Culture Minister for Wales What Next? Cymru

What Next? Cymru calls for a Culture Minister for Wales

With an eye on the arts and culture sector’s recovery post-COVID, What Next? Cymru launches a social media campaign calling for a Culture Minister For Wales as a part of its Cultural Manifesto for Recovery.  

Recovery post-COVID is of paramount importance to the arts and culture sector. What Next? Cymru is calling on the Welsh government to consider the Reciprocal Pledges laid out in its Manifesto, with emphasis placed on the creation of a Culture Minister for Wales.

A statement released by What Next? Cymru reads: “We ask the new government to ensure the close involvement of the cultural sector in an integrated approach to planning and strategy across all portfolios. We believe this will be better achieved by making culture and creativity the responsibility of aCulture Ministeras a full Cabinet Member and by the creation of a strongcentral policy unitin Welsh Government that would benefit not only health, education, arts and culture, creative industries, and the Welsh language, but all its departments via a cross-cutting approach to policy development and evaluation.”

What Next? Cymru has pledged to work cross-sector and beyond on initiatives addressing equal representation, collaboration and healing. Their Cultural Manifesto for Recovery outlines pledges to: 1) Secure the health and sustainability of the creative sector, 2) Strengthen the cultural dimension throughout Welsh Government, 3) Require all local authorities to act as conveners of arts and culture within their boundaries, 4) Ensure the close involvement of the creative sector in the preparation and implementation of the new curriculum, and 5) Revive community bonds, tourism and international connections.

What Next? Cymru is a part of a movement holding weekly inclusive meetings striving to bring together arts and cultural organisations and individuals, aiming to strengthen Wales’ arts and culture sector.

You can read What Next? Cymru’s full recovery manifesto here.


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