Thanks to funding from the Welsh Government’s World Cup Partner Support Fund and the National Lottery players, and the money they raise raised each week by National Lottery players for good causes, the Arts Council of Wales’s fund, Create, is offering grants of up to £10,000 for artists, arts organisations and others to celebrate Wales’s footballing success, and engage with their communities.

Commenting today, Lleucu Siencyn, Director Arts Development for Arts Council of Wales said:

“On 5 June 2022, Cymru qualified for the men’s football World Cup for the first time since 1958 which has generated great excitement across Wales. A modern fairy-tale, Cymru's rise to and continued performance on the world footballing stage is a huge source of national pride. The achievements and ambitions resonate across our communities, in the workplace, on schoolyards, on high-streets and around dinner tables. Its power and ability in bringing people together is clear and undeniable.

“Now is the perfect opportunity for the arts, culture and sport to come together to tell the story of Cymru and create moments of celebration, unity and collaboration within our many varied communities.”

“Arts Council of Wales’s commitment to equalities, diversity, the Welsh language and nurturing creative talent is the foundation of our Create fund. By supporting and financing of the development and creation of quality artistic experiences, we can reach more widely and deeply into all communities across Wales.”

 

We’re encouraging applications of up to £10,000 for projects that demonstrate how they can support us to advance our priorities at this exciting time for the nation. While we won’t be able to fund every application - because the fund isn’t bottomless - we’d like to see ambitious arts projects and events taking place across Wales. We want to see high-quality experiences and celebrations that have the goal of linking grass-roots community groups, arts organisations and sporting teams and societies.

We want to see projects determined to reach deeply into our communities, promoting and building on the theme of Y Wal Goch. Through partnering artistic expertise and vision alongside the passion and energy of our grass-roots community organisations, the activities that we’ll award will project a positive and inclusive image of Wales as a diverse, tolerant, bilingual and cultural nation.

These might be projects run by experienced arts organisations and groups that want to drive forward programmes of artistic activity that can deliver great outcomes in partnerships with local community groups, sports clubs and associations as well as the wider community.

We will be accepting applications to coincide thematically with Y Wal Goch and Wales in the World Cup 2022 between Monday 5th September – Monday 10th October. Eligible projects will need to take place between Thursday 20th of October and Sunday 4th of December.

To find out more about Create, and for more information on how to make an application for funding, click here.

The Arts Council of Wales is very proud to work closely with the Football Association of Wales and other national partners to ensure a range of activities and opportunities to celebrate this significant occasion. Together we support the Welsh Government's objectives for the World Cup, namely: promoting Cymru; presenting our values; ensuring the safety of the citizens of Wales at the event; and ensure a positive and lasting legacy.

Thanks also to the National Lottery for supporting the Create fund.