At the heart of our approach to culture and sport is a commitment to offer opportunities to the many and not the few.

From day one we have demonstrated our commitment to the Welsh language with concrete and practical action. With Labour, the Welsh language is safe and will be given the support it needs to flourish.

Supporting the Welsh language

• An extra £28m invested in direct support for the Welsh language between 2003 and 2006, demonstrating Labour’s continued support for a two language future for Wales.
• Iaith Pawb launched – the first ever national action plan for the Welsh language.
• Twelve local Language Action Plans established across Wales.
• The number of Welsh speakers is rising, bucking the international trend for minority languages. Approaching 1 million people live in households with at least one person who can speak Welsh fluently.
• For the third time in succession, census results show an increase in the number of people under 35 who speak Welsh. The figure today is 26% - up by 9% from 1991.
• Thanks to Labour’s investment, there are seven more Welsh medium primary schools than just two years ago – taking the total to 455.
• There are 1,700 more children being taught in Welsh medium primary schools – taking the total to over 52,000.
• Launched a Language Homework Support Line to offer practical help to parents with children in Welsh-medium and bilingual education.
• Introduced the Welsh for Adults scheme, one of the largest adult learning schemes in Wales and demonstrating how the language is flourishing with Labour.
• Launched six dedicated language centres to support Welsh learning for adults.
• Labour Assembly Government funding to deliver the Welsh Language Board’s Welsh First Campaign. Held in ten towns across Wales, 10,000 people and 200 businesses took part in the scheme.
• Labour investment is helping the Eisteddfod to flourish. In 2006, Labour in the Assembly gave nearly £500,000 in financial support to the Eisteddfod.

A vibrant, open culture

• For the first time ever investment in the arts, culture and sport has grown to more than £150m.
• Introduced free entry to museums and galleries in Wales. In the first year alone this led to an 87% increase in visitors – with these increases sustained over subsequent years.
• Funding and support for the Wales Millennium Centre, giving Wales an international icon for arts and culture. So far, more than 1 million people have visited the scheme and has attracted some of the most high-profile West End and Broadway productions.
• Funding to establish the National Waterfont Museum in Swansea and to improve the Big Pit coal mining museum. Backed by Labour investment both have become world-class attractions and showcases for Wales’ industrial heritage.
• Extra investment in the visual arts in Wales. More than 4,000 artists have taken part in exhibitions over the last year.
• Capital investment has brought new venues across Wales such as Y Galeri in Caernarfon, and Riverfront in Newport – funded by the Labour’s “Arts Outside Cardiff” programme.
• Labour’s funding in the arts has seen successful local projects regenerated across Wales, for example in Merthyr Tydfil, Milford Haven, Aberystwyth and Cardigan.
• £100,000 pledged to a new art gallery in Anglesey dedicated to the work of Sir Kyffin Williams.
• Continued support from Labour in the Assembly to the National Botanic Garden, Hay Festival of Literature, Faenol Festival and Brecon Jazz festival.
• Introduced and funded the Night Out Scheme, to take professional productions into local communities. More than 7,000 people have attended from Communities First areas and there have been more than 30,000 attendances in total.
• Established the Dylan Thomas International Literary Prize, invested £140,000 in the first two Artes Mundi Competitions and supported the Wales Pavillion at the Venice Biennale.

A 21^st century library service

• Labour’s investment and support has seen the library service in Wales continue to prosper. Since 2002 there has been a 22% increase in library visitors and a 45% increase in the amount spent on library materials.
• Over the last year there was an 84% improvement in the delivery of ICT resources and services.
• All libraries in Wales are now connected to the internet. They all deliver free electronic information services and free access to the online family history service from all Archive Services.
• A £2.5m capital fund established to boost investment in our library network.
• Investment in the Library of Wales collection – the reprinting of a number of Welsh classics in English, making them available to a new generation of readers.
• Support for a new state of the art multimedia theatre at the National Library of Wales for films and live performances.

Tourism and creative industries

• The merger of the Wales Tourism Board with the Assembly Government will give the tourism industry the world-class business support it needs to be successful.
• Labour is building a successful creative industry in Wales, a sector which employs more than 17,500 people and contributes more than £400 million a year to the Welsh economy. We have published the first ever Creative Industries Strategy.
• Marketing by the Labour Assembly Government has generated more than £55m additional tourism revenue for Wales – far exceeding the target of £6.5m.
• 30,000 new buildings in Wales have been listed for their special architectural or historic interest.
• Since April 2003, £8.5 million has been given in grants to enable essential repairs for our historic buildings and ancient monuments.
• Funding for sensory interpretation at Plas Mawr in Conwy and Castell Coch to help people with sensory impairment enjoy our historic buildings.

Sport and healthy lifestyles

• Introduced free swimming for pensioners in all local council swimming pools. As a result there has been a 20% increase in the number of people over 60 swimming. On average, there are 40,000 free swims every month across Wales.
• Free swimming in local councils during school holidays for school children. In the first summer holiday in was launched, there was a 108% increase in the number of free swims by young people and a further increase of 48% in 2005.
• A £4m investment from Labour in the Assembly to help to recruit and to train over 6,000 coaches across Wales. We are backing our elite athletes with £1.3m of funding every year to help them compete at the highest level.
• More than £1.2m assistance for Glamorgan Cricket Club over the next three years to help secure one of the 2009 Ashes Test Matches for Wales. This will put Wales and Cardiff on the map as a leading venue for international cricket.
• Labour investment helped to secure the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales in 2010. We have established the £2m Ryder Cup Legacy Fund to boost grassroots participation in golf.
• Climbing Higher sports strategy launched. Over the next 2 years this will be backed by a £12million investment in a series of programmes aimed at boosting grass roots community sports and activities and encouraging more people to lead healthier and more active lives.
• Major investment of almost £8 million in school sports launched to help meet our target of all secondary school age children doing 60 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. This will support extra-curricular activities such as rugby, football, netball, athletics, break-dancing and salsa.
• Labour Assembly and European regeneration cash has helped to create new mountain bike trails across Wales.
• More than £12m has been invested to develop local cycling and walking routes.