Artists and arts professionals in Wales are organising a March For Culture across Cardiff city centre to highlight the potential damage Cardiff Council’s budget cuts will have on the creative sector.
The Cardiff Without Culture? campaign claims the council are planning cuts to arts and culture of more than £700,000. This includes the removal of £430,000 to arts venues across the city, and the cutting of the £68,000 Arts Grants for Organisations scheme.
In advance of the march on Saturday 6 February, artist-led organisation Made in Roath will be holding pre-protest workshops at g39 on 28 and 31 January for people to get involved and help make banners, badges, placards and a float.
Materials will be provided, and the group are also asking for donations of unwanted picture frames to make protest plaques. In addition, music students are inviting musicians to contribute to the event’s New Orleans-style jazz funeral theme. They will be running a rehearsal on 31 January.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Cardiff Without Culture? said: “Culture makes life worth living and Cardiff a city worth living in. Arts and culture are facing a potential funding crisis and we would like to raise our voice.
“If the next generation of designers, makers, musicians, artists, writers, actors, dancers are placed in an environment that does not encourage them, what kind of Cardiff will we live in? Wales prides itself on its cultural heritage. We need to ensure that our future heritage is as strong.”
The march will begin at 2pm on Saturday 6 February outside the National Museum and will end outside the Central Library. For more information visit the Cardiff Without Culture Facebook page
