Wales – Culture and Devolution
Culture Devolution:
UK Parliament passed the Government of Wales Act 1998, providing the legal basis for the National Assembly for Wales. There have been a number of changes and additions to the Welsh Parliament/ Senedd Cymru powers since then, including through the Government of Wales Act 2006, the Wales Act 2014, the Wales Act 2017 and the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020.
Welsh Parliament/ Senedd Cymru has power to make laws on a range of devolved matters, including culture. This includes Arts Council of Wales, arts and crafts, museums and galleries, libraries, archives and historical records, and cultural activities and projects.
Autumn 2024 Budget:
The Welsh Government is receiving £21 billion in 2025-26. This includes an additional: £1.7 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula, with £1.5 billion resource and £250 million capital; £160 million targeted funding, with £10 million resource and £150 million capital, including for City and Growth Deals, coal tips safety, Holyhead Breakwater and border facilities.
A needs-based factor of 5% for the Welsh Government has been applied to the Barnett formula for 2025-26. All devolved governments receive over 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government funding in the rest of the UK, and the Welsh Government is funded above independently assessed relative need.
It is for the devolved governments to allocate their Barnett-based funding as they see fit in devolved areas, and additional funding will enable further investment in areas such as schools, housing, health and social care, and transport.
Culture Strategy:
The Programme for Government commits to developing a new culture strategy for Wales, guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Consultation took place in 2024 on Priorities for Culture in Wales (2024 – 2030), which has 3 core priorities:
- Culture brings us together
- A nation of culture
- Culture is resilient and sustainable.
Current Culture Projects:
- Arts Council of Wales indicative settlement for 2024/25 from Welsh Government is £30.429m, representing a 10.5% cut.
- £5m from Welsh Government reserves to support Wales culture and sport arm’s length bodies and Cadw:£1.5m will go to the Arts Council of Wales which will provide support to arts organisations focusing on organisational resilience, the National Library will receive £725,000 and the Royal Commission £90,000.
- £1.2 million investment in local museums and libraries throughthe Cultural Transformation Capital Grant Programme 2024-25 cycle, which will support 6 projects, 3 museums and 3 libraries.
- £3.2m capital funding for repairs to be carried out to both the National Museum Cardiff and National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
- Over £900,000 investment in digital library platform for Wales, to make the service more consistent and improve access to books, e-books and other library services.
- Welsh Government funding of more than £1m to progress the redevelopment of the National Slate Museum. The Museum has also secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to continue redevelopment plans as a main interpretation site for the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- A £4 million deal between the Welsh Government and award-winning Cardiff-based production company Bad Wolf will ensure high-end TV dramas will be made in Wales over the next four years. It will ensure that at least four Bad Wolf productions are shot and produced in Wales in the period up to March 2027, providing continuity to Wales’ screen industry and ensuring longer-term security for crews and supply chain companies operating in Wales.
- £718,000 has been offered to 17 grass roots music venues across Wales, from the Creative Wales Music Capital Fund.
- Creative Wales, the Welsh Government agency set up to harness the power of Wales’ creative industries, has invested £18.1 million in production funding to support 37 projects since 2020 – generating £208.7 million for the Welsh economy.
