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| Literature Wales | |
|---|---|
| Name | Literature Wales |
| Formation | 1998 (merger); rebranded 2011 |
| Type | Arts charity; national company |
| Headquarters | Cardiff, Wales |
| Region served | Wales |
| Leader title | Chief Executive |
| Leader name | Hanan Issa |
| Parent organisation | Books Council of Wales (historical) |
Literature Wales is the national charity dedicated to promoting Welsh literature in both English language and Welsh language across Wales and internationally. It supports writers, publishers, translators, festivals, libraries and schools, acting as a nexus between creative practitioners such as Dylan Thomas, R. S. Thomas, Gillian Clarke and newer figures including Alys Conran, Caryl Lewis and Maxine Peake while liaising with bodies like Arts Council of Wales, British Council, Welsh Government, and cultural venues including National Museum Cardiff and Wales Millennium Centre.
Literary development in Wales has roots in medieval institutions such as the court of Gruffudd ap Cynan and bardic traditions exemplified by the Eisteddfod and figures like Guto'r Glyn; modern structures evolved through 20th-century organisations including the Books Council of Wales, the Welsh Arts Council, and the Society of Authors. The organisation formed from mergers aiming to unify support previously provided by entities associated with Swansea University, Cardiff University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and local arts organisations in towns such as Newport, Bangor, Wrexham and St Davids. Its rebranding and strategic plans have intersected with national policy documents such as initiatives by Welsh Government Ministers and frameworks influenced by the Creative Wales agenda, adapting after reviews involving stakeholders like Arts & Business Cymru and trade unions such as Unison.
The body operates as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee with a board drawing trustees from sectors represented by figures linked to institutions including National Library of Wales, Royal Literary Fund, British Library, Wales Arts International and higher education partners like Cardiff Metropolitan University. Senior management roles have been held by directors with experience in associations such as Publishers Association, Society of Authors in Wales and festival programming teams for events like the Hay Festival, Swansea International Festival and Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Financial oversight interfaces with auditors and funders such as the Big Lottery Fund and private patrons associated with estates of writers like Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas Trust.
Funding streams include grants from the Arts Council of Wales, project awards from the Arts Council England in cross-border work, sponsorship from publishing houses such as Seren Books, Parthian Books, Canongate Books and partnerships with broadcasters BBC Cymru Wales and S4C. Activities comprise commissioning residencies linked to venues like Ty Newydd Writing Centre and support for translation projects involving translators associated with Literary Translation Centre and prize juries from organisations such as the Man Booker Prize and Costa Book Awards panels. Collaborative international exchanges have connected Wales with institutions like the Goethe-Institut, Institut Français, US Embassy in London and festival circuits including Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The organisation administers and supports prizes and bursaries alongside national competitions such as those operated by the Urdd National Eisteddfod, regional awards coordinated with Cardiff Book Festival and partnership prizes linked to publishers like Bloomsbury and Faber and Faber. It also manages fellowships and writers’ grants similar to schemes run by the Royal Society of Literature and regional bursaries comparable to awards from the Peterloo Poets network and the Tŷ Newydd Residency Programme.
Publications have included anthologies, pamphlet series and online portfolios produced in cooperation with presses such as Bloodaxe Books, Honno Press, Gomer Press and academic publishers like University of Wales Press. Projects span digitisation initiatives aligned with the National Library of Wales and literary mapping collaborations with cultural bodies such as Cadw and local authorities in counties including Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Major projects have linked to commemorative programmes around figures such as Dylan Thomas and contemporary campaigns promoting translations of Welsh-language literature by authors like Mererid Hopwood.
The organisation runs outreach with schools, libraries and community centres in partnership with institutions like Libraries Wales, Estyn-linked educational programmes, and university creative-writing departments at Bangor University and Swansea University. Workshops and touring readings have involved collaborators from theatre companies including National Theatre Wales and performing artists associated with Clytemnestra Productions and youth organisations such as the National Youth Arts Wales. Projects aim to increase participation among underrepresented groups through alliances with charities like Literacy Wales, Barnardo's Cymru and health partners such as Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
Affiliates and alumni associated through programmes, residencies or governance include major Welsh writers and translators: Dylan Thomas, R. S. Thomas, Gillian Clarke, Gwyn Thomas, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Kate Roberts, Caradog Prichard, Islwyn Ffowc Elis, John Jenkins (Gwili), Bernard Adams, Menna Elfyn, Aneirin Talfan Davies, Sioned Wiliam, Ffion Hague, Nia Medi, Fflur Dafydd, Manon Rhys, Emyr Humphreys, Angharad Price, Ruth Bidgood, Ellen Jones, Aneirin Karadog, Nerys Hughes, Rhian Edwards, Tony Bianchi, Prys Morgan, Simon Armitage, Marina Warner, Katherine Jenkins, Tomos Roberts, Caryl Lewis, Alys Conran, Maxine Peake, Leila Kamali, Hanan Issa, Geraint Jarman, Rhian Samuel, John Cooper Clarke, Robert Minhinnick, Catrin Dafydd, Alexis Henderson, Bedwyr Lewis Jones, Melys.