Arts spending to rise 'year-on-year', culture minister says

The arts in Wales can expect "increased funding year-on-year", after years of being "in crisis", Wales' new culture minister has said .

Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan told BBC Wales the arts, culture and heritage sector did not get adequate support from the previous Labour Welsh government.

She said it was "clearly a priority" for new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, with her being given a seat around the cabinet table to represent it.

"We can't promise huge investment overnight, but I will clearly put together a plan where we can see that increased investment year-on-year," she told Radio Wales Breakfast.

Fychan said she would put together a plan, over the next 100 days, to support a sector which she said had been "siloed and under-funded" by Labour.

She said her portfolio, which also includes sport, had a significant role to play in the well-being of people.

Last year, a Senedd report found Wales had the second lowest spending per person on cultural services in Europe and the third lowest on recreation and sports.

The Labour Welsh government's budget for 2025-26 saw funding for culture, the arts and sport restored to 2023-24 levels.

However, that follows a period of cuts to the sector as the government prioritised frontline services including the NHS.

Fychan was named culture and sport minister on Wednesday, when ap Iorwerth announced the first Plaid Cymru cabinet, after the party's stunning victory in last week's Senedd election brought 27 years of Labour leading the Welsh government to a close.