Wales’ renaissance is within our reach

THE arts have a vital role to play in kindling alight a true Welsh renaissance which will bring wealth to the culture and economy of our nation.

Creativity must be hard-wired into education and industry if Wales is to display the agility and ingenuity required for it flourish in a new era of technological change and potential political tumult.

Just as Apple – a company that put a value on design and aesthetics that its rivals would have once derided as eccentric frivolity – last month made history by becoming the first trillion-dollar public company, Wales should nurture the imaginative power of citizens of all ages and backgrounds as it strives to lift communities out of the shadowlands of deprivation and stagnation.

Wales is already lit up with beacons of creative panache. Performances at the Wales Millennium Centre can equal the excellence of anything taking place in the world’s most illustrious venues, Hay-on-Wye is a splendid fixture in the global literary circuit, the Green Man Festival was recently lauded for its “cosmic rock and communal wonderment” and the National Eisteddfod is a cultural phenomenon with the potential to enchant visitors from across Europe and far beyond.

In the age of Google, Amazon and Netflix, there is a hunger for unique encounters with human artistry. Just as Wales’ great unspoiled landscapes give tourists the opportunity for adventure, so our painters, musicians, authors and actors can expand personal horizons.

But art is also of crucial importance for the people of Wales. It is through artistic creations that communities and individuals express their concerns, joys and terrors, thus fostering understanding and empathy.

At a time of rapid and profound change, it is more important than ever that people are encouraged, trained and empowered to tell their stories.

Phil George, the chair of the Arts Council, is right to say that “too many people are effectively denied the opportunity to enjoy, take part or work in the arts”.

Unlocking creativity involves supporting and celebrating not just institutions but individuals, and it is encouraging to hear Mr George pledge that “we’ll be more curious about the many different places where excellence can be found”.

Art need not be self-indulgent or parochial. The pursuit of beauty here is a noble endeavour which can enrich and excite our world.