IN RESPONSE...

An Arts Council of Wales (ACW) spokesman said: “We don’t think that Mr Petersen’s view fairly reflects the process followed by Cadw and Welsh Government. Welsh Government created an open tender process for art work to be commissioned in the context of their Wales’ Year of Legends 2017 campaign.

“The open tender process invited submissions around a brief. The project is for a commission to be funded by the Welsh Government. ACW’s role was to assist with advice in setting up the process and selecting the work. The selection panel consisted of one member from ACW and other members representing Visit Wales and Cadw. The tender brief clearly reflected the historic and landscape context, and the open tender process elicited submissions from which the panel made its choice.

“ACW is scrupulously accountable in the public domain about all aspects of our work and we do not recognise Mr Peterson’s portrayal of us. We are the funding a development agency for the Arts in Wales and the council is proud of achievements to support and nurture Welsh culture which are a matter of public record; all our annual reports are available from our website. Our mission of ‘making the arts central to the life and well-being of the people of Wales’ is one that motivates all our work. That, if anything, is our mantra.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “As announced last week we have listened and recognise the strength of feeling around the proposed art installation at Flint Castle and feel it is only right that we now take a pause and review the plans for the sculpture. Our focus now is to work with the people of Flint and local partners on the developments, including a review of visitor facilities at the castle, so we can be sure improvements have the backing of the local community.

“The proposed sculpture was the winning entry in a fair and open competition. It was undertaken in accordance with EU procurement rules and was very much open to Welsh artists and sculptors.”