Communities and Culture Committee
Pwyllgor Cymunedau a Diwylliant
To consultees on the attached list
Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1NA
July 2010
Dear Colleague,
Communities and Culture Committee: inquiry into the ‘accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales’
The National Assembly for Wales’ Communities and Culture Committee is calling for evidence for its inquiry into ‘Accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales.’
Who are we, and why are we conducting this inquiry? The Communities and Culture Committee is a cross party committee, made up of Members from all 4 political parties represented at the National Assembly for Wales. It is responsible for examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the Welsh Government, and associated public bodies, in relation to Housing, Community Safety, Community Inclusion, the Welsh Language, Sport and Culture.
One of the Welsh Government’s main commitments, outlined in ‘One Wales,’ was that ‘high-quality cultural experiences are available to all people, irrespective of where they live or their background.’ As a result of this commitment, many arts and cultural activities receive funding and support, directly or indirectly, from the Welsh Government.
We intend to examine whether such investment has been effective in achieving the Welsh Government’s stated objective of widening accessibility to cultural experiences. We are also conscious that the current financial climate will inevitably put pressure on such support, and intend to consider what impact this may have on the Welsh Government’s stated objective of widening accessibility. Ffon / Tel: 029 20 9898736 E-bost / E-mail: sandy mewies.gov.uk
We therefore consider that an inquiry into the accessibility of arts and cultural activities to be both timely, and within the remit of our cross-party Committee.
Recent Welsh Government policy announcements
Following the publication of ‘One Wales,’ the Welsh Government made several announcements related to its aim of increasing accessibility to cultural experiences, including:
the continuation of a scheme that provides free access to museums and galleries in Wales;
the Libraries for Life strategy that would provide £10.5 million between 2008- 2011 to modernise library facilities in Wales;
two grant schemes worth £860,000 each to encourage local museums and archives to attract new visitors;1
£1.7 million to improve access to Wales’s national art collections;2 and
the recent publication of the Museums Strategy for Wales 2010-2015, which deals with sharing resources and attracting new and younger audiences.
The Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales (‘the Arts Council’) is the national strategic body for the arts in Wales, distributing funds for the arts on behalf of the Welsh Government. The Minister for Heritage’s 2009-10 remit letter stated that the Arts Council would be expected to contribute to the Welsh Government’s aims by ‘focusing investment on increasing access to and widening participation in high-quality arts, particularly in areas of deprivation.’ To this end, the Arts Council has published two draft strategies related to widening access:
Changing Lives: Arts Council of Wales Strategy for Children, Young People and the Arts, which outlines the Arts Council’s strategy over the next three years to improve participation in the arts among children and young people, with particular emphasis on ensuring that opportunities are available for children and young people to engage in arts closer to home; and
Taking Part: Arts Council of Wales Arts Participation Strategy 2009-2013, which aims to increase opportunities for people to actively participate in the arts, mainly by promoting the benefits of participating and by signposting more effectively what is on offer across Wales.
1 Welsh Government Press Releases, Welsh Museums & archives get funding for inspiring projects, 27 March 2008 and Welsh Assembly Government investment in yesterday’s treasures for tomorrow’s generations, 24 April 2009 2 Welsh Government Press Release, Welsh galleries get £1.7m funding boost, 14 October 2008 The 2008 Omnibus Survey
The Arts Council of Wales’s 2008 Omnibus Survey interviewed around 1,000 people in Wales in order to gather information about attendances at arts events and participation in arts activities. The main findings were as follows:
79 per cent of Welsh adults attend at least one arts event, once a year or more often;
there is much less regional variation in the overall attendance levels than in previous years;
overall arts attendance continues to correlate with social grade, with those in social grades ABC13 (86 per cent) being more likely to attend the arts than those in the C2DE4 grouping (72 per cent);
younger adults are much more likely than older adults to attend an arts event (92 per cent of 16-24 year olds compared with 62 per cent of those aged 65 and over);
females (82 per cent) are more likely than males (75 per cent) to attend an arts event;
there is virtually no difference in the propensity to attend the arts by the ability to speak Welsh or not;
31 per cent of Welsh adults take a direct part in artistic activities once a year or more, but Welsh speakers are more likely than non-Welsh speakers to directly participate in such activities (42 per cent compared with 28 per cent);
The 2010 Investment Review
In addition, on 29 June 2010 the Arts Council announced the outcome of its detailed Investment Review5 of its funding arrangements, determining a new portfolio of 71 revenue funded organisations (RFOs) that would receive priority for Arts Council funding from 1 April 2011 onwards. As a result of the review, 32 organisations in Wales that currently receive annual revenue funding will see this arrangement end from April 2011. The Arts Council has stated that it intends to provide support to these organisations through a transition programme.
