Bias views on photographers from the Welsh Arts Council

I have just spoken to the welsh arts council with regards to funding I require in order to carry out a project this summer. I explained its historical and cultural relevance and how important it was to record such an issue. The nice lady I spoke to really seemed like she wanted to help, until I named my game - 'I am a documentary Photographer' I said. Upon saying such an evil sentence she returned this reply ' We do not give money to documentary photographers as its not an art form; it is journalism and there are to many of you out there. I know that photography is... you know, but we would not award the money for that I'm afraid... sorry, try a local paper or something like that to see if they will help'.

Now like I said, she was a nice lady and she does not set the rules, but, however, It seems a little bias that photography is shunned by local and national authorities and organizations; yet all other art forms are excepted. I even tried to explain that what I was doing was not photojournalism and would not be a number of images put together to create a narrative, but they are conceptual portraits. Alas, it was no use.

This whole process does concern me though, as living in Wales, I find it increasingly hard to gain any strong standing research or work surrounding such an important cultural issue as to the one I am trying to tackle and record. It leads me to think what else has been missed or lost in the past due to ignorance of a visual medium. I mean after all, I don't mean to sound like I'm putting down other art forms here, but not a sculpture, nor clay pot, nor poem, nor video installation would capture histories great tales like the photograph would, and does!

I'm not bitter about not getting the money [although it would have been nice and put an end to the search for financial help] but more towards the idea of what great work never makes it past the proposal stage... still at least the council commissioned some artist to make what looks like a giant stick and hoop and place it outside the city central library. THAT WAS WELL WORTH THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!