Literature Wales

Literature Wales is the national literature promotion agency and writers' society for Wales. It supports the development, visibility, and public enjoyment of literature in both Welsh and English, while also representing a broad literary community that includes writers, poets, translators, publishers, educators, performers, and readers. The organisation is a registered charity and operates as a publicly supported cultural body rather than a commercial publisher or conventional consumer brand. Its principal activities include grants and bursaries for writers, assistance with creative mentoring, literary events, lectures, workshops, community programmes, and guidance for people seeking to develop or publish their work. Through its Inspiring Communities programme, writers can be placed in schools, community groups, and other organisations to lead discussions, readings, and creative-writing sessions. Literature Wales also supports the wider literary infrastructure of the country by maintaining information about writers, publishers, periodicals, competitions, funding opportunities, and literary organisations. The organisation administers or contributes to several high-profile literary initiatives. These include the Wales Book of the Year competition, the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition, and the National Poet of Wales programme. It has also been involved in the Welsh-language Children's Laureate, or Bardd Plant Cymru, in partnership with S4C, the Welsh Books Council, and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. The Glyn Jones Centre at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff has provided a meeting and information space for writers and visitors, with resources concerning writing, publication, and the promotion of literature. Literature Wales developed from Academi Gymreig, a Welsh-language literary society established in 1959 after discussions involving Robert Maynard Jones and the poet Waldo Williams. An English-language section was added in 1968, creating a more explicitly bilingual institutional structure. The organisation became constitutionally independent in 1978 and was substantially reorganised in 1998 as a single body working across both languages. That reorganisation coincided with its appointment by the Arts Council of Wales to provide the national literature support service for Wales. On 1 April 2011, the Academi adopted the name Literature Wales and merged with Tŷ Newydd, the national writing centre in Llanystumdwy. Tŷ Newydd subsequently became the organisation's headquarters, while Literature Wales retained a Cardiff presence at the Wales Millennium Centre. The merger combined national literary development work with a residential centre focused on courses, retreats, and creative writing practice. The organisation has also undertaken major reference and publishing-related projects. With support from an Arts Council of Wales lottery grant, it produced The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, published by the University of Wales Press in 2008 in both Welsh and English. The work combines aspects of a gazetteer, biographical dictionary, historical reference work, and guide to Wales. Literature Wales is funded primarily through public cultural funding, especially support associated with the Arts Council of Wales, alongside contributions from local authorities, trusts, subscriptions, and income from trading or literary activity. Its role is therefore both developmental and representative: it funds and encourages individual creativity, brings literature into public and educational settings, manages national literary titles and awards, and promotes Wales as a bilingual literary culture.

Literature Wales traces its institutional origins to Academi Gymreig, a Welsh-language literary society established in 1959. The organisation followed a public discussion between Robert Maynard Jones and the poet Waldo Williams and initially concentrated on Welsh-language literary culture. Its early leadership included the scholars and writers Iorwerth Peate, T. J. Morgan, and J. E. Caerwyn Williams. From the outset, the society attracted prominent Welsh writers and academics. A major broadening occurred in 1968, when an English-language section was created through the initiative of Meic Stephens, then working as literature director of the Welsh Arts Council. Glyn Jones became the first chair of that section. He was followed by Roland Mathias, G. O. Jones, Sam Adams, Tony Curtis, Gillian Clarke, and Sally Roberts Jones. The Welsh-language section continued under a separate succession of chairs, including R. M. Jones, Alun Llywelyn-Williams, R. Gerallt Jones, R. Geraint Gruffydd, Gwenlyn Parry, Harri Pritchard Jones, and Nesta Wyn Jones. The Academi became constitutionally independent in 1978. In 1998 it was reconstituted as a single organisation operating through both Welsh and English. This reform gave the body a wider national remit and helped establish it as an institution serving the whole literary ecosystem of Wales rather than one language community alone. Around the same period, it won the Arts Council of Wales franchise to provide the country's national literature support service. The organisation's work expanded beyond membership and literary advocacy. It developed programmes for writers in schools and communities, provided financial assistance for writing and mentoring, supported competitions, and administered national literary roles. It also developed information services covering writers, publishers, periodicals, funding bodies, competitions, and opportunities. The Glyn Jones Centre at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff served as a public-facing resource and meeting point for literary activity. In 2008, with support from a lottery grant distributed through the Arts Council of Wales, the Academi produced The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Published by the University of Wales Press in Welsh and English, the encyclopaedia brought together geographical, biographical, historical, and guidebook functions in a major reference publication. On 1 April 2011, the organisation changed its name to Literature Wales and merged with Tŷ Newydd, the writing centre in Llanystumdwy. The change created the modern structure: Literature Wales as the national agency and writers' society, with Tŷ Newydd providing a residential setting for courses, retreats, and writing development. Literature Wales continued to maintain a Cardiff presence at the Wales Millennium Centre while its principal base later moved to Tŷ Newydd. Literature Wales has remained involved in national literary awards and appointments, including Wales Book of the Year, the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition, and the National Poet of Wales. It has also participated in the Welsh-language children's laureate scheme, Bardd Plant Cymru, with S4C, the Welsh Books Council, and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. The organisation operates as a registered charity. Its income is primarily associated with public cultural support, particularly the Arts Council of Wales, local authorities, and trusts, supplemented by membership subscriptions and revenue from trading and literary activities. In October 2022, Tŷ Newydd in Llanystumdwy was described as the organisation's headquarters, with a further office in Cardiff. Leadership also changed that year, when Leusa Llewelyn and Claire Furlong succeeded Lleucu Siencyn as chief executives.

