Arts and Cultural Organisations in Wales

Arts and Cultural Organisations in Wales

‘It is important that children and young people see the relevance in their learning to the world beyond the school gates and that opportunities are taken to forge links to that world. Many schools already recognise the need to go beyond their own expertise and have forged strong links with outside bodies and individuals. The Welsh Government has encouraged outside agencies to work with schools. Visits and visitors can help to bring abstract learning to life.’

Professor Graham Donaldson in Successful Futures.

Arts and cultural organisations can offer a wide range of provision and support from one-off visits to longer-term partnership projects or intensive artistic interventions including:

collaborative work with teachers in school, to support the development of literacy and numeracy, and supporting the teaching of arts subjects to raise attainment
out of school experiences to enrich learning, and develop confidence and motivation (this might include visits to performances, museums, events and exhibitions)
training, mentoring and resources for teachers
an insight into careers, further / higher education and training opportunities in the cultural industries

Organisations funded by the Arts Council of Wales

Wales has a vibrant arts scene and there are numerous individual artists and arts organisations that can help support, complement and enhance teaching and learning in schools. Arts Council Wales funds a portfolio of arts organisations across the country known as the Arts Portfolio Wales. These vary in size, scale and artform specialism. Together, they cover music, drama, dance, the visual arts and applied arts; literature, community arts, circus and film. Some are national companies; others work regionally or locally. Many workdirectly with schools.

You can find out about who receives revenue funding near you here

Many other arts organisations receive lottery funding to undertake artistic projects. You can find out what the Arts Council has funded here

Arts Council Wales’ Night Out Scheme enables community groups and volunteers across Wales to put on professional shows in their local community. The Night Out Young Promoters scheme can provide support to school groups to organise and promote an arts event in their community.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Organisations

Here are some other useful links to arts organisations in Wales:

National Youth Arts Wales

The umbrella body that runs Wales’ National Performing Arts Youth emsembles including

National Youth Theatre Wales, National Youth Dance Wales, National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Choir Wales, National Youth Jazz, National Youth Brass Band, National Youth Wind Orchestra.

The Creative Learning Zone community area lists a range of cultural organisations that work with schools.

Art Galleries that welcome school visits are listed on the Engage website

Creu Cymru, the development agency for theatres and arts centres in Wales, has a useful Members page showing the location and contact details for all venues across Wales.

Theatres in Wales

Disability Arts Cymru supports, promotes and advocates for Disabled and D/deaf artists throughout Wales.

Cadw Learning programme

Amgueddfa Cymru, provide a wide-ranging learning programme at the 7 national museums and through outreach:

CyMAL lists all accredited museums in Wales at:

National Library learning resources

Public libraries in Wales

Archives Wales

Universities also oftendeliver arts (and other) provision through their Reaching Wider programmes, such as First Campus and Reaching Wider.