WIREDGOV

Swansea Council have been held up as a local authority that ‘sees the bigger picture’ when it comes to the arts, according to the Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths.

The Minister was speaking during a visit to the ‘Creative Bubble’, a project supported by Swansea Council and run by University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and Swansea BID (Business Improvement District). The University is making use of a city centre commercial unit in Cradock Street to create arts-based economic and social impacts for the city.

The ‘Creative Bubble’ is a space where UWTSD students, graduates and partners meet to collaborate and create a series of street performances, art exhibitions, pop-up craft fairs, drop-in workshops and fashion shows across the city centre.

It’s been well received by the public and local businesses because it attracts more footfall and helps boost the local economy.

John Griffiths said:

"All of our Councils are facing very tough budget decisions and with money being so tight, I fully understand how difficult it is for them to protect the ones they aren’t legally obliged to provide.

"Swansea is a council that understands that the arts and culture don’t just entertain and inspire but that they also boost the local economy. That’s why it mounted its recent bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017. Despite narrowly losing that contest the bid created a real sense of purpose, and the Council is now establishing a new city-wide partnership to deliver a more effective and innovative cultural service for everyone.

"I want to see other authorities across Wales taking this approach to the arts in order to explore all other ways of delivering services and keeping facilities open. That might mean joint work, or contracts with the not for profit sector. Or, it might include pooling some resources with neighbouring authorities. That is already happening in some areas – for example with the ‘Arts Connect’ initiative involving Bridgend, Merthyr, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan.

"I’m sure that all Councils appreciate that theatres, galleries and arts services are an integral part of a healthy and vibrant community, so I hope local authorities will take proper account of how much these assets are valued by the thousands of citizens who use them, and do everything possible to keep them open and available to all."

Cllr David Phillips, Swansea Council Leader, said:

"It is very good news that the Welsh Government recognises the city’s commitment to the arts and culture. When we laid claim to being the Wales’s city of culture, we really meant it and that’s why the Council is doing all it can to protect and promote culture and the arts.

"But we’re not doing it alone, we’re working with a whole range of local organisations and groups to build on the momentum we achieved by bidding for UK City of Culture 2017 status. Arts and culture is part of what defines us as a city, but we are not forgetting that it a makes an important economic contribution to tourism too, as this year’s Dylan Thomas centenary celebrations show."

Kathryn David, Director of Commercial Services at UWTSD, said:

"We have a wide variety of creative subject areas offered at UWTSD and the Creative Bubble has allowed students from different disciplines to collaborate and produce new and distinctive work that engages with the communities and businesses in Swansea. The project highlights the University’s strategic aim of working with Swansea Council to support cooperation between companies and institutions and, in turn, develop initiatives designed to benefit economic and social development with the region."

Swansea Council has maintained its healthy budget for culture this year, managing several major venues, including the Grand Theatre, the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, the Dylan Thomas exhibition, the Brangwyn Hall and Swansea Museum. It is also working to improve cultural facilities, as shown by the current multi-million pound refurbishment of the Glynn Vivian.