South <strong>Wales</strong> Valleys<strong>Literature</strong> DevelopmentLate in 2007-2008, Academi launcheda three-year project to encourage thecreation of new writing in seven authorityareas of south <strong>Wales</strong>: Blaenau Gwent,Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil,Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff andTorfaen. Groups and individuals who havenot been part of the mainstream writingworld were targeted. Academi worked withschools, libraries, arts development officers,reading groups, writing groups, universities,lifeguards, adult learners groups, AgeConcern Cymru and sporting bodies andclubs. The project is funded by the NationalLottery through the Arts Council of <strong>Wales</strong> andby participating local authorities.Working with young people and schools iscrucial to literature promotion and a numberof projects have used sport as a mediumfor engagement. Funding from ReadingIs Fundamental, a National Literacy Trustproject, ensured that 827 children in theWelsh Valleys received free sports-relatedbooks. Groups and schools had visits fromScott Quinnell, Cardiff City Football in theCommunity Team and The Gwent Dragons.They also enjoyed creative writing sessionswith Peter Read, Mike Jenkins, Phil Carradice,Mike Church and Daniel Morden. Surf Cultwas an innovation where Rest Bay Lifeguardsworked with author Tom Anderson andillustrator Dom Williams to create an audiovisual DVD graphic novel. This was previewedat the Surf Cult Exhibition in Porthcawl inSeptember 2008. Working with Arriva Trainsenabled school children to create verse tomark the opening of the new Cardiff-EbbwVale railway. One poem is now a poster onthe trains. Ifor ap Glyn and Grahame Daviesalso worked with Merthyr’s Welsh-languageWriting Squad.In co-operation with Age Concern Cymru,a project linked housebound writers whouse the Rhondda Cynon Taff Mobile Library.Tutor Peter Read helped create and recordpoems on Life As We See It Now. The poemsappear on the Gwanwyn website and onewas chosen by broadcaster Ian McMillan tobe celebrated at the launch of the Festival inSt Donat’s Arts Centre in spring 2008.In summer of 2008, creative writing workshopslinked an adult learner’s group and SureStart Families in Abergavenny with theAbergavenny Food Festival. Ric Hool,Jeff Rees and Mike Church worked with thegroups to create and perform a collectionof food-related poems and rhymes. Thesewere performed on the main stage in theCastle during the Festival.Two conferences reached across all theauthorities in the region. Space, Time,Machine and Monster, a Sci Fi, Fantasyand Horror Conference was introducedby Professor Mark Brake, originator of the‘Science, Fiction and Culture Course’ at theUniversity of Glamorgan. He led a day ofpresentations from authors including JasperFforde, Philip Gross, Tim Lebbon, SteveLockley, Stephen Volk, Catherine Fisher, RhysHughes, Louis Savy, Terry Cooper, Dr DimitraFimi, Andrew Cartmel and Rev Neil Hook.Writing Aloud showcased Welsh publishersand authors. Contributors included romanticnovelist Catrin Collier and broadcaster andauthor Mavis Nicholson, along with PaulHenry, Steve Lockley, Paul Manship, DellaGalton and Catherine Fisher. Some of <strong>Wales</strong>’sleading publishers were there, among themAccent Press, Pendragon Press, Pont Books,Seren and Screaming Dreams. CPD Printersexplained the process of turninga manuscript into a book.In December John Bilsborough worked witha group of retired people to create andrecord a poem exploring memories ofChristmas past. Aneirin Karadog worked witha teenage group supported by BridgendYouth Service to create a modern rapresponse to the Mari Lwyd. Both pieceswere performed as part of the New Lighton Bridgend Festival. The project has alsosupported a series of masterclasses, tastersessions and readings with creative writingand reading groups. Authors have includedCarol Ann Duffy, Roger Granelli, Peter Read,Cheryl Beer, John Davies, Jeff Rees, RobMiddlehurst, Anita Flowers and Paul Henry.January 2009 saw the launch of the AllSkilled Up project in partnership with CardiffCity Football Club in Blaenau Gwent andTorfaen. Pupils worked to create a newfootball poem. They also explored a rangeof football techniques as part of their guidedtour around the grounds of the club. Theproject connects football and language skills.Boxing Beats which partners WNO MAX andauthor Louise Walsh began in March 2009.
The Welsh AcademyAnnual Report19Writing Aloud in LlanhillethBardd Plant CymruBardd Plant Cymru is a joint venture betweenAcademi, S4C, Welsh Books Council and UrddGobaith Cymru. At a ceremony on the mainstage of the Eisteddfod yr Urdd in Conwy,Poet and performer Ifor ap Glyn took overfrom Caryl Parry Jones as Bardd PlantCymru for 2008.Ifor’s background as a television presenterand producer influenced the way heundertook his workshops. Using old filmimages of slate miners, he lead children tocreate poetry inspired by abstract imagesand to think again about the way they usewords. He visited 20 schools throughout<strong>Wales</strong>, and was presented as Bardd PlantCymru on the public stage several times,including a high-profile event in Brusselsin March 2009. His year’s highlight wasa new poem welcoming Barack Obamato the White House, which was widelybroadcast and published.Twm Morys was appointed as Ifor’ssuccessor from 25 May 2009.
Change language