CC(3) AC 74

Communities and Culture Committee

Inquiry into the accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales‘.

Response from Gwynedd Council

Introduction

Gwynedd is a rural county with a population of around 120,000. The county covers a large area, from Abergwyngregyn in the north to Aberdovey in the south, and from Aberdaron in the west to Bala and the surrounding area in the east. Maintaining and providing quality services, on a relatively small budget, in a dispersed rural county like ours, is a challenge in itself.

Arts and cultural activities have a key role to play in Gwynedd and are enthusiastically supported within the county.

The council runs the Archives, Museums and Arts Service (galleries, community arts and performing arts), which contributes to the council‘s aim, namely:

―Serving the county‘s residents by improving their quality of life, protecting and strengthening the county‘s communities, and protecting its unique linguistic, cultural and environmental characteristics‖

Our goal within the Gwynedd Arts Strategy, ‗Future of the Arts in Gwynedd‘ is: 'to improve the lives of everyone in Gwynedd through the arts and to encourage high standards in every sector‘. To achieve this goal, we intend to focus on three areas – reaching everyone, quality and choice, and improving lives.

The current economic climate and the need to adapt our provision of services and find savings compels us to consider in detail the role of Gwynedd Council in the future in providing arts and cultural facilities and services.

To this end, Gwynedd Council‘s Working Group on Improving Heritage and the Arts is, at present, holding an inquiry into future provision, with the aim of delivering savings and, in some circumstances, providing new and exciting ideas for arts and heritage services in Gwynedd. The working group will report the recommendations of its inquiry to the relevant Council committees during the first few months of 2011.

Gwynedd Council’s key points to the Communities and Culture Committee’s inquiry can be summarised as follows:

Question 1

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?

1. Due to the rural nature of Wales, ensuring that ‗high-quality cultural experiences are available to all people, irrespective of where they live or their background‘ is extremely difficult. This is also true with regard to the rural and peripheral nature of Gwynedd, which poses a constant challenge to the council. It can be argued that offering free admission to national museums has allowed more people access to these resources, but this has been at the expense of some local attractions and venues, who state that it has affected their own visitor numbers. This creates a complex situation whereby voluntary or independent organisations, or local authorities, cannot compete with locations that offer free entry.

2. CyMAL has provided support and advice for museums in Wales (as the Council for Museums in Wales did previously). This support has been crucial and the dedication of CyMAL‘s officials, with their experience and expertise in the field, has been invaluable. They have certainly enabled Gwynedd Council‘s museums to develop and maintain their services. CyMAL has also published a strategy for the future. There is a variety of museums that provide quality services on relatively small budgets to the local community and visitors. The challenge will be how to continue and build on the good work that has been done in the face of significant cuts in the public sector – particularly as museums are not statutory services. It would be a shame if the investments that have been made so far were to go to waste – standards could fall, we could see a reduction in the level of service and, in some cases, some locations may be closed or services may cease to exist, e.g. in Gwynedd, our Archive and Museum Education Officers are under threat and, as mentioned previously, the Archives, Museums and Arts Service is currently being reviewed.

3. In terms of the arts, there is a perception locally that more support is given to activities outside north Wales and that some companies are not coming to the north often enough. In addition, as some centres or companies receive more funding, their productions are becoming larger, thus leading to higher costs. In turn, this makes it harder for smaller communities to be able to afford these productions, and so they go to the larger venues. It could be argued that this has a negative impact on provision in rural areas, as the arts are becoming more limited, rather than inclusive.

4. In terms of archives, funding provided by the Welsh Government has improved access to collections through a process of recataloguing and a new website for Archives Wales, which is a way of promoting archives services in Wales. This is thought to have extended archival provision, but having said that, it should be noted that the amount allocated to all archives in Wales is relatively small after it has been distributed.

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Question 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?

In Gwynedd, we achieve this in various ways. These include:

1. Educational, outreach and community programmes, and partnership and multi-agency working, e.g. Gwynedd Council‘s Community Arts Development Officer works closely with Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board on art in health and wellbeing schemes, and Mind in Gwynedd Museum and Gallery. Other schemes such as ‗Criw Celf‘ take young people to various venues as part of an educational programme.

2. Targeting specific audiences; ensuring that our activities are included in national campaigns that involve a strong element of marketing / branding, such as the BBC‘s History of the World; Night Out at the museums; working with community groups; use of exhibitions as an inspiration for workshops. We have received grants from CyMAL towards these elements, e.g. audience development plan; open days.

