour programmes of work where it isappropriate. We will work to developoperational cost savings through simplifyingprocesses, utilising the best that technologycan offer us, and by creating an environmentwhere we habitually review the effectivenessof our performance.

We are looking for a new, grown uprelationship with arts organisations - onebased on trust and mutual respect. Webelieve that these organisations must play aleadership role in terms of artistic innovationand audience development. We expect themto be well managed and governed. In return,we will be fair in what we require of them,and will not ask them to do more than theirfunding allows.

We will grow and develop our culture ofbeing a customer focused organisation,working for the public benefit, and buildingon the confidence of our stakeholders in ourability to deliver. As a distributor of publicand charitable funds we strive to deliver ourwork to the highest possible standards. Andthrough our advice and support – whetherwe offer funding or not – we will apply thesame standards of professionalism and care.

Our employees are our most importantresource, and we will continue to developtheir skills and build their confidence toenable them to deliver against our corporateobjectives. We will strive to be an exemplaremployer in the public sector in Wales,through development and delivery of ouremployment policies and practices.

21


businesssimplification

We will review our administrative systems and processes toensure that they are as simple and straightforward as possible.Where we find unnecessary bureaucracy, we will remove it.

customer first

We will aim to achieve the highest standards of public andcustomer service. We will assess our performance and publishthe results.

staff development

We will put in place progressive and forward looking strategiesthat develop the skills and knowledge of our staff.

efficiency We will monitor our performance to ensure that we areproviding a high quality service at the lowest reasonable cost.We will exploit to the full the potential of informationtechnology.

governance We are committed to making our advisory and decisionmaking structures clear and transparent. We want to draw onthe best expertise available to us, and ensure that our work isinformed by careful assessment and evidence based research.


22


Fluellen Theatre Company, Morganstown Community HallNight Out (photo: Betina Skovbro)

23


Making it happen …

To achieve our Plan we will focus on threethings: leadership, strategy and delivery:

leadership – with the guidance of ourCouncil we will:

set a clear direction

work to ignite the passion and drive of our staff, our stakeholders, artists and arts organisations

take responsibility for leading change

build the capacity of our staff – and the arts – to achieve the changes that the arts in Wales demand

strategy – informed by Council’s vision –and the Welsh Assembly Government’spolicy framework – we will:

describe in a clear and compelling way the outcomes that we want to achieve

show that the choices we have had to make are based on informed judgementand valid research

build a sense of common purpose with the arts community that unites action around our strategy objectives

delivery – based on Council’s strategicpriorities we will:

plan, prioritise and resource the programmes of activity that will achieve our objectives

develop clear roles, responsibilities and delivery models (internally and externally)

manage, monitor and report on our performance

24


TOTAL

The money…

Grant-in-aid Lottery

£m £m £m

Revenue funding to organisations 20.693 20.693

Strategic funding 2.248 2.248

Lottery (Capital) * 9.898 9.898

Lottery (Film - delegated to Film Agency for Wales) 0.785 0.785

Lottery - schemes and programmes 3.399 3.399

Artists Taking the Lead ** 0.083 0.083

Beacon funding 1.500 1.500

Creative Wales 0.300 0.300

Arts Outside Cardiff 2.000 2.000

English Language Theatre development 1.750 1.750

Operating costs 2.442 1.569 4.011

Capital (for Arts Council) 0.055 0.055

Earned income 0.015 0.015

TOTALS 30.703 16.034 46.737

* Includes the planned use of Lottery balances, and over-commitment against future income

** The total budget available for Artists Taking the Lead (£250,000) is apportioned equally over 3 years

25

Arts Council of Wales Plan 2009-2012Exhibition - Friends of the Glynn Vivian - 50th Anniversary Exhibition (1958-2008), originated by Glynn Vivian Art Gallery

26


Building on success

We plan with the money that we have, but we will press for the funds that the arts inWales need. The arts are one of Wales’ realsuccess stories, but this success is built onfragile foundations. Those talented, headlinegrabbing individuals of which Wales is justlyproud, must not distract attention from theday to day experience for many people livingin Wales. For them, a reasonable entitlementto enjoy high quality, accessible arts activityremains paramount.

In spite of the growing pressures on thepublic finances – and these pressures willonly increase over the next few years – wehave an inescapable responsibility todemonstrate the value of public investment in the arts.

The challenge of under investment

We believe that the arts in Wales aresuffering from significant under investment.In 2008, direct Assembly Governmentspending through the Arts Council on the arts accounts for just 0.2% of theGovernment’s total budget – or less than asingle calendar day of Assembly Governmentexpenditure.

