The Arts Council of Wales is delighted to announce that it is one of the recipients of the Welsh Government’s Partner Support Fund to celebrate Wales at the FIFA World Cup. According to the Welsh Government, these projects will help “project our nation’s values and work to secure a positive and lasting legacy for Wales and Welsh football”.
In an unprecedented partnership between the Football Association of Wales and Arts Council of Wales, the fund will enable us to deliver two key projects in partnership with the Football Association, the appointment of an Arts Producer and establishing an additional funding pot to support community arts projects in Wales.
Speaking about the importance of aligning arts and football, Dr Carol Bell, Independent Non-executive Director of the Football Association of Wales, said:
“Wales is a modern multilingual nation with a diverse, open, inclusive and welcoming culture. It has a vibrant literary and musical culture that produces great actors, singers, writers and broadcasters of international renown. When the football action begins in Qatar, we can look forward to cultural events in our communities that will be the envy of the world. The nation has galvanised behind Cymru and we’re all members of Y Wal Goch now!”
Arts Council of Wales and the Football Association of Wales are pleased to announce that Nick Davies, an experienced arts professional and a proud member of Y Wal Goch, has been appointed to the role of Arts Producer.
Nick will be working closely with the Football Association of Wales on the delivery the Gŵyl Cymru Festival, a 10-day festival of arts and culture in locations around the nation which kicks off on 19 November. The Partner Support Fund will enable Arts Council of Wales to offer support to venues and organisations to develop their own artistic programmes.
Commenting today Nick Davies said:
“The World Cup is an important moment for Cymru – on the pitch, and culturally. This is our chance for the arts to work alongside our communities, to reflect the spirit of Y Wal Goch and to support our footballers by being creative. We’re already planning some amazing events and we invite others to be part of Gŵyl Cymru.”
The Football Association of Wales’s vision for this festival is one that is shared by Arts Council of Wales: “By creating spaces and opportunities for people to come together to celebrate the national team’s sporting success, Gŵyl Cymru Festival will also introduce new audiences to Welsh arts, culture and language - ensuring a cultural legacy to the FIFA World Cup 2022.”
In addition, the fund will add value to Arts Council of Wales’s Create funding scheme open until 10 October for World Cup projects. This will allow the funding pot to reach even wider and support smaller venues who serve a mostly local community.
The emphasis of this support will be on widening participation, and to support grass roots projects and activities which bring the arts and sports closer together.
END 3 October 2022