Following the Welsh Assembly Government’s Draft Budget announcement earlier this week, the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, has announced that he will continue to invest in Wales’ culture, arts, Welsh language and sport.
As a result of cuts to the Welsh budget by the UK government, the Heritage portfolio revenue budget will see a reduction of 3.15% over 3 years with the capital budget decreasing by 33.9% over 3 years.
In recognition of the important work carried out by all the organisations that the Heritage budget supports and in line with the Government’s commitment to protect front line services, the impact of budget cuts will be spread across the range of supported organisations.
Commenting on how the settlement will affect his portfolio, the Minister said:
“All of the spending programmes supported by the Heritage budget have a contribution to make to the Assembly Government’s policy of promoting our rich and diverse cultural heritage. We will, therefore, continue to provide financial support for the Arts Council for Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, the National Library of Wales, Sport Wales, the Welsh Language Board, Welsh Books Council, CADW and the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historic Monuments. Each of these organisations will need to make further efficiency savings over the spending period but funding has been prioritised on protecting front line services.
“Throughout this draft budget settlement the main focus has been on protecting front line services whilst applying stringent efficiency targets to administration and support services. These savings in administration, joined-up working and shared services will be in addition to those realised under the ‘Making the Connections’ initiative over recent years.
“The Assembly Government has emphasised the importance of cultural organisations developing creative responses to the challenge faced by reducing budgets. These solutions must include the development of new creative partnerships aimed at maximising every pound of public spend on heritage as well as sharing of back office functions to drive further efficiency savings.
“The relative priority accorded to arts funding recognises the important contribution which arts bodies can make to the quality of people’s lives. This contribution can be even more valuable during a period of austerity.”
An increase in funding is being provided to the Bilingual Wales Fund in order to support the establishment of the Welsh Language Commissioner and the implementation of the government’s Welsh Language Strategy. Continuation funding has also been provided for The Welsh Books Council’s project aimed at improving the economic competitiveness of the Welsh publishing industry.
There is also a proposed increase in funding for Casgliad y Werin/ the People’s Collection, the all-Wales virtual museum of people’s history, recognising its strategic importance as a One Wales commitment. The funding provided to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales will also ensure that the popular Welsh Assembly Government policy of free entry to national museum sites will be retained.
In addition, £5 million in capital funding has been allocated to date to support the redevelopment of the National History Museum at St Fagans, recognising the site’s strategic importance for cultural tourism in acting as a gateway to heritage and historic attractions across Wales.
The important work done by Cadw in maintaining and securing Wales’ historic and listed buildings will continue to be a priority and some protection has been given to its budgets in order to do this. Work is also in hand to develop Cadw operations to optimise commercial activities and give it the flexibility it requires to deliver its income generating strategy.
Within the funding provided to Sports Wales the free swimming budget will remain constant in cash terms. Continued support will be given to physical activity programmes delivered through Local Authority Physical Activity Plans including the 5×60 scheme which has now been rolled out to all secondary schools. Sport Wales will also continue to provide support for elite sports including through national governing bodies.
The tourism industry, which contributes around £4 billion a year to the Welsh economy, will remain a key priority and the Assembly Government has an ambition to grow the visitor economy to take advantage of Wales’ outstanding natural, heritage and cultural assets.
