WAHWN News

Senedd Culture Committee discusses Culture Bill

On 6 November, the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee took an important step in shaping Wales’ cultural future, as discussions focused on the proposed Culture Bill and its path to becoming law.

The Well-being of Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker, gave evidence urging the Senedd to legislate for culture, stressing that “culture should not be a postcode lottery.” He called for public bodies - from local authorities to health boards - to embed cultural engagement in their everyday work. His argument builds on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, advocating cultural well-being should sit alongside economic, social, and environmental priorities.

The proposed Culture Bill would introduce statutory duties on public bodies to promote access to culture, tackle inequality, and strengthen cultural and linguistic inclusion. If enacted, it would ensure consistent provision across Wales and elevate culture as a driver of health, resilience, and community cohesion.

This direction strongly aligns with WAHWN’s Arts, Health and Wellbeing Manifesto, which calls for arts and culture to be central to prevention and public health strategies. Our manifesto highlights actions such as appointing a Cabinet-level lead for arts and culture, commissioning creative health reviews, and embedding arts-on-referral schemes—principles echoed in the Commissioner’s evidence.

The Committee’s consideration signals growing momentum for cultural legislation in Wales. WAHWN welcomes this progress and urges continued commitment to ensure the Culture Bill becomes a cornerstone of Welsh policy, unlocking the full potential of culture to support well-being and inclusion across the nation.

You can read the full transcript from the meeting here.