Arts ambassador welcomes funding appeal
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Arts Ambassador has welcomed a report which calls for more funding and support for art and culture in Wales.
Terry Morris, a world-renowned portrait photographer based in Llanelli, has been carrying out the voluntary ambassadorial role for the council since last autumn.
Part of his role is encouraging growth in the arts sector, promoting the work of local artists, and gathering support for arts-based projects.
He said the report, issued by the Welsh Assembly’s Communities and Culture Committee last week, is a positive step forward.
It calls for a new law, or measure, to ensure that people across Wales have access to arts and culture in their local area.
It wants a statutory duty placed on local authorities to support arts and cultural experiences, with more investment in community-based projects in order to reach a wider audience and minority groups.
“The arts do not get the appreciation they deserve in Wales,” said Terry.
“I feel that the majority of people do not have the understanding to appreciate art and culture, and instead they dismiss it as something not worth wasting money on.
“Whilst I understand that people will have varying opinions when it comes to money being spent in these harsh financial times, we must remember that every one of us needs art and culture in some form to relax and enjoy – whether that be something as simple as listening to a favourite song or watching a TV programme to visiting a theatre or an art gallery.
“I very much support the report, and believe it’s a step forward in the right direction.”
The Carmarthenshire Arts Ambassador is currently laying the foundations for his role, and hopes in the near future to establish a county-wide network for artists of all backgrounds to link up and benefit from each others’ experiences.
“I’ve got lots of ideas to take forward, and I’m just starting to put the ball in motion,” he said.
“I’ve had great support from the Leader of the council, Cllr Meryl Gravell, who helped me establish the role.
“In the next few months I hope to be meeting up with artists all over Carmarthenshire with a view to setting up a network. I hope this will enable us to grow together, to have a voice in local cultural developments and to encourage a greater appreciation for arts in every local community.”
Cllr Meryl Gravell added: “I am excited about the Arts Ambassador role and the benefits this could bring to local artists and local communities. I am working closely with Terry, and look forward to seeing his ideas flourish over the next few months.
“We, in Carmarthenshire, are leading the way by establishing such a role to support the arts, and I am encouraged to learn from this recent report, that we are not alone when it comes to wanting better support for arts and culture in Wales.”
Terry Morris, a world-renowned portrait photographer based in Llanelli, has been carrying out the voluntary ambassadorial role for the council since last autumn.
Part of his role is encouraging growth in the arts sector, promoting the work of local artists, and gathering support for arts-based projects.
He said the report, issued by the Welsh Assembly’s Communities and Culture Committee last week, is a positive step forward.
It calls for a new law, or measure, to ensure that people across Wales have access to arts and culture in their local area.
It wants a statutory duty placed on local authorities to support arts and cultural experiences, with more investment in community-based projects in order to reach a wider audience and minority groups.
“The arts do not get the appreciation they deserve in Wales,” said Terry.
“I feel that the majority of people do not have the understanding to appreciate art and culture, and instead they dismiss it as something not worth wasting money on.
“Whilst I understand that people will have varying opinions when it comes to money being spent in these harsh financial times, we must remember that every one of us needs art and culture in some form to relax and enjoy – whether that be something as simple as listening to a favourite song or watching a TV programme to visiting a theatre or an art gallery.
“I very much support the report, and believe it’s a step forward in the right direction.”
The Carmarthenshire Arts Ambassador is currently laying the foundations for his role, and hopes in the near future to establish a county-wide network for artists of all backgrounds to link up and benefit from each others’ experiences.
“I’ve got lots of ideas to take forward, and I’m just starting to put the ball in motion,” he said.
“I’ve had great support from the Leader of the council, Cllr Meryl Gravell, who helped me establish the role.
“In the next few months I hope to be meeting up with artists all over Carmarthenshire with a view to setting up a network. I hope this will enable us to grow together, to have a voice in local cultural developments and to encourage a greater appreciation for arts in every local community.”
Cllr Meryl Gravell added: “I am excited about the Arts Ambassador role and the benefits this could bring to local artists and local communities. I am working closely with Terry, and look forward to seeing his ideas flourish over the next few months.
“We, in Carmarthenshire, are leading the way by establishing such a role to support the arts, and I am encouraged to learn from this recent report, that we are not alone when it comes to wanting better support for arts and culture in Wales.”
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