Ty Newydd . Llanystumdwy . Cricieth . Gwynedd LL52 0LW . Wales. UK . 01766 522811 . tynewydd@literaturewales.org

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News

Icelandic poet, Gerður Kristný, was the guest reader on "Breathing In",
a course tutored by American writer, Pamela Petro, and Welsh poet, Menna Elfyn.
She read from her epic poem "Bloodhoof" which won her the Icelandic Prize for
Literature in 2010.

(above photo: from left to right) Gerður Kristný, Menna Elfyn, Pamela Petro

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BBC Radio 4 showcasing New Welsh Writing from Tŷ Newydd
Tues - Thurs 21-23 June 2011 @ 1530 on BBC R4

These three stories were created on a Writing for Radio course at Tŷ Newydd, and showcase both new and established Welsh writers.

Ep 1 - A Very Private View by Peter Taylor
In A Very Private View, a young man in Vienna keeps company with one of the city's most famous doctors.
Peter Taylor's story is read by Ioan Gruffudd.

Director: Nigel Lewis

Ep. 2 - Translation by Julie Ma
Translation is Julie Ma's story about a young Chinese girl having to translate sensitive information for her mother.
It's read by Liz Sutherland.

Director: Kate McAll

Ep. 3 - The Wake by Francesca Rhydderch
A woman returns to Aberystwyth for her mother's funeral and finds the past is still very much present.
Beth Robert reads a story by Francesca Rhydderch.

Director: Willa King

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Natur Cymru’s £1,000 Writing Challenge: Inspired by Nature

Winner announced

John Harold is the winner of the Natur Cymru Inspired by Nature writing competition sponsored by WWF Cymru
and Tŷ Newydd. (Competition details: http://www.nature2010.org.uk )

Gillian Clarke, the national poet of Wales and one of the judges, commented: ‘I gave first place to John Harold for Fire-Fighting,
from whom I learned most. I enjoyed the unfolding story of fire in the heathland and mountains, its power to destroy, to regenerate.
Close behind was Frances Voelcker, for her observations on the changing natural environment of Graig Goch.’

Gillian Clarke will present John Harold with the £500 cash prize at the Hay Festival on 31st May and also present the £500 voucher
for a residential course at Tŷ Newydd to Frances Voelcker.

James Robertson, editor of Natur Cymru, commented ‘The judges were unanimous in agreeing on the winners of the two prizes.
Both were outstanding. First prize goes to John Harold for his original, powerful take on fire in the uplands. Second prize to
Frances Voelcker, for her thoughtful, lyrical exploration of her mountain’.

Andrew Forgrave, rural affairs editor at the Daily Post and the other judge, described the two winning entries: ‘Fire-Fighting
is an insider’s view of an issue that brings annual devastation to Welsh hillsides. Fire fighter or arsonist? Cleverly, the author
bides his time before coming clean, and rounds off the piece nicely with some personal perspectives. Graig Goch is a lilting piece
with a poetic quality. Lack of a strong narrative is off-set by some wonderful imagery and, at the finish, the writer’s bond with
her subject is clearly felt. Impressive, challenging writing by a gifted wordsmith.’

Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru, said: ‘WWF Cymru is delighted to have sponsored this year’s Natur Cymru writing competition.
We hope reading such talented work will enthuse others into discovering the wonders of nature and some of the threats which they face.’

The equal runners up in the competition and the titles of their articles are as follows:

John Woolner    Welsh Dragon
Merlin Evans    A Little Bird Told Me
Julian Jones      Re-Wilding My Town

The winning articles will be published in the summer edition of Natur Cymru which celebrates its 10th anniversary.

Prize giving at Hay will be on the RSPB stand at 3 pm Tuesday 31st May. www.naturcymru.org.uk

Kaite O'Reilly announced winner of The Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry. Click here for full details.

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 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.

The Taliesin Trust Ltd, which runs Ty Newydd, is a Company Limited by Guarantee (no: 2640639) and has Charity status (no: 1004108)