The Musicians’ Union (MU) is the trade union for musicians across the UK, with over 36,500 members active across all genres and areas of the industry. You can reach the Wales and South West England regional team via wswe@themu.org or 02920 456 585.

Growth and innovation

Introduce music/creative industries boards across Wales

Local authorities should be required to establish music or creative industries boards focused on bringing together councillors, council officers, and music industry representatives. These are simple, effective, and low-cost ways to support innovation, growth, and best practice that have already been successfully implemented across the UK.

Improve cultural connectivity

It’s vital that the work being done across Wales on strengthening connectivity, and public transport in particular, works to support the creative industries. Services must extend into the evening as an option for audiences leaving gigs and shows, to produce the maximum benefit for the public and our sector.

Strengthen support for the creative industries in Higher Education

There must be further financial and policy support for the creative industries across Higher Education in Wales. This will support growth and innovation across the creative industries, which depend on high quality training and research, as well as the jobs in Higher Education that help to sustain the workforce.

Increase annual funding for culture, arts, and creative industries, with multi-year support

Additional recurring funding across culture, the arts, and creative industries is vital to support jobs, skills, and excellence as well as community participation and health benefits. This must include a return to multi-year funding for arm’s length bodies as well as specific organisations and projects, to secure the greatest possible return on public investment.

Innovative and increased support for creative freelancers and small businesses

New funding schemes and additional support for creative freelancers, small businesses, and infrastructure – including new performance spaces – should be introduced, tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities in the sector to support growth and innovation.

Protect copyright for Welsh musicians

The new Welsh Government should take all opportunities to use its influence to protect Welsh musicians’ rights, particularly in relation to AI, and support the MU’s call for an AI Bill in the next King’s Speech to reform copyright law so that performers and creators benefit fairly from AI and streaming.

Music for all

Introduce a Culture and Creative Industries Bill to strengthen the sector

A Culture and Creative Industries Bill should be introduced that strengthens the place of arts, culture, and creativity across all levels of government and public bodies, reflecting their importance for national life. The Bill should include specific financial commitments and requirements to fully support the sector rather than simply seeking more with less.

Increased funding, sustainability, and recognition for music education and the National Music Service Wales

It’s vital there is additional investment in music education across Wales, with a particular focus on strengthening the sustainability and recognition of the National Music Service Wales, including improving terms and pay for visiting music teachers.

Reinstate junior conservatoire provision with a music and dance scheme for Wales

It is essential that junior conservatoire provision is re-established in Wales, as the only part of Britain that is currently missing this offer to young people. This should happen alongside a new funding scheme for Wales to mirror the existing music and dance scheme in England, which would make access to this provision more affordable and accessible while supporting the junior conservatoire financially.

Local and international success

Support live performances

Support for performances across Wales should be introduced to ensure that everyone is able to access live music near to them, with reference to artist-centred schemes such as the UK Artists Touring Fund (UKAT). This would support performers, talent and audience development, economic growth, and performance spaces across all parts of the nation.

Create a Welsh Music Export Office and international touring support

A Welsh Music Export Office should be established as part of work to increase practical and financial support for exports and international touring, both in the EU and further afield, to capture cultural and economic benefits.

Focus on music for tourism and visitor levy investment

Performances and festivals across Wales, such as Green Man, Focus Wales, and Cardiff City Music Festival, should be a focus for Welsh tourism. Music should also be a priority for investment from any visitor levy revenue to encourage further tourism.

A sustainable culture sector

Protect and invest in national institutions

National cultural institutions, including performing groups and venues, have been under threat for some time but need to be recognised, protected, and invested in due to their importance for the workforce and sector more broadly. This must be recognised as a core aim and responsibility of the Welsh Government that is not delegated to arm’s length bodies or local government.

Expand social partnership and fair work initiatives

Work must continue to embed social partnership and fair work principles and processes across music and the broader creative industries, including the new Arts, Creative, and Media Sector Social Partnership Working Group.

Culture and Creative Industries Minister attending cabinet

There must be a place for a Culture and Creative Industries Minister to attend cabinet so that this vital area of Welsh public life can be considered and supported appropriately, with all parts of the sector brought together in one portfolio.

Extend funding for union learning, equality, and wellbeing programmes

Workers across the creative industries, including musicians, benefit from training and projects supported by the Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) and the Future-Ready Workforce Programme, particularly through the joint union project Cult Cymru (Creative Unions Learning Together). These programmes should be extended to support individual professionals in line with national priorities.

Strengthen Creative Wales

The excellent work by the Creative Wales team since 2020 must be continued and strengthened to support further inward investment and growth in the sector, as well as long-term policy work across Wales.

