Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas has launched Creative Wales - to position Wales as the place for creative businesses to thrive.
The Deputy Minister said: “We have always been a nation of storytellers. Our creative minds have been honed by the sharing of tales across generations – in words, images and song. Today, the technology may have changed but the purpose is the same: to harness our creative skills to engage with people, share ideas, entertain and inform.
“My vision for Creative Wales is for an organisation that will take the existing successes in the screen industry and build on these to drive growth across the whole creative sector; developing a skills base that is world class, expanding support beyond film and tv and positioning Wales as the place to locate a creative business.”
The main priorities for the Creative Wales are to:
- Driving growth of the Creative Industries sector in Wales with a more targeted regional and sub-sector focus,;
- Develop the right skills across the sector to support continued growth, recognising that this cannot be done in isolation and will require closer working with industry and trade union partners;
- Raise standards and promote diversity and equality. This will include developing commitments from all partners with regards to inclusion, fair pay and exemplary working practices.
- Simplify funding support for the creative industry and ensure that we are able to respond to the fast pace of the sector. All funding will be delivered through an economic contract.
- Taking a lead role in the marketing and promotion of the creative industries in Wales to the world, via a new Creative Wales brand
Creative Wales was launched at the Wales Creative and Cultural Skills Awards at the Cardiff and Vale College (Wednesday, 29 January), indicating the importance of skills in the new priorities. The Deputy Minister also announced funding provided to Creative and Cultural Skills and their partners, in order to establish and deliver a pilot of the Creative Careers Programme Cymru. The programme will work with more young people to raise awareness and interest of the breadth of creative career opportunities available in the sector.
To support the industry, Creative Wales will have two funding streams for capital and revenue funding, which will respond quickly and flexibly to sector needs, which will be more than £7m in 2020-21.
Independent Venues Week takes place this week and the Deputy Minister also announced funding of £120,000 for Grass Roots Music Venues.
The next steps will include establishing an advisory board, adverts for recruiting Board Chair and members are live.
Gerwyn Evans has been appointed to the role of Deputy Director, Creative Wales.
Presenter for the Wales Creative and Cultural Skills Awards, Huw Stephens, said:
"The creative sector is one that is so important to us in Wales. It creates jobs, forges partnerships, and Wales’ creative work reaches the furthest ends of the globe. More collaboration such as this is very positive - good things can happen as we all work together in the creative sector."
Dr David Banner MBE, Managing Director, Wales Interactive, said: "I am delighted with the launch of Creative Wales which will provide vital support for the video games industry and the wider creative industries in Wales. Initiatives like this are essential for helping creative Welsh companies grow, nurture new talent, develop cutting edge products and ultimately compete on the global stage."
Sarah Mair Hughes, Head of Partnerships, Wales and Nations Lead, Creative and Cultural Skills, said: "Creative and Cultural Skills works across Wales to help create opportunities to work and learn in the creative and cultural industries. The skills focus of Creative Wales gives emphasis to our aims and will assist us reach more young people to engage them with the sector and the opportunities that it could provide."
