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The Listening Shell - A celebration of Tŷ Newydd

On Thursday, 10th of March, Welsh Poets came together on the Glanfa Stage, Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, to celebrate 21 years of Tŷ Newydd as the National Writers’ Centre for Wales.

This special event was also the South Wales launch of The Listening Shell: an Anthology of Poems for Tŷ Newydd.

The party began with a wine reception in Bar One. Academi and Tŷ Newydd then welcomed a medley of renowned Welsh writers to the Glanfa stage to perform their poetry from the anthology.

Among these special guests were Gillian Clarke, Peter Finch, Mike Jenkins, Graham Hartill, Nigel Jenkins, Catherine Fisher, Tony Curtis, Samantha Wynne Rhydderch and Philip Gross.

The Listening Shell was published in 2010 by Headland Publications, with a foreword by Gillian Clarke and edited by tutor and poet Gladys Mary Coles. Each poem connects with Tŷ Newydd in some way, having been written at the house, or inspired by the surroundings and spirit of the place.

'The poets here collected represent the world of poetry in Wales and in Britain. Many are its stars." - Gillian Clarke

This event was part of Academi's Literature Programme at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Sally Baker Awarded Academi Honorary Membership

During its meetings in 2010, Academi's Members' Committee agreed on a new Membership criterion. Previously, only writers could be awarded Academi Membership and Fellowship as a mark of recognition of their contribution to the literatures of Wales. A third criterion of Honorary Membership has now been created which can be offered to non-writers who have a meaningful connection with Wales and have made an exceptional contribution to its literary culture. This accolade is intended to mark those few individuals who have dedicated their lives to facilitate Wales' literatures.

Academi's Members' Committee felt that Sally Baker, the Executive Director of the Writers’ Centre for Wales at Tŷ Newydd, should be honoured in this manner. In 1989 Sally took a leading role in the setting up of Tŷ Newydd, where writers of all levels of experience go to develop their skills. She has spent the last twenty-one years at Tŷ Newydd, facilitating and encouraging writers in Wales.

As Academi's first Honorary Member, Sally was a guest at The Welsh Academy's 50th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner. This event was held at the Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff on Thursday, 24th of February, also marked the inauguration of four new English section Fellows, two of whom were after-dinner speakers.

For further information on Academi click here, and to see who is on the Members' Committee click here. For a list of Full English section Members and Fellows click here.

The Habit of Art - October 2010

Eight budding Welsh playwrights were given a unique opportunity to develop their skills thanks to a joint project with the National Theatre, London, and Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

The project was inspired by the National Theatre’s production of Alan Bennett’s new play, The Habit of Art, in which he creates an imagined meeting in later life between the poet, WH Auden and his once friend and collaborator, composer Benjamin Britten. The National Theatre performs the play at Venue Cymru from 12th - 19th October, 2010.

Applicants were asked to submit their ideas for a 10 minute piece of theatre involving a meeting between two people who could be real, fictional, historical or contemporary characters.

Thirty two playwrights sent in their ideas, which were judged by professionals from the National Theatre, London. The eight successful applicants* revised and honed their ideas and scripts, initially by e-mail, and then during an intensive residential course at Tŷ Newydd, Llanystumdwy, with National Theatre Director, Clare Slater and playwright, Kaite O’Reilly.

All eight pieces were rehearsed and then performed by National Theatre actors at Venue Cymru before the evening performance of The Habit of Art on October 16th.

The project attracted 4 bursaries to help some of these up and coming writers attend the course. Three bursaries were awarded by the National Theatre, London and one by Venue Cymru.

* The successful applicants were:
Julie Bainbridge
Chris Kinsey
Sian Owen
Alys Llywelyn-Hughes
Stephen Johnson
Aled Roberts
Bethan Marlow
Darren Jones