Traditional Music Review

The Arts Council of Wales has commissioned a Review of the Traditional Music sector in Wales. The quality of our artists is exceptionally strong and traditional music is rooted in communities across Wales, with a deep connection to Cymraeg, culture and the land. Increasingly our traditional musics and artists are attracting international attention, and engagement with music is helping to support wellbeing and community development. This review provides a timely opportunity to look at how ACW can best support the sector and how the organisations active within the sector – across all levels – can work more cohesively on behalf of our musicians, communities and audiences.

Ours is a nation of increasing cultural richness and diversity, and so, alongside the traditional music OF Wales, this review will actively embrace the breadth of traditional musics IN Wales, so we wish to encourage practitioners, teachers and facilitators from across our diverse communities to offer their thoughts and speak to us of their particular needs. Likewise, we fully understand that people young and old are a part of this sector whether they enjoy listening to or performing at local folk nights, are learning an instrument, are accomplished musicians looking to build a career in folk music, or, indeed, professional musicians looking to build international connections and touring. And there are the facilitators of each of these moments of contact: venues, promoters, teachers, festivals, music libraries, traditional music and cultural organisations. We want to hear from you all, and over the coming months we will be reaching out to gather your thoughts and opinions in a range of ways, including an online survey and a series of face to face meetings in community venues across Wales and some online sessions as well.

Angharad Wynne has been appointed as Commissioner for the review and Tŷ Cerdd have been tasked with project managing the process. This team has an excellent track record of working consultatively across the music sectors of Wales.  Antwn Owen-Hicks, who has a wealth of personal and professional experience within the sector, will be the lead project manager on behalf of Tŷ Cerdd. The team at Trac Cymru will also be offering their expertise, experience and networks. Together, we look forward to working with you and others across the sector to deliver a thorough and collaborative process that will allow you to offer your views and share concerns and ideas for the future of this important sector.

Following the completion of the consultation process, we’ll combine findings and desk research exploring successful structures and strategies employed by other nations to support their traditional music sectors. This will then lead to a report of findings and a set of workable recommendations that will be presented to ACW’s Council in early 2025.

We would be very grateful for your time and engagement with this process so that we can work together to make the very best of this opportunity to reconsider and review how best to support the traditional music sector of Wales to flourish.

If you would like to offer your thoughts, insights and opinions regarding the traditional music sector of Wales, please fill in the form below and we’ll add you to our database for communication.