Terms of Reference To conduct an inquiry into the accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales, examining the geographic spread of venues, the activities that take place in those
3 Professional, qualified and non-manual work 4 Skilled and semi-skilled manual workers and non-working people 5 Arts Council of Wales, Renewal and Transformation: building a stronger future for the arts in Wales, June 2010 centres, and issues of access and funding. In particular, the Committee will look into the following:
the impact of the Welsh Government’s investment in museums, libraries and archives in the context of providing access to cultural activities;
the impact of the Arts Council for Wales’s Investment Review, published in June 2010, on all cultural activities and venues in Wales;
the possible impact of the Welsh Government’s budget for 2011-12 on all cultural activities and venues in Wales;
the geographic spread of venues and activities and how access is promoted across Wales;
the demographic variation in levels of attendance and participation, particularly in the context of equality, diversity and inclusion;
the key role played by local authorities in providing access to arts and cultural activities. Invitation to contribute to the inquiry
Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Clerk of the Committee at the above address, to arrive no later than Friday 24 September 2010. If possible, please supply an electronic version in MS Word or Rich Text format, by e mail to [email protected]
Please indicate in your paper whether you would be interested in presenting your views to the Committee in person. Please begin your submission by providing some information about yourself, or your organisation, before setting out your views and experiences in relation to some or all of the following issues.
What we'd like from you - consultation questions 1. Do you consider the Welsh Government to have achieved its commitment of ensuring that ‘high-quality cultural experiences are available to all people, irrespective of where they live or their background?’ How effective has its investment in arts and cultural activities been in realising this objective?
2. How exactly are arts and cultural venues – including museums, libraries and archives – actively promoting access, attracting new audiences and encouraging participation in line with the One Wales commitment and the Arts Council’s strategies? 3. Is the current network of arts and cultural venues in Wales sufficient, and are there any geographic or other issues that continue to act as barriers to participation (eg in rural areas or areas of deprivation)?
4. What will be the impact of the Arts Council’s Investment Review on the network of venues and cultural activities that take place across Wales? Do you consider that the Arts Council’s decision to discontinue funding to 32 organisations, as a result of the Investment Review, will have a significant impact on the accessibility of cultural venues or activities? Does a concentration of funding avoid it being spread too thinly, and achieving little?
5. The Welsh Government will not be announcing the Arts Council’s budget for 2011-2012 until December 2010. What impact do you believe a reduction in the Arts Council’s budget would have on the accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales?
6. Do you have any concerns about the variation in range and quality of local authority cultural services and activities provided across Wales? Are local authorities adequately resourced to consistently fund and support cultural activities in the current economic climate?
7. The Arts Council of Wales’s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that people who were professionals, qualified or involved in non-manual work were more likely to attend an art event than those who were Skilled or semi-skilled manual workers, and non-working people. Is this consistent with your own experiences? Can you provide an explanation for this variation, and how can this variation be addressed?
8. The Arts Council of Wales’s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that younger adults were more likely to attend an arts event than older adults. Is this consistent with your own experiences? Can you provide an explanation for this variation, and how can this variation be addressed?
9. The Arts Council of Wales’s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that females were more likely to attend an arts event than males. Is this consistent with your own experiences? Can you provide an explanation for this variation, and how can this variation be addressed?
