Alun Pugh promises cultural stability
Wales’s new Culture Minister Alun Pugh today reaffirmed the Welsh Assembly
Government’s commitment to its 10-year programme to put cultural issues
higher on the agenda in Wales. In his first major speech to the Arts
Council for Wales’s first National conference, the Minister said that
Creative Future will continue to provide the framework for taking forward
arts activity over the next few years.
The Minister stressed however that whilst the 10-year strategy would be the
base for building on the successes already achieved, it would not stifle
new ideas or fresh approaches.
"Creative Future was an ambitious undertaking by which the Assembly
Government set out to express a vision of a dynamic, creative and
all-encompassing culture for Wales," said the Minister.
"I would like to make it clear that I am certainly not going to sweep away
all that has gone before. I am quite clear on the guiding principles and I
will be looking to develop policies which support the view that culture
must not be exclusive to the privileged few. My focus will be on the themes
of improving access to all, encouraging participation and promoting
excellence."
The Minister said that the new Assembly Government will continue to develop
and emphasise the beneficial effects of cultural and sporting activities
through the social justice and sustainable communities strategies.
"Music, art and drama will have an enhanced role in our schools, our
emerging sports strategy will link closely into our health promotion
policies and in the economic development field we will integrate our
cultural tourism and national events strategies," he said.
"We will examine the potential for a new National Gallery of Welsh Art and
a National Digital Gallery, develop library services with greater use of
new technologies and increased opening times, and strive to ensure improved
availability of digital channels and TV channels originating in Wales."
The Minister added that the Assembly Government’s budget for culture, sport
and the Welsh Language has increased substantially over the last two years.
"It now stands at £100 million per year- almost twice the budget of two
years ago. The Assembly Government’s continued commitment to the value of a
culture policy is backed by our pledge to increase the funding available
from the Culture Fund by 60% over three years," he said.
(19 May 2003)
Eluned Jones
Swyddog Datblygu Archifau i Gymru /
Archives Development Officer for Wales
Department of Information Studies
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Llanbadarn Fawr
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 3AS
Ffôn/Phone: 01970 622437
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