Making choices

We do not believe that our financial strategycan be based on an approach that spreadsscarce resource ever more thinly. We have tomake choices.

Our level of funding means – self evidently –that we cannot provide a universality of artsprovision in every community across Wales. Sothe basis for a necessarily selective approachmust be clear, persuasive and understood.Those that receive Arts Council funding in thefuture must be the best in their field.

We need also to explain more persuasively,and clearly, that Arts Council funding doesn’texist simply to make tried and testedprogrammes more affordable for a fixed andestablished audience. Nor should we behanding out scarce subsidy where it isn’tneeded, where ‘the market’ can legitimatelysustain an artist or organisation.

Thriving, not just surviving

Creating a vibrant, artistically exciting and financially viable network of artsorganisations is fundamental to the ArtsCouncil’s mission. When funding increases,investing in growth is straightforward. Whenfunds remain static – or worse, reduce – then pressures increase. This can lead to areduction in quality, lower output, and inextreme cases the closure of artsorganisations.

The ‘do nothing’ option – presiding over a downward spiral of decline – is no option at all. If funding from the Welsh AssemblyGovernment remains at ‘standstill’ until2012, the cumulative impact of this (giveninflation) over a three year period could be a real terms reduction in the value of fundingacross our revenue portfolio of around£1.75m. This is not sustainable.

Our financial strategy …

Across Wales, our best arts organisationsdemonstrate real ambition and enterprise,but this is in danger of being choked. Newlyrefurbished buildings don’t have the revenueto capitalise on the potential of their newfacilities; arts programmes are beingreduced or curtailed; and internationalpartnerships are under threat as ourorganisations are unable to collaborate withtheir better funded counterparts outsideWales.

We have to take a serious look at how we aresupporting our ‘portfolio’ of revenue fundedorganisations. We do this with theendorsement of the Welsh AssemblyGovernment who have asked us to completethis review by March 2010.

A strategy driven approach

As we go forward, our strategy will guide ourfunding decisions and set the direction forthe growth that we want to achieve in thelonger term.

We will be:

making the case for additionalgovernment funding, looking beyond theHeritage budget and across the WelshAssembly Government

exploiting opportunities for European andother sources of funding

bringing together grant in aid and Lottery(capital and project) funding into a single,longer term strategic approach that helpsus better achieve the ambitions set out in our Plan

reviewing our existing portfolio of revenuefunded organisations to achieve a fundingstrategy that enables our organisations tofulfil their potential

creating the flexibility within our budgetsthat allows us to nurture new talent

developing our funding partnerships withlocal government, ensuring a ‘joined up’approach to investment decisions

identifying appropriate models for privatesector investment

managing our administrative andoverhead costs to get as much as we caninto direct arts expenditure

providing the evidence that demonstratesthe impact and benefit of additionalinvestment

27


We aspire to the highest standards in the waythat we conduct ourselves and our business.We know that we will be judged on thequality of service that we to those who wework with.

We will:

publish service standards and measureperformance against those standards

publish our plans and report each year onwhat we have achieved

ensure that we provide regular, accessibleinformation on our funding and our work

simplify the way we conduct our business,removing unnecessary bureaucracywherever we can

provide clear and practical feedback tothose applying to us for financial support

improve the quality of our web basedinformation

retain Investors in People accreditation

move our National and South Wales staffto new and accessible premises in Cardiff

28


Living up to our values …

29


Laura Thomas Chromoscope 2008 (Pinegate Photography)Creative Wales Ambassador Award 2009

30

By visiting our fully accessible websitewww.artwales.org.uk you can explore a wealth of information about the Arts Council of Wales and our work.

You will find information about:

who we are, how we are structured and how we are funded

our plans, policies and strategies

how to apply for funding

our Annual Report and Grants Listings

the services we offer

job opportunities and news about the arts in Wales

You will also find links to a range of partner organisations, including:

Night Out

Wales at the Venice Biennale

Wales Arts International

Want to find out more …?

Arts Council of WalesBute Place, Cardiff CF10 5ALTel: 0845 8734 900 Fax: 029 2044 1400 Minicom: 029 2045 1023Email [email protected]

ales.org.uk www.artswales.org.uk www.artswales.org.uk w

Date post:	24-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	cyngor-celfyddydau-cymru-arts-council-of-wales
View:	213 times
Download:	0 times

Arts Council of Wales Plan 2009-2012

Documents