To build on the new partnership agreement between the Arts Council of Wales and the British Council, Wales Arts International has created this strategy to develop and grow the engagement of the arts from Wales in an international context. This strategy will guide us and our partners on our commitment to the following set of outcomes:
* More artists and cultural organisations able to work internationally with increasing visibility and recognition
* Wales contributing to and benefiting from the promotion of the UK's creative and knowledge economy
* More work attracted into Wales that stimulate the arts here and provide a benchmark for the indigenous arts sector
* Increased capacity by the arts sector in Wales to act internationally
* More investment and engagement within the EU
* More intercultural understanding leading to positive social change
* Increased profile for Wales and Welsh culture in the world.
We would like to thank everyone who has provided us with feedback during the consultation process, in particular the people representing every artform and area of Wales who participated in the Wales Arts International Forum in November 2007. Your reflections, responses, feedback and ideas have been invaluable in forming the basis of this strategy.
The partnership’s ability to develop, share and transfer knowledge and expertise between local and international networks as well as its ability to raise new funds for international work will be critical to its success over the period of this strategy. So will be the notion of excellence, for which international work is a good benchmark.
Developing an infrastructure that allows artists and arts organisations to take up a variety of international opportunities will be a priority of the WAI partnership for the next five years. This will mean focusing on three priorities:
i) Maximising international opportunities for the arts in Wales
ii) Increasing investment into WAI’s programme of activities
iii) Ensuring international impact and recognition for arts from Wales
To help us deliver the new strategy, the British Council has appointed Louise Wright to a new arts post in Cardiff. We are delighted to welcome Louise to the team and look forward to delivering the aims and ambitions of this strategy together so that by 2013 we will have achieved what we have set out to do.
Eluned Hâf
Director, Wales Arts International
