Organisations set to benefit from the uplift include theatre and opera companies such as the Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Theatr Cymru, Taking Flight, Hijinx and the Torch Theatre Company in Milford Haven, dance companies such as Ballet Cymru and National Dance Company Wales and youth organisation Urban Circle in Newport, to name but a few. Art galleries such as Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw in Pen Llŷn, MOSTYN in Llandudno, Elysium Gallery Swansea and Ruthin Craft Centre as well as arts centres from all over Wales, such as Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham and Aberystwyth Arts Centre as well as many other organisations that contribute towards a vibrant and diverse arts scene in Wales will also receive the uplift. 

Organisations who distribute grants on the Arts Council of Wales’s behalf, such as Ffilm Cymru, Llenyddiaeth Cymru/Literature Wales and Tŷ  Cerdd, will also see their funding offers increased by 3.5% this year, along with the level of funding that they have to distribute - benefiting both artists and communities throughout Wales. 

This follows confirmation of a 10.5% increase in Welsh Government funding, restoring the grant-in-aid funding for the Arts Council of Wales to the 2023/24 level of £33.3 million per year. 

As well as increasing the offer to multi-year funded organisations, Arts Council for Wales’ budget for 2025-26 includes hands-on support for the sector through the creation of a £750K Arts Resilience fund and £2.65m for sector recovery and transformation.  

This will allocate: 

  • £600k of specific budget for sector training
  • Specific funds for business resilience, to enable organisations to access business advice and proactive support, with the aim of helping organisations become more sustainable and financially resilient.
  • Specific funding for strategic interventions, providing clarity and stability to a number of organisations throughout the year and supporting the work required to implement the recommendations in our recently-published English Language theatre review and the traditional music and dance reviews which will be published in late spring. 

Also approved are ambitious plans to showcase Welsh arts and culture on an international stage, in line with the recently-published strategy by Wales Arts International, the international arm of the Arts Council of Wales. 

This includes: 

  • Showcasing Welsh art at the Venice Biennale in 2026 and a commitment to future editions in 2028 and 2030, through the Wales in Venice partnership, ensuring an international platform for Welsh talent and development opportunities for artists and professionals working in the visual arts. Wales in Venice will also enable us to reach new audiences and encourage new conversations in and out of Wales, through touring and digital platforms.
  • Recognising the UK and international profile for Welsh talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, re-opening ACW’s Wales in Edinburgh fund in autumn 2025 for producing companies and artists wishing to showcase work at Festival Fringe August 2026 - improving potential to secure UK and international touring opportunities.    

Further details regarding callouts for Wales in Venice and Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be published over the coming months on arts.wales. 

The Arts Council of Wales also distribute funds on behalf of the National Lottery, which is based on ticket sales. There will also be changes this year to how Lottery grants are awarded, with the introduction of specific grants rounds to support Festivals and Touring alongside a new fund to support theatrical work of higher ambition. 

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales said, 

"The Arts Council of Wales' 3.5% funding uplift is a renewed commitment to those 81 companies we fund all over Wales on a multi-year basis. It supports our renowned theatre, opera, and dance companies as well as our art galleries and community-led projects carrying out quality-driven work. By investing in resilience and transformation, including looking at how we distribute Lottery funds, we are ensuring that Welsh arts continue to thrive here at home and on international stages.  

“Of course, our funding is distributed to far more than 81 organisations, and we are confident that we have protected opportunities for individual artists, project funding for small and large organisations along with partnership working in health, education and with local authorities across Wales. Whilst we will also be building capacity within the organisation, we are confident that having received the uplift in funding we will still be distributing around 90% of the funding we receive across the nation.”