Hollywood Actor Matthew Rhys Criticizes “Stabbing” Arts Funding Cuts in Wales

Matthew Rhys, a Hollywood actor, has expressed his dismay regarding the severe “stabbing” reductions in funding for the arts sector in Wales. The Welsh native stated that the industry was “absolutely not” getting the necessary support to flourish, described its future as “very bleak,” and voiced concerns about diminishing opportunities for young individuals pursuing artistic professions. Earlier this week, Welsh ministers and Arts Council Wales revealed an additional £3.6 million in emergency funding aimed at safeguarding employment, a move they reported as “widely welcomed” by the sector. The Welsh government affirmed that the arts provide “a vital contribution… enriching our communities and inspiring future generations” and announced its intention to release a draft budget outlining its total expenditure next week. From a film set in New York, where he is currently shooting a Netflix series slated for next year, Rhys commented that the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff’s choice to shut down its junior conservatoire this year rendered him “speechless.” This closure will result in hundreds of children being deprived of music instruction. Rhys, a Cardiff native, is widely recognized for his performance in the spy series The Americans, which earned him a Primetime Emmy, and for his starring role in the recent television adaptation of Perry Mason. As an honorary fellow at the college, he periodically returns to address students and credits a visit there at age 16 with guiding him toward an acting career. He stated, “If there’s one thing I think Wales has always done well it’s the nurturing of art in the youngsters of Wales.” He continued, “There’s no downside to doing art of any kind in your youth. It only opens doors, broadens horizons and helps you, I believe, down the line. “And so to strip the primary funding, I think, is woeful.” He also found it “galling” that the arts have historically been considered secondary to scientific fields. “It’s a kind of blind ignorance that the arts are always, I think, treated as a second class subject to a degree,” he remarked. “What is worrying at the moment is how much the arts are being stabbed as we have seen with the Welsh National Opera (WNO) and National Theatre Wales.” He added, “I don’t believe institutions like these can survive, the way the government is currently treating them.” Helena Gaunt, the college principal, described the closure of the junior conservatoire as a “very difficult decision” that the institution felt compelled to make due to insufficient funding. She advocates for increased financial support for the arts. “We say a lot that this is a cultural nation, and if we want to continue to be a really cultural nation we have to invest in that – and that includes the college,” she stated. In the previous year, WNO experienced a 10% reduction from its request for standstill funding from Arts Council Wales, whereas National Theatre Wales had all its core funding withdrawn. Arts Council Wales’s allocation from the Welsh government saw a 10.5% decrease this year. Tim Rhys-Evans, the college’s director of music, mentioned that he often discusses with students their concerns about their future. “We have a lot of conversations about the state that the arts world is in,” Mr Rhys-Evans commented. “Are there going to be jobs for them when they leave here? I tell them the world is always going to need creatives.” He added, “The difference that we have made to the international arts scene is something that we all need to be really proud of, and make damned sure it’s still going to be here in generations to come.” Ms. Gaunt emphasized that it was “essential” for the college, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and for the broader arts sector, that funding levels be “rebuilt to former levels.” She asserted, “Much more can be achieved and contributed to our societies by relatively modest increases in funding.” The Welsh government stated: “The arts sector makes a vital contribution to our social, cultural and economic fabric – enriching our communities and inspiring future generations.” It further noted, “Our draft budget for the next financial year will be published next week.”