10. The Arts Council of Wales’s 2008 Omnibus Survey suggested that Welsh Language Speakers were more likely to directly participate in the arts than non Welsh Language Speakers. Is this consistent with your own experiences? Can you provide an explanation for this variation, and how can this variation be addressed? 11. Are you aware of any other significant variations in the public’s attendance and participation in the arts and cultural activities (for example based on ethnic background, disabilities, location in an urban or rural area)?
12. Are there any further comments you'd like to make about the accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales? The Committee has invited submissions from those on the attached distribution list (Annex 1). However we would be grateful if you could forward a copy of the letter to any individuals or organisations that are not included but who you believe might like to contribute to the review. A copy of this letter has also been placed on the National Assembly’s website with an open invitation to submit views.
Disclosure of Information
Witnesses should be aware that once written evidence has been submitted to the Committee it is treated as the property of the Committee. It is the Committee’s intention to place written papers on its website, and may subsequently be printed with the report. The National Assembly will not publish information which it considers to be personal data. However, in the event of a request for information submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide. This may include information which has previously been removed by the National Assembly for publication purposes.
If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, or if you do not wish your identity, as author of the evidence, to be disclosed, this must be clearly identified and it is up to you to stipulate which parts should not be published, and to provide a reasoned argument to support this. The National Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information.
Further information about the Committee and its inquiry can be found at: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees- scrutiny-committees.htm
Yours sincerely
Sandy Mewies Chair, Communities and Culture Committee
Annex 1 Minister for Heritage Aberystwyth Arts Centre Academi Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales Aled Rhys - Jones All Wales Ethnic Minority Association All Wales Saheli Association Amgueddfeydd Gwynedd Anti Poverty Network Cymru Arad Goch Arriva Trains Artes Mundi Arts Buisness Cymru Arts Council Wales Arts Training Wales Asian Women's Group Association for independent Museum Association of British Orchestra Association of Muslim Professionals Association of Voluntary Orgisations in Wrexham Audiences Wales Autism Cymru Axis Bangladeshi Welfare Association Bangladeshi Women's Group Barnardos Cymru BBC Wales Beaufort Theatre Borough Theatre Bed and Breakfast Association Bevan Foundation Big Lottery Fund Black Association of Women Stepping Out Black Environment Network (North Wales) Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales Blackwood Miners institute Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Bodelwyddan Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations Bridgend County Borough Council British Association of Friends of Museum British Council UK British Council Wales British Olympic Association Buisness in the Community Cymru Cadw Caerphilly County Borough Council CARAD Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled Cardiff County Council Cardiff Heritage Park Cardiff International Arena Care Council for Wales Careers Wales Carers Wales Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services Carmarthenshire County Borough Council Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Services Ceredigion County Council Chapter Arts Centre Chartered Institute of Marketing Children in Wales Children's Commissioner Wales Chinese Community Service Committee Chwarae Teg Citizens Advice Bureau Cymru City and County of Swansea Clera Cymedeithas Offernnau Traddodiadol Cymru Clwyd Theatr Cymru Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs Collections Trust Commission for Equality and Human Rights Commonwealth Games Council for Wales Community Dance Wales Community Music Cymru Conwy County Borough Council Conwy Voluntary Services Council County Library Haverfordwest Crossroads Wales Cw Taf Health Board Cwmni'r Frân Wen Cymru Yfory Deaf Association Wales Denbighshire County Borough Council Denbighshire Heritage Service Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council Department for Culture, Media & Sport Disability Arts Cymru Disability Wales Diversions Dance Company dot.CYM Dragon Sport Drama Association of Wales Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Dyfed