What strategies does the Welsh Government have to support the sustainability of cultural venues in small towns, following the closure of Rhyl's Vue cinema?
The Welsh Government continues to promote and support arts and culture venues across Wales. This includes high-profile Programme for Wales commitments such as Theatr Clwyd and the Football Museum for Wales in Wrexham but also smaller grass-roots venues.
The Welsh Government provides funding via the Arts Council of Wales to support cultural venues across Wales. In addition, during 2025-26, the Welsh Government’s £8m Arts Sector Strategic Capital Investment Programme via the Arts Council of Wales will support delivery of many areas in the Priorities for Culture including:
- Enhancing, improving and refurbishing existing arts buildings and venues.
- Purchasing or upgrading equipment, as well as developing digital transformation.
- Improving facilities and purchasing equipment that will specifically enable the accessibility of arts building or have a positive impact on reducing carbon footprint.
The Welsh Government’s Cultural Transformation Capital Programme continues to support public libraries, local museums and archive services to transform service delivery, modernise their facilities and improve their offer to the people and communities they serve. The scheme also supports the delivery of some of the ambitions within the Priorities for Culture. The 2025-26 programme supports 11 projects with funding of just over £1.327m.
Through our Transforming Towns Programme, over £8 million of grant funding is available to Local Authorities this financial year, to support the regeneration of towns across North Wales.