Wales trails behind most European countries in arts and sports funding, report finds
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Cross-party Senedd report finds Wales is third from bottom in spending on culture and sports, with Iceland biggest spender. It is known as the land of song and as one of the world’s most passionate sporting nations. But a report has concluded that despite its proud heritage, Wales is languishing behind almost all other European countries in terms of spending on recreational, sporting and cultural services.
The report from the cross-party Welsh parliament’s culture and sports committee found that Wales is third from bottom in government funding for recreation and sport, ahead of Poland and Latvia. For culture, Wales only outspent Greece. Iceland and Luxembourg were the biggest spenders in the two categories, while the UK as a whole – England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales – was fifth from bottom in both.
According to the report, the Welsh government spends £59.75 for each person a year on recreation and sport, compared with the UK’s £66.18, Iceland’s £978.51 and Luxembourg’s £483.46. Wales invests £69.68 per capita in cultural services and the UK £91.12. Iceland invests £691.60, Luxembourg £500.90.
The report calls for action and increased funding from the Labour-led Welsh government and for more recognition that investing in culture and sport can provide value for money by improving physical and mental wellbeing. Delyth Jewell, the chair of the Senedd committee, said: “For too long, culture and sport have been treated as ‘nice to haves’, facing relentless funding reductions that have left these sectors brittle and under-resourced. We must tackle this.
