These are targeted programmes that will address gaps in provision or tackle issues and challenges in various aspects of the arts in Wales. 

The Investment Review was the process that decided how the Arts Council’s money is to be shared between various arts organisations over the next few years.

A commitment was made to look at 14 specific areas of work which included conducting a review of dance in Wales, particularly acknowledging the difficulties in the community dance sector. During the Investment Review process, it became apparent that there was a need to look at the dance infrastructure, and to explore what future provision could look like.

Meetings were held in December 2023 and March 2024, and will be held in July 2024 too, with key members of the dance community to understand the current context of dance in Wales.

 As part of the Dance Strategic Interventions, Arts Council of Wales propose to:

  •  Commission an in-depth independent report on dance in Wales.

This report will look at all aspects of dance in Wales and would consult with artists, companies, presenters, audiences, and participants. The report will also look at best practice dance in other countries as well as what has worked well in other artforms in Wales. The review’s recommendations should identify any priority next steps and actions. The tender is now on Sell2Wales.

  • Identify opportunities for international exchange and showcasing.

 Arts Council of Wales staff will identify a opportunities for producers and presenters to attend key networking events and showcases in the UK and internationally. The first of these is the creation of bursaries for artists and producers to attend Tanzmesse NRW, a major dance showcase held in Germany every two years. The call out for bursary places by Wales Arts International and National Dance Company Wales is live now.

In the meantime, Arts Council of Wales have other measures in place to help the dance community in Wales:

  • In collaboration with Welsh Government and through the public appointment process, we are currently recruiting for additional Members to serve on our Council. We have further strengthened our knowledge and expertise of dance as part this process through its explicit reference in the published criteria.
  • The Arts Council have committed match-funding towards BBC Dance Passion Abertawe/Swansea. This partnership, with BBC Arts and BBC Wales, forms part of a season that promotes and celebrates dance across the BBC’s output. The project links with the successful Dance Days/Dyddiau Dawns festival by Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea that this year forms part of Taliesin’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
  • Arts Council of Wales’ Portfolio Manager, Laura Drane will continue with her series of Meet and Greet sessions to listen to and engage with artists and organisations across Wales.
  • ACW is also exploring partnership working with the Rural Touring Dance Initiative (RTDI) around its work in Wales including: appointing an RTDI Ambassador to help instigate new promoters and/or audiences; and continuing to offer subsidised dance shows through RTDI’s scheme for rural touring promoters – in Wales through Arts Council of Wales’s Noson Allan/Night Out scheme.
  • Arts Council of Wales have also welcomed the significant milestone of a new national collaboration to strengthen youth dance in Wales. National Youth Arts Wales, National Dance Company Wales and Ballet Cymru have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commit to improve engagement, participation, and access for youth dance.