Welsh arts organisations to benefit from £8m Capital Investment Fund
Arts organisations in Wales are set to benefit from a £8million Arts Sector Strategic Capital Investment Programme announced jointly by Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government today (5 June 2025).
Arts organisations are being invited to apply for capital funding so that they can invest immediately in critical aspects of delivering arts and culture throughout Wales, including investment in buildings and equipment.
The announcement of this new capital funding programme follows Welsh Government’s recent launch of its new Priorities for Culture, which committed to providing funding to support grassroots participation in the arts and support a more resilient cultural sector.
Inspiring future generations
Culture Minister, Jack Sargeant, said: “Our new Priorities for Culture clearly state we want to ensure culture in Wales is thriving and properly resourced.
“This fund will help maintain and improve our arts venues and buildings and make sure the sector has the facilities and equipment it needs to continue to enrich our communities and inspire future generations.”
The overall aim of this fund is to provide critical capital support, maintenance and/or transformational grants. Examples of projects which will be considered include:
- Enhancing, improving, critical maintenance and refurbishing existing arts buildings and venues, especially where these changes support community integration, children, young people and families.
- Contributing towards feasibility studies for strategic capital projects to enable organisations to investigate the viability of their ideas further.
- Purchasing or upgrading equipment, as well as developing digital transformation, including digital based assets.
Improving facilities and purchasing equipment that will specifically enhance the accessibility of arts buildings or have a positive impact on reducing carbon footprint.
Full guidelines are available on the Funding page of the arts.wales website and the closing date for applications is midday, 2 July 2025.
“Transformational”
Welcoming the investment in the arts, Dafydd Rhys Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales said: “This substantial investment of £8million in arts sector infrastructure will provide arts organisations throughout Wales with vital funding to support delivery.
“From our regular discussions with venues and arts organisations, we know that there is a real need to investment in equipment and buildings not only to support existing activity but also to create the spaces and provide the technologies which enable individuals to develop new work.”
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “The £8m capital funding we’re providing this year will be transformational for arts organisations in enabling them to continue to entertain people across Wales. This funding will invest in many of the things we sometimes take for granted – the stages, the surroundings, and increasingly the digital platforms that are essential in reaching modern audiences.
“As a Government, we truly value the importance of arts and culture. That’s why this year we’ve increased day-to-day funding for the sector by a massive 8.5%, reflecting the special place the arts hold in the hearts of people across Wales.”
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It always irks me that taxpayers on low incomes do not have the disposable income to enjoy the arts which their taxes subsidise.
Tickets for the production mentioned start at £7. Are you saying it should be free for everyone at greater expense to the taxpayer, or shouldn’t be supported at all if just one person can’t afford it?
Tickets start at £7 and go up to?
It was a multiple-choice question, Gerallt.
Are you saying it should be free for everyone at greater expense to the taxpayer?
https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/book-online/205201/
To be fair, this is no different to some being excluded on the same basis from watching live sport, eg supporting Cardiff City at Ninian Park, or being priced out of rail travel for leisure purposes, despite their taxes subsidising these.
A ticket to see ‘Martha‘ costing little more than a couple of coffees doesn’t sound prohibitively expensive.
Also, it’s worth remembering there are many other subsidised arts which are completely free to visit.
If you are a fan of Yes Minister you will find you are making the same argument that Sir Humphrey made at the Opera whilst easing cucumber sandwiches and expensive wine. The minister himself wanted to offer subsidies for football tickets.
I’m not offering an argument, I’m pointing out the fact that low income taxpayers may help fund many things in our country which might prove unaffordable to them personally, watching Cardiff City being one.
You appear to have an issue with this, so I’ll repeat Hal’s question; what solution do you propose?
Cardiff is not Government funded and subsidised by taxpayers. That is a different scenario.
On the contrary, Cardiff City FC has indeed been subsidised by the taxpayer, through the Sports Spectator Fund, with its apprenticeship programme being part funded by the European Social Fund (Welsh Government), and Ninian Park has been directly and indirectly subsidised by Cardiff taxpayers, as three examples.
Like many, I’ve never been to a game yet I’ve contributed to the club through my taxes.
I personally don’t have an issue with this and I’m simply pointing out the fact that low income taxpayers help fund many things in our country which might prove unaffordable to them personally, watching Cardiff City being one.
I’m not sure why you’re targeting the arts over this, but do you have a solution?