New legislation is required to help ensure that people throughout Wales have access to local arts and culture provision, according to a National Assembly report.

The cross-party communities and culture committee has recommended that a statutory duty is placed on local authorities to support the provision of arts 'experiences'. Less focus on purpose-built venues and more investment in community-based projects have been advocated by the committee in its report.

Committee chair Sandy Mewies said: "[Our arts and culture] are both an integral element of Wales' historical sense of nationhood and a modern driver of economic growth and community inclusion. "We believe that, despite the financial constraints, best practice can be adopted, arts and culture maintained and access improved for everyone across Wales and the measure we have called for would go some way towards ensuring that."