First Minister FEU Letter August 8
As Wales gathers in Pontypridd for this year's Eisteddfod in celebration of Welsh culture and language, trade unions comprising the Wales Federation of Entertainment Unions (Bectu, Equity, Musicians Union, Writers' Guild of Great Britain and National Union of Journalists) and representing the country's writers, musicians, performers and creative practitioners, journalists, crew, front of house and backstage media professionals, have written to the new First Minister of Wales expressing shared and deep alarm about the future.
Funding cuts, the effect of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and an exodus of workers have created a perfect storm threatening arts and culture in Wales. Cultural spending as a proportion of the Welsh Government budget is one of the lowest in Europe, less than 0.15% of total overall expenditure compared to an average 1.5% in Europe. Major arts funder Arts Council of Wales has suffered a budget cut of about 37% in real terms since 2010.