A quick word of thanks at the end of a busy year.
It’s been another exciting year here at AM. A year in which we developed our work and partnerships to new directions, and where we seriously started the work of exploring how a digital medium can generate meaningful change to secure that our culture becomes more inclusive, accessible and community-based. There will be many exciting developments in this field during 2024.
But at the end of the year, we would like to thank all of the channels and partners that have continued to use AM as a platform, ensuring not only an ever-expanding and rich catalogue of content, but also the sustained growth of engagement with AM. Without the 300+ channels, there is no AM, and the amount of new channels again this year is a testament to how the platform has established itself quickly within the cultural life of Wales.
We have continued to develop this year and to introduce new features, which not only promote content but are a chance to promote in person events and expression – opportunities that are becoming increasingly scarce as our magazine and media industries continue to deteriorate. The success of features such as DEWIS, Music Videos and What’s On is heartening, as well as features with a more specific purpose such as Publisher of the Month and PRINT. The Communities section also reflects the central importance of community activity to Wales’s culture. We welcome any ideas for new features.
We would also like to thank our new Strategic Partners. Their contributions not only enrich AM’s content, but also aid us in ensuring that our values are apparent and are steering the platform’s direction, so a big thank you to Disability Arts Cymru, Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel, Egin, WAHWN and GISDA’s LGBTQ+ Club.
Thanks as well to Creative Wales and Welsh Government for their continued support, and in a special development this year, we’re looking forward to start workin with Arts Council of Wales in 2024 as one of their portfolio organizations which will receive multi-year funding. We would also like to humbly thank our Chair Ffion Dafis and our Board members for their guidance and their time.
But finally, thanks to everyone who has engaged with, shared, used and enjoyed AM again this year. There is an exciting strength in seeing an organic growth in a community that has shared and collaborated, and as a result has created something with the potential of changing things for the better, and permanently. Our challenge (and our privilege) is working to ensure that – for everyone’s benefit.
The report below expands on AM’s 2023.
So forwards, diolch and enjoy the holiday.