Plaid Cymru’s ‘culture spokesperson’ has said that Rejoining Creative Europe is essential for the future of the sector

Plaid Sendd Member Heledd Fychan stated this month that Wales should once again access millions in funding.

The European Commission’s flagship programme to support the culture sector, Creative Europe, has set a budget of €2.44billion for 2021-27 which is accessed by multiple EU and non-EU countries.

The UK previously benefitted from around £80m from the Creative Europe programme, with over £11million funding projects in Wales.

British Council Cymru estimates that the UK would have received €184 million for 2021-27 had we not left the EU.

Fychan said this funding would enable much needed investment in a sector that has been “neglected by Labour”, and that rejoining Creative Europe is within the UK Labour Government’s gift.

She commented: “Rejoining Creative Europe and accessing millions of funding for culture is a crucial step to see much needed investment in the sector.

“What saddens me too is how many people choose not to be in Wales, who work in this sector now. They don’t see a future for themselves in Wales.

“We know that the Welsh culture sector is on its knees after a decade and more of cuts and neglect by Labour.

“With talks around a UK-EU reset, Welsh Ministers must make it clear to their Labour colleagues in Westminster that rejoining Creative Europe is an absolute must and would have an immediate and real difference to the culture sector in Wales.

“A failure to do this will only be further proof that Labour just don’t get culture. Plaid Cymru is clear that the culture sector isn’t a nice to have, it’s vital to the wellbeing of our nation and a part of our identity. We will not let Labour silence the land of the song.“