Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport
Welsh Government minister
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport is a member of the cabinet in the Welsh Government. The current officeholder is Heledd Fychan since May 2026. It was previously a non-cabinet role known as the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Welsh: Dirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth), accountable to the cabinet minister for the economy. Established in 2014, the last officeholder was Dawn Bowden from May 2021 to March 2024.
| Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport of Wales | |
|---|---|
| |
| Welsh Government | |
| Style | Welsh Minister |
| Status | Cabinet Minister |
| Abbreviation | Culture Secretary |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | the Senedd, the First Minister of Wales |
| Seat | Cardiff |
| Nominator | First Minister of Wales |
| Appointer | The Crown |
| Term length | Four years Subject to elections to the Senedd which take place every four years |
| First holder | Ken Skates AM |
| Website | gov |
List
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Other offices held | Political party | Government | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism | ||||||||
| Ken Skates | .jpg) |
11 September 2014 | 20 May 2016 | Labour | Second Jones government | [1][2] | ||
| Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism | ||||||||
| Dafydd Elis-Thomas | .jpg) |
3 November 2017 | 2021 | Independent | Third Jones government | [3][4][5] | ||
| Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport
Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism | ||||||||
| Dawn Bowden | .JPG) |
13 May 2021 | 20 March 2024[6] | Chief Whip (–May 2023)[7]
Gained Tourism portfolio in February 2023.[8] |
Labour | Second Drakeford government | [3][9] | |
| Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport | ||||||||
| Heledd Fychan | .jpg) |
13 May 2026 | Incumbent | Chief Whip, Trefnydd | Plaid Cymru | ap Iorwerth government | [10] | |
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the post were:[11]
- Assist in establishing, growing, and developing businesses, by providing support (including export support) and advice
- Inward investment support
- Policy on international trade
- Information regarding entrepreneurship, enterprise and businesses
- Development Bank of Wales
- Economic Advisory Panel
- Council for Economic Development and Social Partnership Strategy Group
- Promoting Wales as a Business and Investment location
- Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and Swansea Bay City Deal
- Mid Wales Growth Deal and North Wales Growth Deal
- Manage economic development-related Welsh Government-owned property
- Services for business development and business skills
- Careers Policy and sponsoring Careers Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG)
- Policy and delivery of Apprenticeships
- Policy and delivery of Youth and Adult employability
- Learning providers based on work
- Sector skills
- Developing Workforce skills
- Skills and employment-related European programmes
- Regional Skills Partnership
- National Occupational Standards
- A responsible business practices, competitiveness and growth regulatory framework
- Foundational Economy
- The social economy and Social Enterprise
- The co-operative economy
- Science
- Science policy development, including regular liaison with the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales and the National Science Academy
- Life Sciences
- Research and Innovation, including knowledge transfer, research and development, and commercialisation, leading to the maximisation of innovation and research incomes, and Research Centres of Excellence
- Infrastructure for digital connectivity, such as the Public Sector Broadband Aggregation, and fast broadband and mobile
- Cross Government Digital and Data Policy & Strategy
- Major events
- Culture, the arts and creativity, including Creative Wales
- Policy on broadcasting
- Sponsoring the Arts Council of Wales and deciding its responsibilities
- Tourism in Wales (both within Wales and to Wales)
- Hospitality
- The historic environment of Wales
- Cadw
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
- Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
- National Library of Wales
- Developing a National Archive for Wales
- National Botanic Garden of Wales
- Elite sport
- Community sport, active recreation and physical activity, sponsorship of Sports Council for Wales
- The Valleys taskforce and programme
- 2014–2020 European Structural and Investment Funds
- Shared Prosperity Fund / Community Renewal Fund
The post-holder notably announced a registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales.[12] The post is accountable and deputy to the Minister for the Economy.[13]
