Arts & Business Cymru has further funding from the Welsh Assembly Government confirmed

Arts & Business Cymru received a major boost today (4 March) as Minister for Heritage Alun Ffred Jones AM confirmed that the Welsh Assembly Government would continue to fund the charity.

The announcement was made at an event organised by Arts & Business Cymru (A&B Cymru) to celebrate its initial year of funding from the Departments for Heritage and for the Economy and Transport.

The new round of support will allow A&B Cymru to build on partnerships between businesses and arts organisations that have been created since the Assembly Government provided a first round of funding support in April 2008.

Rachel Jones, director of A&B Cymru, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and of massive significance for us.  Without the extremely valuable support from the Welsh Assembly Government, we simply could not create the partnerships we do at the level and importance they take place.

“As a charity, we are funded by the membership of businesses and arts organisations, but heavily rely on the Welsh Assembly Government in order to deliver our programme of tangible benefits to the arts and businesses in Wales.”

Arts & Business Cymru was established in 1988 with the aim of facilitating sponsorship of the arts by business. Since then it has evolved into an organisation that matches arts organisations with businesses in a way that makes a meaningful contribution to both parties. Since then, its objectives have changed to become more focused on issues such as staff training and community engagement as well as sponsorship.

The support from the Welsh Assembly Government has been used to fund a number of investment programmes [CultureStep and CultureScope], which are designed to encouraged businesses that may otherwise not have invested in the arts. Smaller businesses or those which had not previously invested in the arts were eligible for extra support.

One such partnership was between Barclays and It’s My Shout, a film initiative which encourages teenagers who wouldn’t otherwise have access to creative industries the opportunity to gain work experience in these areas. Together with Sony UK and ITV, Barclays provides participants with practical skills including budgeting, financial awareness alongside creative and technical awareness.

Minister for Heritage Alun Ffred Jones said: “I am pleased that we can continue to support Arts and Business Cymru, even in this difficult economic climate. The work that they facilitate in bringing together arts, business and the wider community is a positive example of successful partnership working. It is good to see the breadth of companies participating in this initiative from multi national and national companies to smaller businesses.    A similar event will take place later this month in Ruthin to recognise the involvement and achievements of north Wales businesses.”

The event today was held at the Cardiff International Academy and featured a performance from the Cardiff International Academy of Voice, led by Welsh opera singer Dennis O’Neill.

To find out more about A&B Cymru visit the website on www.aandb.org.uk/wales

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