Light Springs Through the Dark: a Vision for Culture in Wales FOREWORD Culture Is Important
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December 2016 Light Springs through the Dark: A Vision for Culture in Wales FOREWORD Culture is important. I am making this statement because I wish to… • Remind people how important culture is. At times like these it is more important than ever to people and communities; a vital buttress that protects and enhances our quality of life. • Promote more debate within Welsh politics and society about the value of culture, and how best we can work together to nurture and promote it. • Encourage bright ideas and initiatives, from whatever source. • Set out my ambitions for culture for this Assembly term, and unite our efforts across Government to extract maximum value from our investment in Culture. The Welsh Government is fully national goals. As the goal is described committed to culture. By ‘culture’, or this is about creating ‘a society that ‘diwylliant’ in Welsh, we mean the arts, promotes and protects culture, heritage music, literature and heritage or put and the Welsh language, and which another way, all of the creative activities encourages people to participate in the that give people purpose, and a sense of arts, and sports and recreation’. belonging and identity. However there is work to be done to We see culture as a priority. We believe re-unite our country. The result of the in it for its own sake, and in supporting Referendum on EU membership showed it with public funds. Culture is central to that we have a divided society. We need our society and our sense of nationhood, to reconcile divisions, and ensure people and embodies both our national feel connected and enfranchised. languages and their respective cultures. We also believe in artistic and cultural Persuading more people to take part in freedom, which is why we support ‘the creative (and physical) activity is vital, arm’s length principle’. if we are to get them to re-connect and believe that they have a stake in Welsh Culture empowers. It is hugely society. important in developing confidence, skills, and employability. Culture is also Taking part brings all kinds of benefits. increasingly important to our economy, It brings enjoyment, but it also helps and it makes a vital contribution to other people to become more confident, and key areas of public life, including health, to find out about themselves and their education, and regeneration. communities. It can boost personal, physical and mental well being. We start All this is reflected in our Well-being of from a good base, but we should aim Future Generations Act 2015, in which higher: I want Wales to be the most ‘a vibrant culture’ is one of the seven creatively active nation in Europe. 2 I am determined that we should continue And of course we have outstanding to send a confident, outward-facing collections like those at our seven message to the rest of Europe and National Museum sites, at the National beyond. Wales welcomes you. We value Library and our national digital archive cultural exchange. We are a vibrant, the People’s Collection, in Côf Cymru innovative and forward looking country. our online record of Designated Historic We want you to visit, and to experience Assets, in the Coflein online catalogue what we have to offer. of archaeology, buildings, industrial and maritime heritage, and in places like the My vision is of a Wales where culture is Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Oriel Mostyn, central to the nation’s life and well-being, and Oriel Kyffin Williams. a place where talent is revealed, nurtured and shared. Unless we strive Wales is producing world class output in to be creative and active we will never many different fields, for example Welsh be as healthy, fulfilled or as happy as National Opera, National Theatre Wales, we’d wish. Theatr Clwyd, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Artes Mundi, Cardiff Singer of the World, and TV and film productions The current landscape: including Dr Who and Sherlock. It also hosts a rich variety of events and where we are now festivals, including the national, local, We have tremendous assets, which is and youth eisteddfodau, and the Hay, a tribute to public investment, and to Green Man, Wakestock and Number 6 the sector’s work, notably over the past festivals. 2 decades. In many ways the current All of this is helping to attract more and cultural landscape is very positive. more people to visit Wales, drawn in Wales has a long cultural tradition, great part by their desire to experience our talent and innovation. We have some special and distinctive culture. Added excellent infrastructure, and we have to this, our creative industries are the a rich, vibrant, bilingual offer. Levels of fastest growing sector of our economy. attendance at cultural events, and active And hundreds of our artists, curators, participation in cultural pursuits, are high archivists, musicians and dancers are – in 2015, some 79% of adults attended working in schools, hospitals, and in at least one arts event, whilst 40% the community to develop people’s 1 participated in artistic activities. There is creativity, confidence and well-being. also a really strong connection between our natural heritage and our cultural heritage and identity. Our landscape So there is a huge amount to enjoy continues to frame, and inspire, much of and to celebrate. But… our contemporary cultural output. …there is real uncertainty and anxiety, notably over EU funding and reductions We have world class attractions, such as in local authority support. Due to our three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, these pressures, the sector is losing and Cadw’s castles and monuments. experienced and specialist staff, which We have state of the art facilities like the is putting its professionalism at risk. As Wales Millennium Centre, the National public funding falls, there is a clear need Waterfront Museum, Pontio, the for the culture sector to up its game still Glamorgan Archives, BBC Roath Lock further on fundraising, marketing, and and Pinewood studios. income generation. 1 Figures are taken from Arts Council of Wales Omnibus Survey 2015. 3 Although we are making progress, there that it can make in the effective delivery are still too many people who feel that of other areas of public policy. The culture is elitist, or that experiencing or remainder of this document summarises taking part in it ‘is not for them’. that contribution, grouped around the four key themes within our Programme Whilst digital technology is for Government. It then suggests ways revolutionising the way people create in which the culture sector, with the right and consume culture, there are still parts backing and encouragement, can do of our country that feel disconnected. even more. Similarly, whilst technology is becoming ever cheaper and more personalised, Finally, it lists the actions we as a there are parts of the culture sector Government intend to take during this that have yet to exploit its potential. Assembly term to support the culture Whilst there is growing evidence of sector, and the contributions we are the effectiveness of cultural activity in looking for from our partners. If we work helping to address other key agendas, together, we can build an even more such as health and well-being, creative nation, known for its vibrant, regeneration and tackling disadvantage, bilingual culture that can be enjoyed by and much good work is going on, I everyone. believe the culture sector can contribute even more in these areas. How culture contributes to other agendas Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary At a time like this it would be easy to for Economy and say that we cannot afford to invest in Infrastructure culture, that it is some kind of ‘luxury spending’ that can no longer be justified. To adopt that approach would be a serious mistake. Culture is important, “ Culture is ordinary: and has intrinsic worth. But we should that is where we must start” also recognise its growing value to our Raymond Williams (1958) economy, and the vital contribution 4 5 Light Springs through the Dark: A Vision for Culture in Wales. December 2016 Prosperous & Secure Economy The creative industries are a vital engine Cultural organisations are more able of our economy. They contribute jobs to experiment with new forms of and wealth and help to put Wales on digital media outside of a commercial the map, raising its image world-wide. setting, so successful initiatives can The latest figures (2014) show that we then be used commercially. Our have over 5,300 creative businesses, heritage organisations are increasingly which generate over £2.1 billion annual making sites available and accessible turnover, and give employment to over for filming, which generates revenue, 49,000 people. and showcases those sites to a global audience. Successful productions like The culture sector produces talented Hinterland, The Library Suicides, Jack to individuals with transferable skills a King: the Swansea Story, Poet in New that benefit our creative industries. York, Stella, and the Oscar nominated The not-for-profit culture sector can Y Syrcas all show the scope for more develop digital initiatives from which productions which serve as a ‘shop the commercial creative industries window’ for Wales’ culture and tourism. subsequently benefit. 6 One example is volunteering: almost 1,500 volunteers helped to deliver the cultural events we supported in 2015. Another benefit is return visits – for example concerts or festivals at historic sites can encourage a whole new audience to those sites. Events can also provide a high profile platform for promoting the Welsh language. Looking ahead, many of our more prominent events are recognised as national and international leaders in their field. However examples such as the Hay, Green Man and No.6 Festivals are at or close to full visitor capacity.