The Welsh Government will invest nearly £300,000 this year to create more opportunities for people to engage in culture and the arts and drive up volunteering in the sector.

Speaking at this year’s Heritage Volunteering UK Conference the Economy Secretary, Ken Skates announced that the Welsh Government’s successful Fusion programme, which engaged nearly 5000 people in culture and the arts in its pilot phase, would continue for another year as a result of £280,000 of Welsh Government funding.

Since its inception in 2015 the Fusion programme has delivered a huge range of projects to young people and adults that have enabled them to widen their horizons and increase their confidence, skills and qualifications by taking part in cultural activities.

It has seen young people taking over the running of museums and castles, famous artworks being taken into primary schools, and opera being performed on school buses.

And a range of adult volunteering opportunities in museums and arts bodies have helped adults to gain new skills and qualifications that in some cases have been a stepping stone into work.

The latest round of Fusion funding will support a new phase of the programme focused on partnership working in some of Wales’ most disadvantaged areas and concentrated on the priority areas of early years, employability and skills, learning and health and well being.

It will also work to increase opportunities for people to volunteer with cultural and arts bodies.

Speaking about the extension of the Fusion programme, Ken Skates said:

“We know that culture and the arts can make a real difference to people’s lives and can help to drive confidence, open up interests that can last a life time, increase skills levels and help people into employment and training.

The pilot phase of our Fusion programme was a real success, engaging nearly 5000 people in culture and the arts and enabling them to get involved in a huge range of projects.

I am therefore delighted that we have been able to extend the programme for a further year and will be able to provide £280,000 to local authorities, housing associations and charities to increase opportunities for people through culture.

I am also pleased to announce partnership between the Welsh Government and the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) who will work to develop and support cultural volunteering and the Kids is Museums charity who will continue their innovative, empowering work with young people.

Both will be focusing on those who are hardest to reach and stand to gain the most.”