Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Culture Sian Gwenllian has called on Welsh Government to clarify the support it will offer to the Arts sector in Wales after the Wales Millenium Centre confirmed it could remain closed until as late as April next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, putting 250 jobs at risk.
Sian Gwenllian MS said the news facing the Millenium Centre was “deeply concerning” and said the government should be more clear about the support it extends to cultural organizations across Wales.
She also made demands to the Westminster Government to be ready to provide a flexible approach through its Job Retention Scheme to the tourism and art sectors, which are very likely to suffer disproportionately due to the crisis.
Sian said: “The news about the Millennium Centre is deeply concerning and is reflective of the crisis facing the creative industry in Wales unless the Government acts.
“Welsh Government must tell us specifically what support they will be offering to institutions like the Millennium Centre and to other cultural organisations across Wales.
“Furthermore, the Westminster government must provide flexibility through the Job Retention Scheme to those sectors that will suffer disproportionately due to this crisis – such as tourism and the arts.
“The arts form a crucial pillar of the Welsh economy and they will play a key role in our recovery from Covid-19 – we must seek assurances that the Welsh Government is doing all it can to support the sector before it’s too late.”
