HUGH CUTS to the performing arts could have a devastating impact, stifle the creative sector and endanger Wales’ cultural identity, a committee heard.

Sharon Stone, co-director of Chapter Arts Centre, described pressures on the sector as incredibly difficult following the pandemic, with inflation soaring and a cost-of-living crisis.

She pointed to a 45% increase in utility costs over the past two years coupled with a “huge” 43% cut in the latest round of Arts Council of Wales funding.

Ms Stone, who is also director of finance at the Cardiff arts centre, told the Senedd’s culture committee: “We’ve gone from close to £680,000 a year to £390,000 a year.”

She explained that the Arts Council provides around 18% of Chapter’s income, adding: “We can’t pass that onto our audiences … we’ll price ourselves out of the market.”

Her co-director Hannah Firth told the committee some costs, such as for hiring spaces, have had to be passed on, putting pressure on the wider sector.

Louise Miles-Payne, director of Creu Cymru, which champions the performing arts, echoed concerns about the Arts Council’s latest investment review.

Naomi Chiffi, director of collaboration at National Theatre Wales (NTW), said the charity is in a “unique and inevitable” position of having lost all its Arts Council funding in the last review.

“Even before that things were difficult and … we can’t expect audiences to pick up the tab,” she added, cautioning that it is becoming unsustainable for the sector.

Asked about the potential impact of any further Arts Council cuts, Ms Firth said it could have devastating effects and stifle the creative sector, particularly for early career artists.

Ms Miles-Payne warned the theatre sector is already close to closures, with threats to Blackwood Miners’ Institute and Merthyr Tydfil’s Redhouse centre having shut.

Ms Chiffi said: “It’s really important to remember that arts isn’t a luxury, it’s not a means of entertainment – it can’t just become the privilege of the few, it’s a right for all of us….

“It’s such a vital part of the nation’s cultural identity.”

Ms Chiffi said the national theatre company has been through “great stress”, with voluntary redundancies leaving four core members of staff and five project-funded staff.

She welcomed ring-fenced transition funding from the Arts Council and a Cardiff council grant that has helped NTW continue work with schools and young people.

She told the meeting on October 17 that the wider artistic programming of NTW has sadly had to be put on hold due to the Arts Council cuts.

Labour’s Alun Davies asked to what extent the sector is in financial crisis due to austerity as opposed to failing to adapt well to changes in society.

Recognising social change, Ms Firth suggested it is a combination of the two.

“But it’s a hard financial fact that people can’t afford to go out in the way that they used to,” she said, adding that habits changed during the pandemic.

Ms Miles-Payne said the sector has faced a steady decline in funding for the past decade.

Mr Davies, a former minister, replied that it is fair to say the Welsh Government has not funded culture in the same way as Scotland or the Republic of Ireland.

Asked whether the Welsh Government cares about arts and culture – with suggestions the sector is an “easy target” for cuts – Ms Miles-Payne said: “It doesn’t really appear so.”

She told committee members that culture spending is 0.15% of the Welsh budget, compared with a European average of 1.5%.

A ‘FULL commitment’ to improve warning systems on a flood-prone road on the approach to Tenby was given after Pembrokeshire councillors heard the current system appears to not like working when its wet.

Back in January, Storm Henk led to flooding across the region – including in and around Tenby, Gumfreston, Heywood Lane and the Clicketts. while a red alert was issued for the River Ritec, with water being described as “Jeep deep”.

In a submitted question heard at the October 17 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Rhys Jordan asked: “As we approach the autumn and winter months, which will likely bring further disruptions for residents and visitors entering and exiting Tenby via Gumfreston, can the Cabinet Member for Resident Services update us on the progress made toward improving the flood warning system in the Gumfreston area?”

Responding, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said, following discussions with Natural Resources Wales, it was looking at consultants producing a long list of options for a potential flood risk management scheme for the River Ritec catchment area, with outfalls to the sea acting as “throttle points” to the river.

“NRW already has a flood warning system in place for the river, I would urge all users of the road and all local residents to sign up to receive flood alerts,” Cllr Sinnett said, adding an automated warning sign system was already in place, with plans for an additional water depth gauge to be installed.

In a supplementary question, Cllr Jordan asked: “Can you give me an assurance that the flood warning system will actually work this autumn and winter?

“Only yesterday [October 16] the road was flooded and no warning signs were on; it seems to work when the road is not flooded, but they don’t like operating when its wet.”

He described it as “probably the most closed road in the county,” but one where there was the least communication on.

Cllr Sinnett, who later deferred to Director of Transport and the Environment Darren Thomas, said: “If there are problems with the system, we need to sort that out; members of the public need that reassurance that things are working the best they can.”

Mr Thomas told councillors there had been difficulty with the supplier of the signs, despite regular discussions, with the council considering a change of supplier.

“It’s not something we’ve left lying; you have a full commitment that officers are trying to get this fixed,” he told members.

PLANED have recently (Tuesday 15^th October) been able to present their projects and the work undertaken by the team in partnership with communities, at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

Sponsored by local Senedd Member, Samuel Kurtz, PLANED was one of ten organisations from across Wales, who successfully bid for the opportunity to have a promotional stand for the day in the main public area of the Senedd Building.

Engaging with Senedd Member, Cabinet Secretaries, and senior civil servants from across Welsh Government, PLANED were able to promote their work within communities across a broad range of sectors and areas of interest ranging from Community Assets & Housing, to Food, Heritage & Tourism, as well as Micro Care Enterprises, Community Buildings and Accredited Training amongst others.

Supporting the Chief Executive of PLANED, Iwan Thomas, as well as two of the senior Coordinators team present to take questions and make connections, Samuel Kurtz MS noted:

“It was great to host PLANED today at the Senedd. The work they do in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to promote community engagement and local economic growth cannot be understated. Especially their work around food vending machines, allowing local produce to be sold locally to communities and tourists.”

Two key projects which were focused on with Senedd Members were the Local Food Partnership, managed by Sue Latham, and Prosiect Cadarnhad, managed by John Ewart. Both found the discussions with policy makers useful, in highlighting the innovative work already being delivered in Pembrokeshire and wider West Wales, that can be a transferable model to other communities across the rest of Wales.

Promoting co-production and sustainable delivery of outputs for communities is key to PLANED’s organisational vision in place since 2021, of “Empowering Communities”. As Chief Executive, Iwan Thomas notes, “Whilst the funding landscape is increasingly challenging, PLANED is finding new innovative ways to support communities in the longer term, and use funding even more effectively than we have before. Having this platform in the heart of Government to showcase the amazing partnership work in communities is very much appreciated.”

“Recent examples of how we have led the support for community purchases of key local assets such as chapels and pubs, in addition to leading the support for the creation of 145 new micro enterprises to support people living in their own homes, are just a small part of the way in which PLANED continues to support communities in different ways that are more sustainable and effective for the longer term.”

Senedd Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire was also present to engage and support during the event at the Senedd, and was keen to note:

“PLANED work in the heart of our local communities in west Wales, helping to empower residents and improve community well-being and resilience and it’s a pleasure to again show my support for their work here in the Senedd”.