‘An Art of Our Own’: State Patronage of the Visual Arts in Wales, 1945–1967

Abstract

The formation of the Arts Council of Great Britain (ACGB) in 1945 marked the introduction of official state patronage for the arts in Britain. But while research has focused on ACGB's contribution to English cultural life, little has been written about its influence throughout the rest of Great Britain. This paper addresses this gap by examining ACGB's Welsh Committee's contribution to the visual arts in post-war Wales. It argues the Welsh Committee not only helped develop greater ‘knowledge, practice and interest’ in contemporary Welsh art, but also strengthened Welsh national identity, thereby illustrating the ‘plurinational’ character of British cultural policy.