Funding possible through the generosity of National Lottery players and Welsh Government’s Partner Support Fund, established to celebrate Wales at the FIFA World Cup. 

Nine diverse projects have been awarded funds which will see activities taking place across Wales.

The aim of the World Cup Create Fund is to support high-quality experiences and celebrations that have the goal of linking grass-roots community groups, arts organisations and sporting teams and societies. The emphasis will be on widening participation, and to support grass roots projects and activities which bring the arts and sports closer together.

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

“Through partnering artistic expertise and vision alongside the passion and energy of our grass-roots community organisations, these projects will project a positive and inclusive image of Wales. We are a diverse, tolerant, bilingual and cultural nation.

“The sector is facing a difficult winter, and these events will encourage people to meet up in their local venue to support their local artists – as well as supporting our national team of course!”

Many of the projects will highlight some of the issues around FIFA hosting the World Cup in Qatar, including platforming LGBTQ+ voices, exploring the barriers for women and sport, celebrating the contribution of refugee communities in Wales, and highlighting the positive connection between sport, art and mental health.

Cylchdro is a project between a collective of artists in Gwynedd and Felinheli Football Club. Using art to explore women’s experiences of football, the project will explore the opportunities and challenges for women in the context of this World Cup.  The connection between the 28-day period of the tournament and the menstruation cycle will also open a discussion about normalising periods in football.

FootBallroom aims to “reclaim queer identities within the aesthetics of Football”. Based in Cardiff, this is a cross-community project bringing together LGBTQ football fans and Ballroom culture through sharing stories, celebrating queerness and embracing football culture.

People Speak Up will create an intergenerational space for people in Llanelli to share stories from 1958 and write their own new story for 2022. Working with poets and storytellers, the project will bring together young people from Seaside Kicks, a new football club that supports young people from deprived areas of Llanelli and supports the Syrian communities, as well as the older generation from the Llanelli Football club.

Aberystwyth Arts Centre will collaborate with the area’s Junior Football League to create a new eye-catching mural with artist Ruth Jên. During the process they will reach out to the local Mental Health Football Wales and 'Jumpers for Goalposts' groups.

There will also be celebrations of arts and football that bring the local communities together at Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham, Clwb y Bont, Pontypridd, Theatr Felinfach, Ceredigion, Llanrwst United Football Club, and some surprise choral moments from the world famous Aloud Charity.

These projects are part of the wider Gŵyl Cymru Festival partnership between the Arts Council of Wales and the Football Association of Wales, with over 200 activities taking place in Wales and the world to support Cymru in the World Cup in inclusive and welcoming spaces.

More information about Gŵyl Cymru available here.