Wales
Context
In Wales the creative industries are identified as a key driver of business growth, as is the role of culture. Welsh Language plays an important role in culture and identity.
Creative & Cultural Skills works closely with the Welsh Assembly Government whose recently published skills and employment strategy, Skills That Work for Wales, emphasises the need to integrate the economic development and skills agendas. Sector Skills Councils are charged to strengthen the employer voice in decisions on skills provision and to be the "strategic interface" between employers and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Creative & Cultural Skills receives advice and direction from a high-profile Wales Employers Skills Group. The Group is led by Judith Isherwood, who represents Wales on our main board. Members of the Wales Group come from across the industry sub-sectors.
| Judith Isherwood (Chair) | Chief Executive, Wales Millennium Centre |
| Sion Ashley-Jones | Managing Director, Golley Slater |
| Sue Balsom | Managing Director, FBA Group |
| Kaye Blanch | Head of Human Resources, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales |
| Chris Brown | Co-Director, g39 |
| Polly Hamilton | Head of Cultural Services, Rhondda Cynon Taf |
| Michael Houlihan | Director General, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales |
| David Lea | Partner, Stills Design |
| Stuart Neale | Chair, Fforwm Crefft Cymru |
| Pat Nelder | Technical & Development Manager, Theatr Clwyd Cymru |
| Dafydd M Roberts | Chief Executive, SAIN Recordiau Cyf |
| Chris Ryde | Wales & South West Co-ordinator, Equity |
| Anthony Shapland | Co-Director, g39 |
| Wiard Sterk | Executive Director, Safle |
| Humie Webbe | Project Manager, Jazz Services |
Our big challenge is in finding and keeping good quality staff. The performing arts sector within Wales is now recognising that all of us have to make a commitment to long-term training and development of staff. For us, Creative & Cultural Skills is a valuable umbrella under which to consider the best way to pursue that development.
— Judith Isherwood, Chief Executive, Wales Millennium Centre, Trustee of Creative & Cultural Skills
The three immediate priorities of the Wales Employers Group are:
- Creative Apprenticeships
Employer partnerships are in development to deliver the apprenticeships. A pilot in technical theatre is underway with the Wales Millennium Centre, Welsh National Opera and CAVA (Culture and Arts in Valleys Authorities) venues and Merthyr College. - Creative and Cultural Leadership
There is a need for a programme in Wales that will address the need for industry tailored leadership and management development, including business and entrepreneur development. It will include a range of delivery, taking account of industry preferred methods and support, for example networks, mentors and action learning. This programme will build on the pilot projects undertaken in Music Business and Cultural Heritage. - Continuing Professional Development
CPD is essential to the continual 're-skilling' of the creative and cultural workforce, to keep pace with change, be innovative, and meet the government’s ambitions for the industries in the wider economy. The successful Recharge CPD training programme, run in partnership with Equity and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, will be built on to provide more opportunities for the sector.
Case Study: Music Business Training
The aim of the Music Business training was to provide a higher level of music education than is currently available in Wales and assist in the development of the profession of artist management. The project was run in partnership with the Welsh Music Foundation and training, was undertaken by the Music Managers Forum. Aspects of music management covered included contracts, agreements, and relationships, artist management, music publishing and agreements and music sector marketing. It was funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and accredited by North East Wales Institute.
The course helped to increase effectiveness of business operation and also inform long-term planning. Participating music managers developed a greater capacity to exploit new opportunities and gained relevant knowledge and confidence to capitalise on opportunities presented by digital technology and other market developments.
As part of the project, WMF has organised a series of careers seminars featuring talks from music business managers who attended the course.
These seminars are running at Universities across Wales.