“Too important to ignore” – make Arts part of the wellbeing solution to get through this crisis
Plaid Cymru calls for the Arts to be part of the solution rather than another problem to solve when the pandemic is over
The Arts in Wales could be the solution to help with the challenges of extended periods of lockdown, yet the industry finds itself largely ignored by Welsh Government. Siân Gwenllian MS, calls for the Arts to play a bigger part in helping us understand the situation we’re in, and in guiding us out of the pandemic.
The Arts in Wales faces unprecedented challenges. While theatres remain closed, thousands of performers, designers and other artists find themselves out of work with no certainty over when they can return. And yet, conversely, one of the lifelines in helping people cope with lockdown is the Arts – whether that’s through music, a good book, or watching a film or TV drama.
It’s this therapeutic wellbeing benefit that Siân Gwenllian, Shadow Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language has highlighted, noting that the Arts have “always been an important part of preventing problems escalating” and that now we should be using them as a solution to “help us get through the negative impact of extended periods of lockdown.”
This view is reflected across the industry in Wales. Eilir Owen Griffiths, Artistic Director of International Choral Festival Wales and former Music Director at Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, said “the impact from being in an extended period of lockdown shouldn’t be underestimated, and the arts have an important part in helping people escape their current situation.” Geinor Styles, Artistic Director of Theatr na nÓg adds “the Arts Industry could play a really important role in helping people understand what they’re going through and in communicating how we can get through this together.”
Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to realise the benefit of the creative industry to help with the negative impact of lockdown, and invest in the Arts industry before it’s too late.
Siân Gwenllian MS, Shadow Minister for Education, Culture and the Welsh Language said:
“The Welsh arts scene has always been an important part of preventing problems escalating. Creative arts have been embedded in our curriculum and it’s an important part of our identity. The Welsh arts scene is very different to England and I’d like to see Wales lead the way in playing to our strengths and using our creative industry to help us get through the negative impact of extended periods of lockdown.
“The Arts industry can help Welsh Government communicate its key messages, but if we don’t put creative arts right in the centre of initiatives, and don’t give them a role during the pandemic, I fear that we risk losing talented people and that’s too important to ignore. We’re talking about an investment in our future, not a bailout.”
Geinor Styles, Artistic Director of Theatr na nÓg said :
“For many households, the reprieve offered by music, literature and drama has been a lifeline. It’s been a reminder of how valued the Arts is, and why it was funded in the first place.
“We know the power of story-telling, and the Arts Industry could play a really important role in helping people understand what they’re going through and in communicating how we can get through this together. The Arts should be part of the solution: Give us a seat at the table, and we can show you the power of the Arts in helping you land your message.”
Eilir Owen Griffiths, Artistic Director of International Choral Festival Wales, and Senior Lecturer at UWTSD, said,
“The impact from being in an extended period of lockdown shouldn’t be underestimated, and the arts have an important part in helping people escape their current situation. Yet the longer restrictions are in place, the more we risk not having an Arts industry at the end of the pandemic. Even if the lockdown restrictions are eased to allow public gatherings, theatres won’t be able to open immediately as there will have been a delay in content coming through.
“The uncertainty about the future of theatre means uncertainty for young actors and performers, and I worry about the future of the students I’ve been training over the last few years. I welcome any initiative that makes use of the Arts industry before it’s too late.”