Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford MS has unveiled the Welsh Government’s draft Budget for 2025-6. It contains a slight increase to culture investment, but does not fully restore the cuts that were made last year.
The overall culture budget (encompassing arts, culture and historic environment spending) will increase by £6 million (6%) next year. There will be an extra:
- £1.2m for the Arts Council of Wales
- £2.1m for Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
- £1.7m for the National Library of Wales
- £1.2m for local culture and sport
- £1m for the historic environment (via Cadw, RCAHMW and the National Botanic Garden of Wales)
Once inflation is taken into account, the increase in the overall culture budget is £3.8 million (4%). That means that, in real terms, next year's budget is £11 million (10%) smaller than it was in 2023-24.
Still, it is welcome that the Welsh Government is once again increasing its investment in culture after a significant cut last year.
Jack Gamble, director of the Campaign for the Arts, said:
"The renewed commitment of the Welsh Government to increase investment in arts and culture is a positive step forward. However, this Budget falls short of fully restoring last year’s funding cuts. Meanwhile, the environment for artists and organisations becomes ever more challenging. Once adjusted for inflation, the Arts Council of Wales will see a funding increase of just 1% next year – a rise that is unlikely to significantly enhance their capacity to support the arts sector, or to unlock more of the benefits it brings to people and communities across Wales."
