Arts Council of Wales

What Arts Council of Wales does

Arts Council of Wales (Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru) is a Welsh statutory body and registered charity (Number 1034245), established in 1994 following Welsh devolution, that serves as the sole public distributor of arts funding in Wales. It channels both Welsh Government grant-in-aid and National Lottery funds to individual artists, arts organisations, and schools across Wales, and operates bilingually in Welsh and English as a core operational requirement rather than a marketing feature. Its service portfolio spans individual artist grants (Creative Practice, Research and Development, Create and Engage, Creative Steps, Edinburgh Bursary, Invigilator+ for Wales in Venice), organisational grants (Arts Capital Investment, Arts Health and Wellbeing, Multi-Year Funding, International Opportunities Fund), creative learning programmes via Creative Learning Cymru, and supporting schemes (Hynt/I Bawb accessibility, Night Out community touring, Collectorplan/Own Art interest-free art acquisition, and Wales Arts International).

The organisation is headquartered in Cardiff at Bute Place, with regional offices in Colwyn Bay and Carmarthen offering hybrid working, and is led by Chief Executive Dafydd Rhys, with Director of the Arts Catryn Ramasut and Head of Wales Arts International Eluned Hâf among named senior figures. Its technology footprint is modest and operational rather than product-oriented: a Drupal-based bilingual website at arts.wales, a dedicated grants management portal (portal.arts.wales) running the IGAM 6 application system, Mailchimp for email newsletters, and active social channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. No proprietary technology products, APIs, AI capabilities, or commercial revenue streams are indicated.

Commercially, Arts Council of Wales is not a revenue-generating business but a publicly funded distributor. Its counterparties are the Welsh Government and the National Lottery, with funds allocated via open application rounds and assessed by in-house relationship managers plus freelance Arts Associates paid £300/day or £150/half-day. There are no disclosed subscription or commercial pricing tiers; grants are case-by-case. Forward strategy is shaped by a published International Strategy Framework 2024-2034, a Climate Justice Plan for the Arts, and a series of 2026 initiatives including the £8 million Arts Capital Investment Fund with Welsh Government, the transition of Hynt into the UK and Ireland-wide I Bawb/All In access programme, and the Cronfa Tradd grassroots traditional music partnership with Tŷ Cerdd.

Name

Arts Council of Wales

Legal name

Arts Council of Wales (Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru)

Website

https://arts.wales

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government-funded statutory body and registered charity that distributes Welsh Government and National Lottery arts funding to individual artists, arts organisations, and schools across Wales, operating bilingually in Welsh and English since 1994.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Arts Funding

NAICS

Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Arts funding distribution
• Public grant administration
• Arts development programmes
• Bilingual arts services
• Cultural accessibility schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Funding Distribution: Arts Council of Wales receives funding from Welsh Government and distributes National Lottery funds to arts organizations and individuals in Wales. The organization acts as a funding distributor rather than a revenue-generating entity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Arts Council of Wales is the statutory national funding body for the arts in Wales, distributing Welsh Government and National Lottery funds as grants to individual artists, arts organisations, schools, and international practitioners. Its core service is the administration of grant programmes covering creative practice, capital investment, arts and health, creative learning, international opportunities, and accessibility, delivered through a bilingual (Welsh/English) online grants portal supported by direct relationship management. Supporting schemes include Hynt/I Bawb accessibility, Night Out community touring, and Collectorplan/Own Art interest-free loans for art acquisition.

Product overview

Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh government-funded arts funding body that operates as a unified grants organisation rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is the delivery of arts funding programmes through its grants management portal (portal.arts.wales). The portfolio includes funding programmes for individuals (Edinburgh Bursary, Research and Development, Creative Practice, Create and Engage, Creative Steps, Invigilator+) and organisations (Arts Capital Investment, Arts Health and Wellbeing, International Opportunities Fund, Wales in Venice). Supporting schemes include Hynt/I Bawb/All In (accessibility), Night Out (community arts), Collectorplan/Own Art (art acquisition), and Creative Learning programmes. The organisation also supports international initiatives including Cultural Bridge partnerships. No AI, API, or advanced technology features are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wales Arts International: International arts exchange programme promoting Welsh arts globally and facilitating international collaborations
• Night Out
• Collectorplan
• Hynt / I Bawb