3. As we have already noted, free admission to national museums has created expectations among the public that all museums are free, even though this is not always the case. Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery does not charge an entrance fee, but Lloyd George Museum does. It is anticipated that the increasing financial pressures on local authorities will increase the need to revisit local provision and consider options to increase income or to make savings - e.g. charging an admission fee to all museums in the county, charging commission for advice and other services, cutting services, and so on.

4. The archives service runs the following activities, which are a completely natural part of the ethos of the service and the way in which it has always operated, to promote access, attract new audiences, and to encourage people to take part: taster courses, talks in the community, visits to the archives by various groups, collaboration with other groups, catalogues down to item level available on our website, an Education Officer who visits schools and produces teaching packs.

5. Collaboration between the council‘s services is a very important element in increasing opportunities for the public, e.g. Archives and Museums; the Community Arts Unit and Museums and Galleries.

6. Gwynedd Library and Information Service was supported by the Libraries for Life strategy, which provided grants between 2008 and 2011 to modernise

3 library facilities in Wales. By March 2011, six libraries in Gwynedd will have been enhanced – Caernarfon, Bangor, Barmouth, Dolgellau, Nefyn and Tywyn – and there has been an increase in the number of visits and loans. Accessibility has also been promoted, through activities at the new-look venues, including book clubs for adults and children, storytelling sessions and competitions to promote reading.

7. Gwynedd Library Service has also worked with partners to contribute to the aim of increasing accessibility of cultural experiences. As a member of the North Wales Library Partnership, which is also supported by the Libraries for Life programme – we took part in the ‗Frontline‘ training programme. The aim of this project is to ‗develop readers‘, and includes a specialist programme prepared by the Reading Agency, which is a pioneer in the field. The aim is to train all frontline staff in north Wales libraries by the end of 2011.

8. The service also works in partnership with Academi by supporting the Gwynedd Literature Promotion Scheme, which holds literary activities at various venues including theatres, galleries and museums. The scheme in Gwynedd is responsible for maintaining the ‗Writing Squads‘, which promote creative writing among children and young people with the support of local schools.

9. Recently the Service has worked in partnership with Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre to arrange special Bibliotherapy sessions with an experienced leader. This is a literature reading activity, the objective of which is to promote health and wellbeing, as well as enjoyment of literature. We hope to extend this activity throughout the authority in both Welsh and English in 2011.

10. Every library in Gwynedd acts as a point of dissemination of local information, and the service‘s website includes access to a database of associations, including arts groups.

Question 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 (e.g. in rural areas or areas of deprivation)?

1. There is a shortage of art exhibition space in Gwynedd and there is a threat to theatres in the county with the loss of Theatr Gwynedd (although hopefully, opportunities will increase with opening of the Pontio centre in Bangor) and possibly Theatr Harlech. Some arts centres are out-dated and are in need of investment to broaden their appeal and to facilitate access for all. Gwynedd‘s greatest difficulty is its geography and the cost of providing services in a rural area with a dispersed population – rather than a lack of enthusiasm for the arts.

2. In some places, the cost of hiring spaces such as studios and halls are expensive for community groups.

3. Although Gwynedd Museum has a county-wide remit, at present it is

4 located in Bangor, so this may create difficulties in reaching audiences in the south and west of the county. Work needs to be done to broaden the appeal of the museum across the county, and at present work is underway to try to do this.

4. In recent years, a number of arts and cultural venues and attractions have been established in the area, but we need to be careful because it would not be possible to sustain too many sites, i.e. we cannot and should not be encouraging the establishment of a museum in every town or community. The sustainability of such organisations and locations is a huge challenge for many in the culture, heritage and arts sector - especially following the financial crisis.

5. In the arts sector, we need quality venues that are available to groups on different levels within the artistic community e.g. community, amateur, professional. We believe that Gwynedd Council‘s galleries, halls and theatres, both in rural and urban areas, contribute to this and they currently offer opportunities for artists, the general public and society as a whole to enjoy and participate in the arts. However, budgetary cuts may have an impact on this in the future.

6. In terms of the archives service, naturally there are obstacles in tryting to deliver a service in a large rural county with a small number of staff. However, by giving talks in the communities and taking part in various events, the service keeps in close contact with the communities that it serves. There is also a website containing details about the service and its collections, which also includes an online catalogue. This is a step towards overcoming any geographical barriers.

