People in Wales are being asked to choose the subject for the next major inquiry by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales.
The Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee spent the summer gathering ideas from members of the public and organisations, and has now drawn up a shortlist that people can vote on.
They are:
- Strengthening Citizen participation and access to Welsh politics;
- Saving local cultural heritage in Wales;
- The teaching of history in Wales, focusing on Welsh culture and heritage;
- Developing and promoting the ‘Wales brand’;
- The Welsh Government’s review of museums Wales;
- Supporting and developing unique and traditional art forms of Wales;
- Access and funding for grassroots arts;
- Supporting and developing those working in the visual and applied arts in Wales;
- Developing the music industry in Wales;
- Funding music education and improving access to it; and
- Bilingual support for deaf, hard of hearing and people with communication difficulties.
Chair of the Committee, Bethan Jenkins AM, said:
“This Assembly was created to move decision making closer to the people it affects. This is the next step on that road.
“People in Wales should have a greater say in how the Assembly and its committees go about their work.
“We have already had suggestions for a broad range of subjects. Two of those - the media in Wales, and the Welsh Government’s strategy for the Welsh language - will be taken on as early work for the committee.
“But we would like people to look over the list and tell us which ideas they think are important.
“We won’t be forgetting about the other ideas and we’ll look to include them at some point in the future. This poll is all about the public telling us what is most pressing – what should come first.”
Ms Jenkins formally announced the poll during a statement to the Assembly on Wednesday 28 September.
The poll will open on Monday 3 October and will run until 14 November. Details of how people can vote for their preferred subject will be released through the Committee’s Twitter account @SeneddCWLC and website: www.assembly.wales/seneddcwlc.