Products and services

• Grants Portal (portal.arts.wales) Online grants management portal allowing applicants to register, submit funding applications, and track grant decisions for various arts funding programmes across the Arts Council of Wales portfolio.
• Edinburgh Bursary 2026 Funded opportunity for individual artists and creative professionals to participate in networking, events, and workshops at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, supporting professional development.
• Research and Development Funding programme supporting the development and creation of high-quality, ambitious artistic work, exploring new ideas and ways of working in collaboration with partners.
• Creative Practice Funding programme supporting artists and creative professionals with time and space for creative experimentation, professional development, and working in new ways.
• Create and Engage Funding programme for the development, creation, and delivery of high-quality arts experiences that help creative individuals and organisations engage with and connect to the public.
• Creative Steps for Individuals Funding programme for the professional, business, and organisational development of artists who have experienced barriers to careers within the arts.
• Invigilator + 2026 Flagship professional development opportunity as part of Wales in Venice, supporting individuals to participate in the Venice Biennale.
• International Opportunities Fund Funding programme for the development and delivery of international arts work, supporting Welsh arts to reach international audiences.
• Arts Capital Investment Capital funding programme supporting arts organisations to improve arts infrastructure in Wales, including buildings, equipment, and digital infrastructure.
• Arts, Health and Wellbeing Funding programme supporting arts projects that improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people in Wales.
• Wales in Venice International programme supporting Welsh arts at the Venice Biennale, including capital investment and professional development opportunities such as Invigilator+.
• Hynt / I Bawb / All In Accessibility scheme for disabled and deaf people at arts venues and events in Wales, transitioning into the UK and Ireland-wide I Bawb/All In programme from autumn 2026 to improve inclusion and accessibility at cultural venues.
• Night Out Performing arts touring scheme providing financial assistance for community venues across Wales to host professional and community performances, supporting voluntary arts activity.
• Collectorplan / Own Art Scheme enabling individuals and organisations to purchase contemporary Welsh visual arts and crafts through interest-free loans, administered through a network of participating galleries across Wales.
• Creative Learning (Dysgu Creadigol) Suite of creative learning programmes including Experiment, Explore, Extend, Have a Go, and Go and See, supporting creative education across Welsh schools and learners.
• Cronfa Tradd Funding scheme operated by Tŷ Cerdd in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, supporting grassroots traditional music projects in communities across Wales.
• Cultural Bridge Four Nations UK and Germany funding programme supporting socially engaged arts practice, co-funded by Arts Council of Wales alongside UK and German cultural partners.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• I Bawb / All In (UK and Ireland-wide)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2026I Bawb/All In is a UK and Ireland-wide accessibility initiative bringing together arts councils and partners from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland in a joint commitment to remove barriers and improve consistency in accessibility provision. Hynt will transition to this new programme from autumn 2026.
• Hijinx (Theatre Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Hijinx, one of Europe's leading inclusive theatre companies and Undod Festival organisers, has partnered with Cultural Bridge - a 4 Nations UK-Germany funding programme supporting socially engaged arts practice. This partnership is part of Wales promoting inclusive arts at international cultural exchange events.
• Creu CymrucoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 June 2026Hynt scheme, Wales's innovative accessibility programme for the arts, will continue to be delivered by Creu Cymru and will play a pivotal role as it transitions to the broader I Bawb/All In partnership. Creu Cymru provides expertise in arts accessibility and inclusion.
• Cultural Bridge PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Cultural Bridge partners include: Arts Council England, Arts Council Northern Ireland, British Council, Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, and Goethe-Institut London. The programme has supported 68 partnerships through 85 award decisions across five funding rounds since its pilot year in 2021.
• Tŷ CerddcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCronfa Tradd is a scheme operated by Tŷ Cerdd in partnership with Arts Council of Wales to support grassroots traditional music development in Wales. The fund represents a direct response to the Traditional Music Review identifying clear need for grassroots traditional music development.
• Wales Cyber Centre (Canolfan Seiberwydnwch Cymru)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyber resilience events for arts organisations are delivered by Wales Cyber Centre, hosted by Arts Council of Wales, to raise awareness of cyber crime threats and help arts organisations strengthen their cyber resilience.
• Regional Organised Crime Unit TarianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDetective Inspector Paul Hall (Head of Cyber and Innovation), Kate Lloyd (Cyber Protect Officer), and Luke Pulvirenti (AI Intelligence Co-ordinator) from the Regional Organised Crime Unit Tarian participate in cyber resilience events for arts organisations.
• Information Commissioner's OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethan Davies Phillips (Chief Policy Officer) from the Information Commissioner's Office participates in cyber resilience events providing guidance on data protection and support available.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• British Council: The UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, operating global arts and culture programmes. Overlaps with ACW through Cultural Bridge and Wales Arts International but operates at significantly broader international scale.
• Australia Council for the Arts: Australia's primary arts funding and advisory body, distributing Australian Government funding. Comparable as a statutory national arts council with peer grantmaking functions.
• Canada Council for the Arts: Canada's national arts funding body, distributing federal grants to Canadian artists and arts organisations. Comparable as a national-level public arts funder with similar institutional mandate though serving a different country.
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Distributes National Lottery funds for heritage projects across the UK. Comparable in funding source (National Lottery Good Causes) and grantmaking model but focused on heritage rather than contemporary arts.

Direct peers

• Arts Council England: The national development agency for creativity and culture in England, distributing public and National Lottery funds to artists and arts organisations. Closely comparable in mandate and operating model to Arts Council of Wales, with substantially larger budget and scale.
• Creative Scotland: Scotland's public body for arts, screen, and creative industries funding, distributing Scottish Government and National Lottery funds. Directly comparable as a devolved national arts funding body with similar governance and grantmaking structure to Arts Council of Wales.
• Arts Council Northern Ireland: The development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland, distributing public funds and National Lottery proceeds. Functions as the closest jurisdictional peer to Arts Council of Wales and is a co-partner in the I Bawb/All In UK and Ireland-wide access initiative.

Others

• Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch): Portuguese-originated foundation with UK arts and culture grantmaking activity. Comparable as a grantmaking organisation supporting arts and culture, though operating from a private foundation model rather than public funding distributor.

Regional players

• Creative New Zealand: New Zealand's national arts development agency, distributing government funds to artists and arts organisations. Comparable as a smaller-jurisdiction statutory arts council analogous to ACW's role in Wales.
• Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon: The Irish government's principal channel of public support for the arts across Ireland. Comparable as a national arts funding body, co-partner in I Bawb/All In, but operates in a separate jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Arts_Wales_
• Facebookfacebook.com/celfyddydau
• Instagraminstagram.com/celfcymruarts

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arts Council of Wales