The Welsh Government is placing culture, creativity and technology at the centre of its international engagement strategy as Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan, embarks on the first transatlantic visit by the new administration.
Travelling to New York, Washington D.C. and Springfield, Massachusetts, the Minister will showcase Wales’s cultural influence and growing creative industries while seeking to create new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration with the United States.
The visit coincides with America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, offering an opportunity to highlight the historic ties between Wales and the US, while promoting Wales as a modern, innovative and attractive destination for American businesses.
As part of the programme, the Minister will present a special musical gift on behalf of the people of Wales at the Library of Congress, celebrating the shared heritage and enduring relationship between the two nations.
A key theme of the visit is “Building Digital Bridges”, designed to demonstrate how Welsh creativity, technology and culture can connect with audiences around the world.
During her time in New York, the Minister will meet Emmy-nominated Welsh actor Matthew Rhys to discuss the growing influence of the Welsh creative sector in the United States and the opportunities available for Welsh talent to develop international partnerships.
She will also meet representatives from the Gotham Center for New York City History at Fraunces Tavern, where discussions will focus on the successful collaboration with Welsh creative technology firm Sugar Creative on the Echoes of Revolution project.
Developed as part of the USA250 celebrations, the initiative combines storytelling, technology and digital innovation to engage audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. The project also highlights the strength of Wales’s technology and creative sectors to potential investors, businesses and cultural organisations in the United States.
The US remains Wales’s largest export market and most significant source of inward investment, with technology and creative industries playing an increasingly important role in that economic relationship.
Alongside cultural engagement, the visit has a strong economic focus.
The Minister will use meetings with business leaders, investors and trade representatives to position Wales as a destination where companies can invest, innovate and expand. The programme will showcase Wales’s skilled workforce, thriving creative and technology sectors, leading universities and distinctive cultural identity.
In New York, the Minister will meet the UK Trade Commissioner to the United States and engage with businesses interested in strengthening commercial links with Wales.
A Cultural Partnerships Reception in Manhattan will bring together Welsh and American businesses, arts organisations and strategic partners to explore future opportunities for collaboration.
The Washington D.C. leg of the visit will focus on public diplomacy and political engagement.
The Minister is scheduled to meet members of the Friends of Wales Caucus on Capitol Hill to discuss opportunities for deeper cooperation in trade, culture and investment.
She will also visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York ahead of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, paying tribute to those who lost their lives and recognising the longstanding solidarity between Wales and the American people.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the Minister said:
“The United States is one of Wales’s most important international partners, and this visit is an opportunity to build on that relationship and create new opportunities for people and businesses in Wales.
“Our culture is one of our greatest assets. It gives us a unique platform to build relationships, open conversations and create new economic opportunities. From music and our shared history to the world-class digital and creative talent working in Wales today, we have a compelling story to tell.
“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we will celebrate the deep and enduring links between our nations, while looking firmly to the future.
“We want American businesses to see Wales not just as a place with which they can trade, but as a place where they can invest, innovate and grow. This visit is about building those digital, cultural and economic bridges for the years ahead.”
Following engagements in New York and Washington, the Minister will travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, to attend the North American Festival of Wales.
The event brings together Welsh communities from across North America to celebrate Welsh culture, language, music and heritage. It will also provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the Welsh-American community and explore new cultural and economic partnerships.
Through a programme spanning three major US locations, the Welsh Government hopes to transform long-standing historical connections into new opportunities for collaboration, investment and innovation, reinforcing Wales’s place on the international stage.
Image credit: iStock
