Arts Council of Wales announces funding decisions
Overhaul of arts funding sees grant cuts to 32 regularly funded organisations, including Axis and Voluntary Arts Wales.
The Arts Council of Wales’ (ACW) announced the first phase of its major overhaul of its investment in the arts, including grant cuts to 32 regularly funded organisations.
Annual revenue funding to 71 organisations is to be continued but from April 2011, funding of 32 regularly funded organisations will end or be reduced, including Axis, Voluntary Arts Wales and the Hay Festival. The 32 groups affected will be able to receive support from a transition programme and will still be able to apply for project funding.
The overhaul also includes plans to invest in local communities, to back new talent and innovation, to create new employment opportunities and to encourage more young people to get involved in the arts.
One of the 32 organisations to have its funding cut is UK-wide contemporary arts resource Axis. Its grant from ACW contributed to its core operational costs and allowed Axis to offer subsidised membership to artists and curators based in Wales and to support Welsh artists and visual arts organisations.
To find out more about the funding cut to Axis, go to: www.axisweb.org.
Other organisations to have their funding ended are the Women's Arts Association, Voluntary Arts Wales, Wyeside Arts Centre and Newport Museum and Art Gallery.
To read ACW’s press announcement, go to: www.artswales.org.uk
To download the ACW strategy document, go to: www.artswales.org
To read the National Campaign for the Arts' response to ACW's funding announcements, go to: www.artscampaign.org.uk.
Date posted: 13th July 2010