Untitled - Literature Wales

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Services for Writers- BursariesThis is the sixth year Academi has awardedWriters’ Bursaries. Gwen Davies continuedin her role as Chair of the Bursaries Panel.Fellow panel members Idris Reynolds,Catherine Fisher, Amanda Hopkinsonand Kathryn Gray continued in their roleas readers. Simon Rees from the Societyof Authors was Academi’s independentobserver. An advertising campaigngenerated 134 applications of which 24 weresuccessful. £95,000 was shared betweenAlex Barr, Joanna Davies, Euron Griffith,Jo Mazelis, Jeb Loy Nichols, Tony Bianchi,Meirion Jordan, Anthony Reynolds, CarolineRoss, David Llewellyn, Keri Finlayson, JohnFraser Williams, Llion Pryderi Roberts, DelythGeorge, Imogen Herrad, Robert Rhys, Elin apHywel, Kelly Grovier, Robert Lewis, JasmineDonahaye, John Williams, Hefin Wyn, Mary-Ann Constantine, and Vanessa Savage.Beacon Company AwardBursaries remain the single most effectiveway to help writers – they buy valuabletime and space in a world where both thosecommodities are increasingly rare.Kathryn Gray, who stood in as chair for theAcademi Bursaries Panel 2009 meeting,commented: “While the 2009 Bursaries Panelhas, despite financial constraints, managedto balance the competing needs of emergentand established writers, the pressure onfunds is evident: no major awards have beenmade this year. The Bursaries Scheme iscrucial in furthering the literatures of Walesboth in the short and longer term. Thereare grave concerns that, as the economiccrisis deepens, demand for bursaries willonly increase, while funds remain static –which could compromise the efficacy ofthe Bursaries Scheme in supporting thedevelopment of outstanding work from Walesand providing new writers, in particular, withan enhanced profile.”In November 2007, the Welsh AssemblyGovernment allocated £4.5m to be usedby the Arts Council of Wales to rewardcompanies or individuals who showedinnovation and excellence in the arts. It wasa privilege for the Academi to receive one ofthese 22 Beacon Company Awards in October2008, which secured funding to develop aprogramme of literary cultural tourism, toenhance the Young People’s Writing Squadsand extend the National Poet initiative.The Award covers two financial years,2008-2010.Additionally, money from the award will beused to develop a new database system.Two fixed-term posts have been created.Branwen Haf Williams was appointedProject Support Officer and Elena SchmitzProject Manager. Under the Award newYoung People’s Writing Squads have swiftlybeen established in Bridgend, Neath PortTalbot, Torfaen and Carmarthenshire andAcademi expects to see further new Squadsestablished in Wrexham and Rhondda CynonTaf. Academi is working closely with localauthority staff in areas where Squad activityhas been low or sporadic. In March 2009,extending the work already done by theWriters in their Landscape project (see earlierin this report) Academi launched a new seriesof Literary Bus Tours, focusing on six differentwriters in their landscape. These will runin 2009-2010.Tony Bianchi has also been commissionedto research the potential for extendingAcademi’s commemorative plaques installedin conjunction with the Rhys Davies Trust tocover Welsh language authors.
The Welsh AcademyAnnual Report25Services for Writers- Critical Service& MentoringDemand continued to rise for The CriticalService, which offers unbiased comment onthe work of authors. In 2008-09 five writerswere awarded mentoring places: AngharadPenrhyn Jones, Catrin Clarke, Robert Haines,Richard Jones and Mary Howell.Services for Writers- InformationThe Academi continued to respondin writing and by phone to enquiriesand to provide general information forwriters on the Academi website, whichcarries advice on many aspects of thewriter’s trade.The Welsh AcademyEncyclopaedia of WalesFollowing successful high-profile launchesacross Wales in early 2008, sales of both theEnglish and the Welsh editions of the WelshAcademy Encyclopaedia of Wales haveexceeded all expectations. In the first yearsince its publication, the Encyclopaediahas generated more income than originallyexpected. The Encyclopaedia is proving tobe the first and last big reference book ofWales that it was intended to be.All four Editors spent time at the 2008 HayFestival Literature in Wales stand, talking tovisitors about the project and signing copiesof the book. The editors have also beenengaged in what has become an ongoingtour of groups and societies in Wales,presenting lectures on the project. Theseevents have been supported by the Writerson Tour scheme.Special promotions continue to be successful,with a Christmas offer boosting seasonalsales. Copies can be bought through theAcademi website or its own designatedpages - www.encyclopaediaofwales.com.Promotion and MarketingThe ever-evolving Academi website hasexpanded in response to new technologiesand opportunities. Writers’s profiles nowcarry sound files, giving visitors to the sitethe chance to hear writers read their work.Recordings from a number of events havealso been uploaded, to give a taste of theperformance for those that could not bethere in person. A secure online paymentfacility is also being developed, which willenable people to pay their membership fees,subscribe to Taliesin, buy tickets to eventsand copies of the Encyclopaedia and otherpublications online.Subscribers to the Academi e-newslettercontinue to increase. As part of the boostto the Young People’s Writing Squadssupported by the Beacon Company Award,a special e-newsletter for squad members isalso being developed. The comprehensivelistings and information magazine A470continues to be published quarterly, anddistributed to Members, Associates, artscentres and other public distribution pointsacross Wales. Academi issued a survey withthe March/April/May issue (#52) to gaugeuse and readership of the magazine. Theresponse rate has been good and provideduseful feedback. The survey proved that,amongst A470 readers, the printed format isstill appreciated but that this is increasinglysupplemented by information fromdigital sources.Academi continues to employ professionaldesigners to create eye-catching promotionalmaterial and engages independent PRspecialists for major events such as WalesBook of the Year.
Page 2: Academi is the Welsh NationalLitera
Page 6 and 7: SomeDifficultiesPersistThe past yea
Page 8 and 9: PartnershipsWorking with other orga
Page 10 and 11: EventsLiterary events in their many
Page 12 and 13: landscapes which inspired three wri
Page 14 and 15: Choman HardiInternationalIn March 2
Page 16 and 17: SchemesAcademi’s literature suppo
Page 18 and 19: Tiffany Atkinson
Page 20 and 21: South Wales ValleysLiterature Devel
Page 22 and 23: Gillian Clarke, National Poet of Wa
Page 24 and 25: Peter Read as John TrippMembers’
Page 28 and 29: Gareth Miles and Dannie AbseWales B
Page 30 and 31: Reserves PolicyIt is the policy of
Page 32 and 33: - Support Ty Newydd in its annual l
Page 34 and 35: Staff and committeememberships- Pet
Page 36: Academi LiteratureActivity 2008-200

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