Creative Learning Cymru’s flagship Experience the Arts programme has been awarded an additional £150,000 in funding from the Welsh Government, enabling it to expand its reach and enhance access to arts and cultural opportunities for children and young people across Wales.

This new investment, to support the delivery of the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Culture, will target learners from disadvantaged communities and those with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). The funding will focus on breaking down barriers for children and young people when accessing culture and the arts. 

Arts Council data shows that we need to increase engagement with the arts and opportunities to participate in Blaenau Gwent, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen.

The additional funding builds on the Experience the Arts programme’s proven success. In just the first term of the 2025/26 school year, the programme awarded 219 applications expected to benefit 14,586 learners through its two flagship funds: Go and See (arts visits) and Have a Go (expressive arts participation). 

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales said: 

“This announcement of new funding will make it possible for Go and See and Have a Go funding to go further, deepen impact, and improve access for those who have historically faced barriers to cultural participation. 

“It’s a crucial step toward ensuring that all young people in Wales, regardless of background or learning needs can benefit from the transformative power of the arts.” 

To make an application, click here

Accessible, inclusive, diverse

Creative Learning Cymru are introducing bespoke funding rounds designed to:

  • Support schools in Local Authorities with historically lower levels of arts participation;
  • Support schools with high % of learners experiencing specific barriers to participation for example, additional learning needs (ALN), neurodivergent learners, young carers or children in care.
  • These strategic enhancements align with the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Culture funding in 2025-2026, delivering against ambitions one and four in the Priorities for Culture, specifically:

• Culture is accessible, inclusive and diverse. 

• Culture reflects the needs and aspirations of children and young people and strengthens the connection between generations.

About the Experience the Arts Programme

Experience the Arts forms part of the wider Creative Learning Cymru programme, funded by the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales. 

Go and See 

The Go and See Fund offers grants up to £1,000 to enable teachers in state-maintained schools in Wales to take their learners to see high-quality art in venues across Wales. Teachers can use the fund to cover the cost of tickets and transport up to £1,000 to cover up to 90% of the costs of visits for learners aged 3-16.

Have a Go

Have a Go offers grants of up to £1,500 and is designed to provide learners aged 3 – 16 with opportunities to have a go at a one-off hands-on activity or workshop to support schools with the delivery of the Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience. The fund covers the five disciplines of the Expressive Arts Area of Learning and Experience art, dance, drama, film and digital media and music. Applications can be made by state-maintained schools, pupil referral units and/or arts and cultural organisations in Wales.