Maniffesto Undeb y Cerddorion: Etholiadau’r Senedd 2026

Undeb y Cerddorion yw’r undeb llafur ar gyfer cerddorion ledled y DU, gyda 36,500 a mwy o aelodau ar draws pob genre a maes yn y diwydiant. Gallwch gysylltu â thîm rhanbarthol Cymru a De-orllewin Lloegr drwy wswe@themu.org neu 02920 456 585.

Twf ac arloesi

Cyflwyno byrddau diwydiannau creadigol/cerddorol ledled Cymru

Dylai fod yn ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol sefydlu byrddau diwydiannau creadigol neu gerddorol sy’n canolbwyntio ar ddod â chynghorwyr, swyddogion cyngor a chynrychiolwyr o’r diwydiant cerddoriaeth at ei gilydd. Mae’r rhain yn ffyrdd syml, effeithiol a rhad o gefnogi arloesedd, twf ac arferion gorau sydd eisoes wedi cael eu rhoi ar waith yn llwyddiannus ledled y DU.

Gwella cysylltedd diwylliannol

Mae’n hanfodol bod y gwaith sy’n cael ei wneud ledled Cymru ar gryfhau cysylltedd, a thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn benodol, yn gweithio i gefnogi’r diwydiannau creadigol. Rhaid i wasanaethau weithredu gyda’r nos fel opsiwn i gynulleidfaoedd sy’n gadael gigs a sioeau, er mwyn sicrhau’r budd mwyaf posibl i’r cyhoedd ac i’n sector.

Cryfhau’r cymorth i’r diwydiannau creadigol mewn Addysg Uwch

Rhaid cael cymorth pellach o ran cyllid a pholisïau i’r diwydiannau creadigol ar draws Addysg Uwch yng Nghymru. Bydd hyn yn cefnogi twf ac arloesedd ar draws y diwydiannau creadigol, sy’n dibynnu ar hyfforddiant ac ymchwil o ansawdd uchel, yn ogystal â’r swyddi mewn Addysg Uwch sy’n helpu i gynnal y gweithlu.

Cynyddu cyllid blynyddol ar gyfer diwydiannau diwylliannol, celfyddydol a chreadigol, gyda chymorth dros sawl blwyddyn

Mae cyllid cylchol ychwanegol ar draws diwydiannau diwylliannol, celfyddydol a chreadigol yn hanfo-dol i gefnogi swyddi, sgiliau a rhagoriaeth yn ogystal â chyfranogiad cymunedol a manteision iechyd. Rhaid i hyn gynnwys dychwelyd at gyllid dros sawl blwyddyn ar gyfer cyrff hyd braich yn ogystal â sefydliadau a phrosiectau penodol, er mwyn sicrhau’r elw mwyaf posibl ar fuddsoddiad cyhoeddus.

Cymorth arloesol a chynyddol i fusnesau bach a gweithwyr llawrydd creadigol

Dylid cyflwyno cynlluniau cyllido newydd a chymorth ychwanegol i weithwyr llawrydd creadigol, busnesau bach a seilwaith – gan gynnwys mannau perfformio newydd – wedi’u teilwra i’r heriau a’r cyfleoedd penodol yn y sector i gefnogi twf ac arloesedd.

Diogelu hawlfraint cerddorion o Gymru

Dylai Llywodraeth newydd Cymru fanteisio ar bob cyfle i ddefnyddio ei dylanwad i ddiogelu hawliau cerddorion Cymru, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â deallusrwydd artiffisial. Dylai hefyd gefnogi galwad Undeb y Cerddorion am Fil Deallusrwydd Artiffisial yn Araith nesaf y Brenin i ddiwygio cyfraith hawlfraint fel bod perfformwyr a chrewyr yn elwa’n deg o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial a ffrydio.

Cerddoriaeth i bawb

Cyflwyno Bil Diwydiannau Diwylliannol a Chreadigol i gryfhau’r sector

Dylid cyflwyno Bil Diwydiannau Diwylliannol a Chreadigol sy’n cryfhau lle’r diwydiannau diwylliannol, celfyddydol a chreadigol ar draws pob lefel o lywodraeth a chyrff cyhoeddus, gan adlewyrchu eu pwysigrwydd i fywyd cenedlaethol. Dylai’r Bil gynnwys ymrwymiadau a gofynion ariannol penodol i gefnogi’r sector yn llwyr yn hytrach na dim ond chwilio am fwy gyda llai.

Mwy o gyllid, cynaliadwyedd a chydnabyddiaeth i addysg cerddoriaeth a Gwasanaeth Cerddoriaeth Cenedlaethol Cymru

Mae’n hanfodol bod buddsoddiad ychwanegol yn cael ei wneud ym maes addysg cerddoriaeth ledled Cymru. Dylid canolbwyntio’n benodol ar gryfhau cynaliadwyedd a chydnabyddiaeth Gwasanaeth Cerddoriaeth Cenedlaethol Cymru, gan gynnwys gwella telerau a chyflogau athrawon cerddoriaeth gwadd.