• 2022

  Leadership and headquarters updated

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  Leusa Llewelyn and Claire Furlong became chief executives, and Tŷ Newydd was established as the organisation's headquarters.

• 2011

  Literature Wales name adopted

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  The Academi became Literature Wales and merged with Tŷ Newydd on 1 April.

• 2008

  Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales published

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation produced a bilingual encyclopaedia of Wales with support from an Arts Council of Wales lottery grant.

• 1998

  Bilingual organisational reformation

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was reformed as a single body working across Welsh- and English-language literature.

• 1978

  Constitutional independence

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  The Academi became constitutionally independent.

• 1968

  English-language section added

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  An English-language section was established through the initiative of Meic Stephens, widening the organisation's institutional reach.

• 1959

  Academi Gymreig established

  [1]Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org

  A Welsh-language literary society was formed following discussions involving Robert Maynard Jones and Waldo Williams.

National bilingual literature agency, writers' society, and publicly supported cultural development organisation for Wales.

• Writing centre · 2011

  Tŷ Newydd

  A residential writing centre in Llanystumdwy that forms part of Literature Wales. It provides a setting for writing courses, creative development, retreats, and exchanges between writers. Its integration into Literature Wales followed the 2011 merger and gives the national agency a physical base for intensive writer development as well as public literary work.

• Community literature programme

  Inspiring Communities

  A programme that facilitates and helps fund writers' placements in schools, interest groups, and organisations across Wales. Participating writers deliver literary lectures, discussions, readings, and workshops, extending access to literature beyond established cultural venues.

• Literary award

  Wales Book of the Year

  A national literary competition associated with Literature Wales and its predecessor, the Academi. It recognises notable writing connected with Wales and forms part of the organisation's role in promoting literary achievement and public engagement with books.

• National literary appointment · 2005

  National Poet of Wales

  A national poetry role administered by Literature Wales. The post gives a selected poet a public representative function and supports the visibility of poetry and literary culture in Wales.

• Children's literary appointment

  Bardd Plant Cymru

  A Welsh-language children's laureate scheme delivered in partnership with S4C, the Welsh Books Council, and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. It promotes poetry, reading, and creative engagement among children and young people.

• Literary information centre

  Glyn Jones Centre

  A centre based at the Wales Millennium Centre that provides space and information for visitors and writers interested in writing, publication, and literary promotion. It has also housed a substantial collection of Welsh-interest literature.

• Reference publication · 2008

  The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales

  A bilingual reference work produced by the Academi with Arts Council of Wales lottery support and published by the University of Wales Press. It combines geographical, biographical, historical, and guidebook elements in a comprehensive reference to Wales.

• Inspiring Communities

  Wales

  A community outreach initiative placing writers in schools, groups, and organisations to lead literary sessions and workshops.

  Outcome. Expanded access to writers and literary activity in educational and community settings.

  Source
• Welsh Journals Online copyright campaign

  Wales

  The Academi campaigned against aspects of the National Library of Wales digitisation project because it believed authors should be paid for permission to make their work available online.

  Source

• 2022

  Tŷ Newydd designated as headquartersStrategy

  Background

  Literature Wales maintained activity in both North Wales and Cardiff after its merger with Tŷ Newydd.

  Action taken

  The organisation made Tŷ Newydd in Llanystumdwy its headquarters while retaining a Cardiff office at the Wales Millennium Centre.

  Aftermath

  The move strengthened the organisation's base in Gwynedd while preserving its presence in Cardiff's major cultural complex.

  Source

• 2011

  Merger with Tŷ Newydd and adoption of Literature Wales nameM&A

  Background

  The Academi sought a modern identity and a stronger institutional base for writer development.

  Action taken

  On 1 April, the Academi changed its name to Literature Wales and merged with Tŷ Newydd.

  Aftermath

  The organisation combined national literary promotion with residential writing courses and established the foundation of its current structure.

  Source

• 1998

  Reform as a single bilingual organisationStrategy

  Background

  The Academi had developed separate Welsh- and English-language sections and was expanding its role as a national literature service.

  Action taken

  It was reconstituted as one organisation operating through both languages.

  Aftermath

  The reformed body took on a broader national support role and secured the Arts Council of Wales franchise for literature support.

  Source

1. 1Literature Walesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Literature Wales official websitellenyddiaethcymru.org