Policy Review: English medium writing in Wales

National Assembly of Wales

Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee

Comments by Gwynedd Council Culture and Leisure Department

1.The contribution of English medium books and writing in Wales to the culture of Wales.Wales has one of the richest literary traditions in Europe and is more a nation of the spoken word and than written word than is portrayed by the stereotypical 'land of song’ image. Despite the fact that Welsh people have been writing in English for over five hundred years, there was no awareness of Welsh literature in the English language until the beginning of the last century. This in response to anti-Welsh policies and attitudes in the wake of immigration to the areas of heavy industry.English medium writing in Wales is therefore a fairly new voice compared to the Welsh medium tradition, but with that language now the language of the vast majority, the contribution of English medium literature is vital to the nation’s culture. Literature aids people in the development of key skills - literacy, expression, and independence of thought and initiative. Literature enriches a nation’s self-respect by encouraging a feeling of identity and its various cultures. This variety is Wales’ strength and weakness and because of the obvious difficulties, the help and support of an institution such as the National Assembly is needed to ensure that they enjoy a prosperous future. 2. Means of supporting writers in Wales including playwrights and scriptwritersThe situation of writers in Wales in both languages is very similar to that in other small countries and/or minority cultures. While their contribution to national cultural institutions is enormous, only a few of them are able to make a living from writing. Again, as is the case with writing in the Welsh language - some make a living by writing scripts for the media but for the majority writing is a voluntary activity and if there is pay, that pay is relatively small.The means of supporting writers is already established in Wales through the schemes of the Wales Arts Council and the Academi eg: -

• Scholarships for new writers and those who have published their work
• Criticism service for new writers
• Mentoring opportunities with experienced writers
• Specialist workshops in specialist fields

Adequate funding is needed to maintain these support activities.3. Means of support for producing and marketing new writing including the private sectorSupport for those journals which publish the work of new writers needs to be maintained as this offers a valuable opportunity for them to reach an audience and for experimental work.A publishing scheme similar to the one which has already been established for Welsh medium literature needs to be established by additional funding ie without lessening the support for the Welsh language so as to support publishing in English.Publishers need to be encouraged to risk publishing more material in English which is not mainly targeted at visitors and those who are interested in Arthurian legends.A regular programme of translating Welsh literature into English needs to be established to broaden the audience but also to ensure a window for non-Welsh speakers into the culture of Welsh speakers.4. Means of raising public awareness of English literature and writers in WalesAn agency to promote literature already exists in Wales, the Academi, and the existence of such an agency and its support work needs to be ensured in all parts of Wales. Gwynedd Council has been working with the Academi since 1997 on a very successful Literature Promotion Scheme including activities to promote English medium literature and specifically to promote literature to young people.Public libraries are a means of offering free access to literature giving readers the opportunity to experiment with authors and books about Wales before considering buying them if they have the ability to do so. Promotion schemes such as Estyn Allan offer an excellent opportunity to reach a wider audience and one of the aims of that scheme is to draw attention to the provision of Welsh books available in English. Library resource budgets must be adequate to include sufficient copies of English medium books including copies of the 'classics’ as part of their core collections.The part that schools play in this key area to nurture readers for the future. To this end ACCAC and the WJEC have an important role in forming curricular and examination fields alongside all schools and education authorities in Wales. Giving children the opportunity to meet an author is very important and sufficient funding must be sought from the Travelling Authors scheme.It is vital for the future of literature of all kinds that new writing is nurtured and the area needs to be given priority. A second priority is support for the classics and this could be done mainly through the libraries and schools to ensure basic sales for them so that they are available to the public through bookshops.