In 2022 the New Audiences Fund was established thanks to funding from Welsh Government through Creative Wales. In the following three years, £1.5million of New Audiences grants funded over 100 projects across Wales. Grants have supported individuals, publishers, and organisations in their work to strengthen and diversify the publishing industry in Wales and projects have focused on three main aims:
- Develop new authors, illustrators or contributors from culturally diverse backgrounds or under-represented groups from Wales, and provide them with the support and opportunities they may need to be published or work in the sector in Wales
- Target new readers by developing original content and/or using media or formats currently not funded
- Establish a new publishing business or publication that will strengthen and diversify the current offer in Wales
Creating lasting change
When we established the fund, we were looking for projects that would be catalysts for lasting change in our sector: creating opportunities, increasing representation and supporting businesses.
Here you can find out more about the projects that the grant has supported, creating jobs, supporting fair pay, facilitating collaboration, mentoring new voices and enabling the publication of new cultural materials.
The New Audiences funding has been a crucial support for the publishing industry during challenging times. Its success highlights the need for inclusive projects and demonstrates its positive impact on the industry. It also highlights the need for regular, long-term funding to develop a pipeline of talent and experience, to invest in our publishing infrastructure and to secure a publishing sector that reflects and benefits all of Wales and is open to all.
We are grateful to Welsh Government and Creative Wales for their support for this crucial area of work.
New Audiences Impact Report 2022–25 (PDF, 1.57 MB)
New Audiences projects 2022–23 (PDF, 505 KB)