Task and Finish Group on Participation in the Arts in Wales

Inquiry into Participation in the Arts in Wales

Response from Cardiff Community Housing Association

1. What organisation do you represent?

Cardiff Community Housing Association

2. Which groups of people participate in your organisation’s arts activities?

Tenants, local residents from the communities we serve such as Butetown, Adamsdown, Splott, Trowbridge and Tremorfa

3. Do you think that budget changes have affected participation in the arts, either positively or negatively?

Negatively! The revenue funding cuts to organisations have been devastating to many organisations who we would normally seek to work in partnership with.

4. Do you think that certain groups of people have been affected more than others?

Locally I would say women.

5. Are there gaps in provision for people to participate in arts activities, either demographically or geographically?

Although Cardiff is quite culturally rich there is still a great divide between mainstream arts or contemporary arts and the activities going on at a local level. They have very little connection, contemporary art and participatory arts are two completely different worlds. I’m not saying that is a bad thing as they both have different appeals but I think one is valued over the other, contemporary art is given grand buildings and sizable funds where participatory art is seen as its poorer sister when arguably they produce stronger outcomes and have more of an influence on "normal" people. This leads to the more deprived elements of the communities suffering. They subsequently have less access to the arts

6. Are there enough funding sources available other than the Arts Council for Wales? Are alternative funding sources accessible?

There are other funds but there is huge demand on them. there is a lack of private support or corporate sponsorship which may help to fill the gap in need.

7. What role does the voluntary arts sector play in promoting participation in the arts in Wales and how can this be supported?

it is key, it has the power to adapt very quickly to community need and changing issues. it needs access to fast and flexible funds, it doesn’t have to be huge amounts of moneys. they just need to be able to spend it on what ever makes the project work.

8. Is the strategic relationship between the Welsh Government and the bodies that distribute arts funding effective in increasing participation?

I see very little effect on the ground

9. All public bodies in Wales will have published a strategic equality plan by April 2012. Do you think that these new public sector equality duties will help to increase participation in the arts among under-represented groups in Wales?

Again I don’t see the connections being made on a local level. are they being lost in translation?