Welsh arts budget rise won’t heal sector’s ‘gaping wound’

Arts organisations in Wales have tentatively welcomed the country’s draft budget for the next financial year as a positive first step for the sector after significant cuts in previous years.

However, there has been criticism that the increase doesn’t go far enough, amounting to “applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound”.

Responding to a £6m uplift in arts and culture funding announced in Tuesday’s (10 December) draft Welsh budget, the chief executive of the Arts Council of Wales (ACW) said the move was “a step in the right direction”, following an £11.9m funding cut to the sector last year.

Confirming that ACW’s own draft budget from the Welsh government for 2025-26 would receive a “slight uplift” to £31.588m – from £30.493m for 2024-25 – Dafydd Rhys said that the funding body was also “pleased to be working with the government on a capital programme which will be announced in due course”.

Like many others, Rhys added a note of caution to his response, highlighting that the climate remains tough for the sector.

“The outlook and demand for funding remains challenging as many arts organisations face substantial pressures, from the forthcoming increase in the National Insurance rate for employers, to fierce competition for alternative funding and increased running costs,” said Rhys.

Funding cuts, rising costs and ageing infrastructure

Creu Cymru, which represents Wales’s professionally-run theatres, arts centres, and producing companies, also agreed that it was “pleased to see a proposed increase” in the arts and culture budget.

The organisation said the announcement was “a positive first step in ending the downward trend in public investment for culture in Wales”.

While describing the uplift as good news, it added that “there is still a way to go to restore appropriate levels of funding to the arts sector in Wales”.

It continued: “Our own research with our members confirms the pressures facing Wales’ performing arts sector, from funding cuts to rising costs and ageing infrastructure.

“These significant challenges are hitting the sector’s ability to stay open, retain staff, continue provision, produce any new work, offer and maintain fair employment, and support communities and artists across Wales.

“We wait to see what impact this increased budget may have on the sector.”

Museums and heritage

The draft budget also includes an additional £2.1m for Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museums of Wales), £1.7m for the National Library of Wales, £1.2m for local culture and sport and £1m for the historic environment via Cadw, RCAHMW and the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

A statement from Amgueddfa Cymru said it welcomed the budget announcement and was looking forward to working with the Welsh government “to understand the detail”.

It continued: “The uplift funds will provide impact in supporting Amgueddfa Cymru’s work, enabling learning and enjoyment for the people of Wales through the national collection.  

“We’re particularly grateful to the Welsh government for recognising the value of making capital investment in Wales’s cultural infrastructure, with commitments made nationwide across National Waterfront Museum Swansea, National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans, National Museum of History and the National Slate Museum.”  

‘A sticking plaster on a gaping wound’

Despite the muted optimism, there was also dismay in the sector that Welsh government did not fully reverse previous cuts to culture, despite having an additional £1.5bn in its total 2025-2026 budget compared with last year, particularly after the Scottish government announced an extra £34m for culture in its own draft budget earlier this month.

A spokesperson for National Theatre Wales (NTW), which had its core funding from ACW axed last year, said that while it was always good news to see additional investment, “it feels a bit like applying a sticking plaster to a gaping wound”. 

They added that it was “disappointing to see that the Welsh government have barely returned funding to pre-cut levels” and that they expected “there will be little meaningful difference in terms of access to greater funding for our work”. 

They continued: “We could learn a lot from the Scottish model, which has shown strategic investment over a number of years, resulting in year-on-year increases, compared to a reported 30% drop in investment in Wales. 

“We simply need to get better as this as a nation if we want our sector to survive for future generations.”

Wales Millennium Centre’s chief creative and content officer, Graeme Farrow, was also disappointed by the announcement. “While we have to be thankful that the tide of cuts has been stemmed, we have to be conscious that this funding increase does not make up for previous cuts and for cost rises such as NI contributions,” Farrow told The Stage.

“Wales had an opportunity to make the sort of statement of support for its culture that Scotland has.

“We need to have a different and wider conversation about investing in the arts and artists and how this has benefits for economic growth, reputation, well-being and education. And we need to work together with government to try to unlock other forms of investment from the philanthropic and commercial sectors into Wales as this is an area we need to improve.”