Arts Council Wales announces immediate funding increases

Arts organisations that receive multi-year support from Arts Council Wales (ACW) will receive an additional 3.5% in funding for the current financial year (2025/26), it has been announced.

The boost will benefit 81 multi-year funding recipients as well as organisations that distribute grants on ACW’s behalf.

The announcement follows confirmation of a 10.5% increase in Welsh government funding for ACW in 2025/26 – up on a proposed increase of 3.6% that featured in its draft budget announced in December.

The larger increase restores ACW’s grant-in-aid funding to its 2023/24 level of £33.3m per year, following a 10.5% budget cut for 2024/25.

‘Recovery and transformation’

ACW chief executive Dafydd Rhys said the additional 3.5% it will pass on to regularly-funded organisations represents a “renewed commitment” to its portfolio.

ACW’s budget for 2025/26 also includes support for the sector through the creation of a £750,000 Arts Resilience fund and £2.65m for sector “recovery and transformation”.

“We are ensuring that Welsh arts continue to thrive here at home and on international stages,” Rhys said.

“Of course, our funding is distributed to far more than 81 organisations, and we are confident that we have protected opportunities for individual artists, project funding for small and large organisations along with partnership working in health, education and with local authorities across Wales.

“Whilst we will also be building capacity within the organisation, we are confident that having received the uplift in funding, we will still be distributing around 90% of the funding we receive across the nation.”

Showcasing Wales internationally

The funding body has also revealed plans to highlight Welsh arts and culture internationally, including a commitment to showcasing the country at the Venice Biennale from 2026 to 2030.

Additionally, ACW will re-open its Wales in Edinburgh fund in autumn 2025 for producing companies and artists wishing to showcase work at the Fringe in August 2026.

ACW said there will also be changes to how it awards National Lottery funding, currently based on ticket sales, with a shift to specific grant rounds to support festivals and touring alongside a new fund to support theatrical work of “higher ambition”.

‘Trials and uncertainty’ at WNO

Earlier this week, the co-CEOS of Welsh National Opera, Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas, called upon policymakers to protect the company, warning that “art is on the frontline in the war against truth and democracy”.

The company is the recipient of ACW’s largest multi-year funding grant but has seen its annual income from Arts Council England cut from £6.24m a year to £4m a year for 2023/26. Meanwhile, the organisation has said the £4.1m it receives from ACW each year represents a 10% cut against its application for standstill funding.

Speaking after the curtain call of Peter Grimes in Cardiff on 5 April, Thomas said: “We need our leaders, we need our Senedd, and we need our government to stand up for art at this critical moment.

“We need you to fight with us for the future of opera, for the future of WNO, for the hundreds and thousands of artists and people who do this amazing art form here in the land of song.”

Referencing the “trials and uncertainty” facing the company, Crabtree added: “Without WNO, opera will remain the preserve of the biggest cities and a luxury rather choice for the people of Wales, central and south-west England.”

WNO ceased performances in Liverpool soon after the reduction of ACE funding and cancelled planned tours to Bristol and Llandudno, citing financial challenges.

Last month, its chorus voted to continue industrial action following a re-ballot of the ongoing dispute over proposed job cuts, terms, and conditions.