From Council Estate to Bafta: How Free Arts Lessons Sparked a Star

Rakie Ayola, a well-known actress who won a Bafta award, has spoken about how free access to arts programs helped her become successful. Growing up on a council estate in Ely, Cardiff, Rakie came from a working class background where money was tight. She says that state-funded music and acting opportunities were crucial for her career. Rakie was able to join groups like the National Youth Theatre Wales, the South Glamorgan Youth Choir, and the Royal College of Music and Drama, all paid for by the council. These experiences helped her discover her love for acting and music. Today, Rakie worries that children from families without much money are missing out. She points out that joining a youth theatre now can cost £25, and ballet or instrument lessons also require payment. Rakie says she was lucky because her school provided instruments and lessons for free, without asking her parents for money. She wonders how children whose parents cannot afford these fees will ever get the chance to try the arts.

The Welsh National Opera, or WNO, is an organization that tries to make music and acting more accessible to children. Adele Thomas, one of the co-directors of WNO, says that it is becoming almost impossible for children from working class backgrounds to get involved in the arts. The WNO has faced budget cuts, losing a quarter of its funding since 2022. Because of this, they have had to reduce the size of their chorus and cut back on some programs. Adele Thomas believes that without more investment, fewer young people will be able to access the arts, and the number of people from working class backgrounds will keep dropping. She says that not only do organizations need more funding, but the whole system needs more support to survive.

At Gwaunmeisgyn Primary School in Beddau, Rhondda Cynon Taf, students have benefited from WNO's educational programs. Their teacher, Bethan Jones, says that working with a professional opera singer has really engaged the children and helped them become more confident. Some students who were usually quiet started to come out of their shells. The program also gave Year 6 students the chance to visit the Millennium Centre, where they learned about jobs like lighting and sound, as well as performing on stage. The Welsh government says it has increased its spending on culture by 8. 5 percent this year and has tripled investment in venues compared to ten years ago. They have published a draft budget for 2026-27 with over £33. 5 million for the arts, and they spend more than £200 million on culture and cultural programs across different departments. This includes support for education, the Welsh language, and youth organizations like the National Music Service and the summer reading challenge at libraries. Rakie Ayola and others hope that with more support, all children will have the chance to explore the arts, no matter their background.