The Welsh Government is investing £53m to help Wales’ diverse culture sector deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The fund will be delivered jointly with the Arts Council of Wales and has a “cultural contract” at its heart to encourage greater diversity, staff retention and environmental sustainability.
In June the 海角视频 government said it was giving £59m to Wales as part of a £1.57bn package it unveiled for the arts.
Plaid Cymru questioned why not all the extra money was being used, and the Conservatives said they had "shortchanged" the sector.
Welsh Government said this came on top of the £18m portfolio package provided in April, which was delivered by the Welsh Government, Arts Council of Wales and Sport Wales.
The Cultural Recovery Fund will help protect organisations, individuals and jobs in the culture, including:
- Theatres
- Galleries
- Music venues, businesses and individuals
- Heritage sites
- Local museums, libraries and archive services
- Events and festivals
- Independent cinemas
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Lord Elis-Thomas said: "We’ve listened and worked with our partners across the cultural and creative sectors to put this second package of support together. I’d like to put on record our thanks for working constructively with us to deliver this support.
“We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the very fabric of Welsh life and we applaud the resilience and creativity on show.
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“This package will help support many in the sectors in responding to the pressures and challenges coronavirus has placed on them, it also presents a unique opportunity to deliver a step change – we will develop a cultural contract so that the sector can re-emerge stronger."
Conservative Shadow Minister for Culture, David Melding MS, said: "Rather than short changing the sector by £6 million the Welsh Government should have added to the funds now made available to Wales by the 海角视频 Treasury.
“Given the grave predicament the sector is in, the Welsh Government needs to reverse its decision and ensure the full amount reaches Wales’ arts and culture sectors to help keep both afloat.
“Although funding has been announced the Welsh Government is light on detail. The sector urgently needs to know how and when it can get access to this much needed funding.”
Siân Gwenllian MS, Plaid Cymru Shadow Minister for Culture, said: “While I welcome today’s news that £53 million has been promised to the Arts industry in Wales, I would question what has happened to the £6 million – within the space of a month, £59 million has been reduced to £53 million and not a penny has reached the sector.
“The Welsh Government must now work to distribute this money as soon as possible and for that, they need to be clear on how the sector can apply for these funds, and the exact timetable. Time is ticking.”