Plaid Cymru calls for clarity following end of Culture Recovery Fund in fortnight

The money from the Culture Recovery Fund for Wales comes to an end on 31 March 2021, and Welsh Government has confirmed that money is not due from Westminster until May – if at all.  

If further support is not announced soon, Plaid Cymru has warned that the sector will face a similar situation to that of last year, where parts of the sector were already discussing redundancies with staff prior to money being made available to them.

Plaid Cymru’s Culture spokesperson, Siân Gwenllian MS, has tabled a written question to the Minister for Culture asking whether there is an intention “to create another Cultural Recovery Fund to support individuals, organisations, and businesses in the cultural and arts sector in Wales?”

Following the recent Budget announcement, the Chancellor indicated that a further £300m would be put into the £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund in England.

In a recent Culture Committee, the Minister for Culture expressed “hope” that the Welsh Government would receive of £24 million in consequential funding, but said “I'm not sure if the funding has been clearly announced” and an official noted that any funds wouldn’t be received until May.

Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Culture, Siân Gwenllian MS said,

“Once again our Arts Industry is left awaiting its fate, as once again we must call for clarity on the funding promised to it.

“We understand a consequential of £24 million is due to Wales but that it won’t materialise until May, which is more than a month too late.

 “The arts and creative sector is an important part of the Welsh economy, employing thousands of people, and it can play an important part in the well-being solution as we start to see a way out of lockdown. Labour Welsh Government must act quickly to provide reassurances to the sector.”