We are pleased to release our Sector Snapshot Report, highlighting both the acute challenges and the remarkable resilience of the sector amidst ongoing financial pressures.
The report coincides with the Welsh Government’s proposed 3.6% increase in arts and culture funding for 2025 and the recent closure of National Theatre Wales, a stark reminder of the fragility of cultural infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, Wales’ performing arts organisations are finding innovative ways to adapt, demonstrating the sector’s enduring importance to the nation’s cultural and social fabric.
Key Findings:
Funding Pressures: While the proposed budget increase is welcome, the sector continues to grapple with the long-term effects of a 25% reduction in government arts funding since 2010 and surging operational costs. Reduced government support has increased dependency on National Lottery Funding and external grants, intensifying competition and stretching resources thin.
Infrastructure Resilience and Building Deterioration: Ageing arts venues face urgent maintenance needs and soaring operational costs, threatening their viability. While many venues face rising costs and ageing facilities, some, like Theatr Clwyd, are setting new standards. The theatre’s capital redevelopment, set for completion in 2025, will make it one of Europe’s most environmentally friendly arts venues, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.
Workforce and Talent Development: The sector is grappling with recruitment challenges and burnout, exacerbated by reduced headcounts and declining job security. Initiatives like Taking Flight Theatre Company’s “Breaking the Box” programme are creating pathways for Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodiverse creatives, addressing gaps in workforce diversity and skills.
Touring and Programming Viability: Limited resources have led to fewer Welsh productions, threatening the sustainability of touring networks and artistic output.
Community Impact: With increased demand for community arts programs, especially in areas of social deprivation, organisations struggle to meet their civic role due to shrinking budgets. Arts organisations remain central to community well-being. Venues like Torch Theatre and Newbridge Memo have provided vital services, such as Warm Hubs, to support vulnerable groups during the cost-of-living crisis.
Audience Engagement: Despite changing booking patterns, venues like Sherman Theatre have cultivated strong brand loyalty through innovative programming that resonates with local communities. Flexible ticket pricing, including “pay what you can” models, is making performances accessible to wider audiences.
Advocacy and Innovation: The sector is exploring new funding and operational models, such as dynamic pricing and partnerships, to address financial challenges. Examples like Venue Cymru’s “pay-in-three” ticketing model have successfully boosted attendance while supporting affordability.
The report highlights the sector's crucial role in fostering social cohesion, supporting health and education, and enriching the cultural identity of Wales. Creu Cymru calls for urgent, coordinated action from government bodies, funders, and stakeholders to safeguard the future of the arts in Wales.
"Our sector is at a critical tipping point," said Louise Miles-Payne, Director of Creu Cymru. "The interconnected ecology of our performing arts not only enriches lives but also contributes significantly to Wales’ economic and social well-being. Without immediate and strategic intervention, we risk losing this invaluable cultural fabric.
The challenges are immense, but so is the resilience of Wales’ performing arts sector. From pioneering green infrastructure projects to programmes empowering underrepresented creatives, the sector continues to innovate and inspire. This resilience needs to be matched by strategic investment and support."
Creu Cymru appeals for increased public investment, strategic advocacy, and recognition of the sector’s intrinsic value to Welsh society. The organisation hopes the report will galvanise stakeholders to address these challenges and unlock the sector’s untapped potential.