IN BRIEF - 9th October 2001

We have recently received the figures from the Arts Council of Wales for the distribution of grants and awards up to the 31st of March 2001.

Ceredigion the outright winner in the awards lottery
Bridgend a poor relation?

The full list and details are available to you by clicking here. However, we have made some brief observations which we have listed here for your information.

I must begin by thanking the Arts Council of Wales for making these figures available to the people of Wales. Although these figures have probably been available before it must be said that this is the first time I have seen them displayed so clearly and open.
It is a difficult job to distribute funds to worthy applicants. All applicants believe their project is worth funding and are often disappointed when refused. However, guidelines must be followed and awards made to projects considered to be worthy and not likely to be a waste of precious lottery money.
Perhaps geographical information shouldn't really figure in these considerations? But we are all aware that there are many disadvantaged areas within Wales that should, perhaps, be favoured in some way, shape or form. But how can this be done fairly - and should it be done at all? Certainly so in the case of community projects and initiatives. All funding spent upon the regeneration of disadvantaged areas must be a good investment (dependant upon the proposed project of course) but applications from individual artists must be treated on a level playing field. The problems faced by an artist in the Rhondda or Swansea valley are the same as those faced by an artist in Cardiff or Ceredigion.
So what are the reasons for the apparent gulf in regional funding? For example:

Ceredigion comes out at the top of the regional 'lucky list' with a massive £82.40 being spent per head of the population. Over 5.7 million being paid to 118 applicants - representing a populaltion of just 69,500.

Poor old Bridgend props up the bottom of the league with just £5.54 being spent per head of the 130,100 unfortunate blighters. That money being spread across 38 awards.

Cardiff seems to come out reasonably well again. Although the population of 315,000 people is under three times that of Bridgend the money dished out per head nearly comes to £45.

Swansea are not anywhere as lucky. With a population of 230,200 the Arts Council have awarded 162 requests with a total of £2,981,089, or £12.95 per head.

Although even this is luxury compared with Merthyr Tydfil. Only £8.11 is paid per head to the martyrs.

The gap in funding doesn't end there. If we take a quick look at the awards per area (or discipline) we find that Music comes out pretty much on top with 689 awards being paid to applicants, accounting for 28.6 of the total. If you are studying Multimedia at art college - DON'T! Only two awards were made to Multimedia projects, a total of £6,000.

Visual Arts just about fails to make the 'play-offs' by occupying the forth spot in the league. Only 8 grants were awarded, however these did account for over £9 million, or 13.1% of total.

Circus comes out quite well - receiving £1,385,986, whilst Visual Arts & Craft got a measly £9,872.

It would be easy for me to lay into the Arts Council here - but I feel it necessary to digest the figures in more depth. There may well be very good reasons why the people of Ceredigion have come out of this funding period with extremely heavy money belts (figuratively speaking of course). Perhaps the artists of Bridgend simply haven't applied for whopping great sums of money? However, it makes simple sense to say that before you obtain a grant you must apply. I have heard many moans over these issue from people who haven't even sent in an application form. Remember - "You have to be in it to win it!" From personal experience I can assure you that the forms don't take too long to complete, and I don't even resent the wasted hour or so spent on this fruitless task. Seriously though - APPLY! You have just as much right to request funding as the Belgian ceramisist who recently received £6,000from the Arts Council of Wales to have her work made in Belgium.

Good Hunting
Nigel Williams (Non-funded Artist and extremely cynical, yet hopeful Editor )