Question 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?

1. In Gwynedd, the effects of the review will be felt through the lack of funding for Theatr Harlech, and some of our public art schemes will be affected by the abolition of Safle. The county will also feel the loss of companies such as Hijinx Theatre.

2. The effects of the review on Theatr Harlech and companies such as Hijinx will have an impact on the provision of performing arts in Gwynedd. This will hit rural Wales and will offer fewer opportunities to hear performances in Welsh. At present, the ‗Constellation‘ project is being discussed to try to improve the provision in the south of the county, but the loss of a theatre will be a blow to the area. Hijinx was good at travelling to community settings so the loss of revenue grant will hit the company hard.

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3. Although Gwynedd Council supports the principle of promoting the main centres and ‗hubs‘, this concept is not as feasible in rural areas, where the population is dispersed. Although targeting funding avoids distributing resources too thinly, we must remember that arts provision is equally important in dispersed rural areas. We must ensure that rural and urban populations have opportunities and facilities that are equally innovative, modern and exciting, through a network of centres and services.

Question 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?

1. It will be a difficult time for the arts and we are already beginning to see the impact of current cuts, let alone future ones, as some colleagues in the sector lose their jobs. At present there is a lot of support for volunteers to contribute to the sector— and of course, there is a place for this—but this should not be at the expense of the quality of services. If there are to be further cuts, they are anticipated for Gwynedd and Anglesey Schools Arts Agency, which has already received a cut of 20 per cent in recent years.

2. Gwynedd Council expresses concern that this reduction will lead to the loss of more companies / theatres / jobs / professional elements. We are also concerned that a focus on major urban centres, at the expense of others, could create an elitist atmosphere in the arts and have a negative impact on companies and venues that may not have such a high profile, particularly in rural areas.

3. It should be noted that Gwynedd Council‘s sites do not receive revenue funding from ACW but, as noted above, cuts in other places have an impact on our services. If there is an impact on ACW‘s budget, particularly in north Wales, this could lead to change – and we are concerned that this could lead to greater centralisation in Cardiff.

Question 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?

1. In the current economic climate, there is increasing pressure on local council and public sector budgets in general, which creates difficulties in supporting and funding cultural activities. Cuts have already affected Gwynedd Council‘s services, and as the arts are not a statutory service, it puts the service in a weaker position.

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2. As already mentioned, the results of the working group‘s review of the provision of heritage and arts services in Gwynedd will make recommendations on future provision; this could mean cuts and innovative changes to the way in which we deliver services.

3. It is true that services vary from county to county; some counties employ Arts Development Officers and support museums and galleries, while others do not. Consistency may be seen as the ideal provision but, having said that, every county must respond to local demands and needs and it is not considered that the same service is necessarily applicable to all counties. Discussions are continuing on regional collaboration in the arts and heritage in north Wales, but these discussions are at present at a very early stage.

Questions 7, 8, 9, 10 – Arts Council of Wales Omnibus Survey, 2008

1. Gwynedd Council recognises that there can be an elitist element in the arts and that certain members of our society see the arts as a luxury and possibly elitist. This is a problem for this sector, and the whole sector has a responsibility to promote the arts as something that contributes greatly to society, e.g. by working in areas such as health, regeneration and education.

2. Gwynedd Council‘s Community Arts Unit is working with specific groups, targeting members of society who would not normally participate in the arts to take part in their projects.

3. Gwynedd‘s galleries, museums and archives are also working with specific groups within society to broaden their appeal and to ensure a provision of a service, e.g. the Chinese community in Bangor, the Jewish community, older people, etc.

Question 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)?

1. As already noted, the rural and peripheral nature of Gwynedd means that transport and the distance from major centres are a significant factor when considering public attendance and participation. In addition, there is a lack of public transport in some areas, which is causing additional difficulties.

Are there any further comments you’d like to make about the accessibility of arts and cultural activities in Wales?

1. Gwynedd Council believes that investment in these areas is essential in order to continue the good work that has begun to bear fruit. In view of the need to make savings and cuts into budgets, and the fact that the arts and museums are not statutory, they are in a vulnerable position.

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2. It is also important to recognise that there are economic benefits to the areas where archives, museums, libraries, halls, theatres and galleries are situated. Events such as ‗Art Trail‘ and cultural and music festivals provide many opportunities for artists, local communities, visitors and other businesses in the area.

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