Adfer y ddarpariaeth conservatoire iau gyda chynllun cerddoriaeth a dawns i Gymru

Mae’n hanfodol ailsefydlu darpariaeth conservatoire iau yng Nghymru, gan mai dyma’r unig ran o Brydain sydd ddim yn cynnig y ddarpariaeth hon i bobl ifanc ar hyn o bryd. Dylai hyn ddigwydd ochr yn ochr â chynllun cyllido newydd i Gymru i adlewyrchu’r cynllun cerddoriaeth a dawns presennol yn Lloegr, a fyddai’n ei gwneud yn fwy fforddiadwy a hygyrch i gael gafael ar y ddarpariaeth hon ar yr un pryd â chefnogi’r conservatoire iau yn ariannol.

Llwyddiant lleol a rhyngwladol

Cefnogi perfformiadau byw

Dylid cyflwyno cymorth ar gyfer perfformiadau ledled Cymru i sicrhau bod pawb yn gallu cael gafael ar gerddoriaeth fyw yn agos atynt, gan gyfeirio at gynlluniau sy’n canolbwyntio ar artistiaid – fel yr UK Artists Touring Fund (UKAT). Byddai hyn yn cefnogi datblygiad cynulleidfaoedd, doniau a pherfform-wyr, twf economaidd, a mannau perfformio ar draws pob rhan o’r wlad.

Creu Swyddfa Allforio Cerddoriaeth Cymru a chymorth teithiau rhyngwladol

Dylid sefydlu Swyddfa Allforio Cerddoriaeth Cymru fel rhan o waith i gynyddu cymorth ymarferol ac ariannol ar gyfer allforion a theithiau rhyngwladol, yn yr UE a’r tu hwnt, er mwyn sicrhau manteision diwylliannol ac economaidd.

Canolbwyntio ar gerddoriaeth ar gyfer twristiaeth a buddsoddi yn yr ardoll ymwelwyr

Dylai perfformiadau a gwyliau ledled Cymru, fel Gŵyl y Dyn Gwyrdd, Focus Cymru a Gŵyl Gerddori-aeth Dinas Caerdydd, fod yn ganolbwynt i dwristiaeth Cymru. Dylai cerddoriaeth hefyd fod yn flaeno-riaeth ar gyfer buddsoddiad o unrhyw refeniw ardoll ymwelwyr i annog rhagor o dwristiaeth.

Sector diwylliant cynaliadwy

Diogelu a buddsoddi mewn sefydliadau cenedlaethol

Mae sefydliadau diwylliannol cenedlaethol, gan gynnwys grwpiau perfformio a lleoliadau, wedi bod dan fygythiad ers peth amser ond mae angen eu cydnabod, eu diogelu a buddsoddi ynddynt oher-wydd eu pwysigrwydd i’r gweithlu ac i’r sector yn ehangach. Rhaid cydnabod hyn fel un o nodau a chyfrifoldebau craidd Llywodraeth Cymru sydd heb eu dirprwyo i gyrff hyd braich na llywodraeth leol.

Ehangu mentrau partneriaeth gymdeithasol a gwaith teg

Rhaid parhau â’r gwaith o wreiddio egwyddorion a phrosesau gwaith teg a phartneriaethau cymdeithasol ar draws y byd cerddoriaeth a’r diwydiannau creadigol ehangach, gan gynnwys Gweithgor Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol newydd y Sector Cyfryngau, Celfyddydau a Chreadigrwydd.

Gweinidog Diwydiannau Diwylliannol a Chreadigol yn y cabinet

Rhaid bod lle ar gael i Weinidog Diwydiannau Diwylliannol a Chreadigol fynd i’r cabinet er mwyn gallu ystyried a chefnogi’r maes hanfodol hwn o fywyd cyhoeddus Cymru yn briodol, gyda phob rhan o’r sector yn dod at ei gilydd mewn un portffolio.

Ymestyn cyllid ar gyfer rhaglenni dysgu, cydraddoldeb a llesiant undebau

Mae gweithwyr ar draws y diwydiannau creadigol, gan gynnwys cerddorion, yn elwa o hyfforddiant a phrosiectau a gefnogir gan Gronfa Ddysgu Undebau Cymru a Rhaglen Gweithlu sy’n Barod ar gyfer y Dyfodol, yn enwedig drwy Cult Cymru, sef y prosiect undeb ar y cyd. Dylid ymestyn y rhaglenni hyn i gefnogi gweithwyr proffesiynol unigol yn unol â blaenoriaethau cenedlaethol.

Cryfhau Cymru Greadigol

Mae tîm Cymru Greadigol wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol ers 2020, a dylid parhau â’r gwaith hwn a’i gryfhau er mwyn cefnogi rhagor o fewnfuddsoddi a thwf yn y sector a gwaith polisi hirdymor ledled Cymru.