Powys Police Authority Egypt Centre Ensemble Cymru ESTYN Ethnic Business Support Programme European Commissioner in Wales Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales Festival of Hope Festivals of Wales Fforwm Crefft Cymru Ffotogallery Film Agency Wales Fit Cymru Flintshire County Borough Council Flintshire Local Voluntary Council FM Consultancy Football Association for Wales Forestry Commission Wales Friends of Gwynedd Museum Funky Dragon g39 Galeri Glyndŵr University Wrexham Golf Union of Wales Golwg Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations Gwynedd Council Hay Festival Health and Safety Executive Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Wales India Dance Wales Institute for Conservation (ICON) Institute of Welsh Affairs Interlink International Council of Museums (ICOM). Isle of Anglesey County Council ITV Wales Joint Committee for Ethnic Minorities in Wales Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants Llangollen International Eisteddfod Mantell Gwynedd Medrwn Mon Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council MEWN Cymru Michael Cousin Mid Wales Opera Millennium Stadium plc Mission Gallery Monmouthshire County Borough Council Mother’s Union in Wales Music Theatre Wales Muslim Council of Wales National Campaign for the Arts National Dance Company Wales National Eisteddfod FAO - Elfed Roberts National Library Wales National Museum Directors Conference Wales National Museum Wales National Trust Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service Neath Port Talbot County Council Newport City Council No Fit State North East Wales Dance North Wales Police Authority North Wales Race Equality Network North Wales Regional Institute of Sport NSPCC Cymru Ogmore Valley Local History and Heritage Society Older Person’s Commissioner for Wales Oriel Davies Gallery Pakistan Association of Newport & Gwent Welsh Asian Council Passenger Focus Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services Pembrokeshire County Council Pembrokeshire County Library Physical Activity Network Wales Play Wales Polish Welsh Mutual Association Pontardawe Arts Centre Pontypool Museum Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations Powys County Council Powys Dance Prifysgol Aberystwyth University Prifysgol Aberystwyth University Prince's trust Cymru Public Art in Wales Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Race Equality First Railfuture Refugee Voice Wales Rhondda Cynon Taf Theatres Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council Riverfront RNIB RNID Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Ruthin Craft Centre Safle Samaritans Save the Children Cymru Scope SCOPE Cymru Shelter Cymru Sherman Cymru Shout SNAP Cymru Somali Advice Centre South East Wales Racial Equality Council South Wales Police Authority South Wales Vietnamese Association Spectacle Theatre Sports Coach UK Sports Council for Wales Stefhan Caddick Stonewall Cymru Stonewall Cymru Sudanese Community Association Swansea Bay Race Equality Council Swansea Council for Voluntary Service Swansea Grand Theatre Swansea University Taliesin Arts Centre Tan Dance Tenovus The Art Fund The British Hospitality Association The Makers Guild in Wales The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council The National Deaf Children’s Society The National Trust The Prince’s Trust – Cymru Theatr Bara Caws Theatr Brycheiniog Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru Theatr Hafren Theatr Mwldan Theatr Mwldan Theatr Powys Theatre gwent Torfaen County Borough Council Torfaen Voluntary Alliance Tourism Partnership Mid Wales Tourism Partnership North Wales Trac Trinity College Tŷ Cerdd Ucheldre UK Sport UNICEF UK UNISON Cymru University of Wales Newport Vale Centre for Voluntary Services Vale of Glamorgan Council Valleys Race Equality Council Venice Biennale Venue Cymru Victim Support Wales Visit Wales Volcano Theatre Voluntary Action Cardiff Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil Voluntary Arts Wales Wales Arts International Wales Audit Office Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Wales International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences WAPA Welsh Amateur Music Federation Welsh Asian Council Welsh Association of Child Psychotherapists Welsh Books Council Welsh Centre for International Affairs Welsh Folk Dance Society Welsh Jazz Society Welsh Language Board Welsh Literature Abroad Welsh Local Authorities Consortium for Refugees and Asylum Seekers Welsh Local Government Association Welsh Music Foundation Welsh National Opera Welsh Refugee Council Welsh Rugby Union Welsh Ryder Cup Welsh Sinfonia Women’s Arts Association Wrexham County Borough Council Wyeside Arts Centre Young People’s Partnerships Youth Cymru Youthlink Wales YWCA