The Arts in Wales face lean years of pre-Olympics funding - Burnham

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jul 2008

Commenting on the Audit Committee's report on the Arts Council of Wales, Supporting Major Capital Projects, released today,

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member of the Audit Committee said:

"The Arts Council is facing a difficult challenge. For the last eight years, the Arts Council has spent £7 million per year on major capital projects. That is being slashed to £3 million per year for the next five years, whilst the programme is closed to new applicants. That means the days of celebrating major new arts venues in places like Newport and Gwynedd are over.

"The Arts Council are being asked make various improvements including, to be more proactive in supporting continuing development of arts facilities in Wales and to improve efficiency and user-friendliness of its administration procedures, whilst its capital resources have significantly reduced and its revenue funding are static. That's all very well, but we have to accept that the consequence will be that the Arts in Wales face some lean years.

"The report goes on to recommend that the Arts Council continue developing approaches to access private sources of funding. However we have to remember that Welsh businesses may not be favourable in creating partnerships with bodies such as the Arts Council during the more difficult economic times Wales is facing at the moment.

"The Arts and Sport in Wales has been victim to having some of its revenue sources vacuumed out by the London Olympic bid. While the bill for the Olympics continues to rise, it is the Arts in Wales that will be paying the price."

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