31
March 2004
THE BOOKS COUNCIL WELCOMES
THE ASSEMBLY’S POLICY REVIEW OF WELSH WRITING IN
ENGLISH
The Welsh Books Council welcomed the publication of the
National Assembly’s Culture Committee report on Welsh
Writing in English published today (Wednesday 31 March)
noting that it was an important contribution to the debate
on developing this important field in Wales.
‘We are delighted that the Culture Committee, chaired
by Rosemary Butler AM, decided to undertake this Policy
Review,’ said Dr Lionel Madden, Chairman of the Welsh
Books Council, ‘especially as it follows the recent
transfer of responsibility for English-language publishing
in Wales from the Arts Council to the Welsh Books Council.’
Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Director of the Welsh Books Council
added, ‘The Committee received written submissions
and oral presentations of a high standard from a wide
range of representatives from the book trade and interested
parties, including writers, publishers, librarians and
academics, as well as the Books Council itself.
It is evident that the members of the Culture Committee
have understood and appreciated the challenges facing
the publishing sector and identified the key areas which
need to be addressed. The recommendations included
in the report are positive and practical and, taken as
a package, they have the potential to transform the present
state of Welsh Writing in English.’
The report notes that all the contributors to the review
agreed on the importance of Welsh Writing in English to
the culture of Wales.
‘The writers of modern Wales are key producers of
the nation’s culture,’ said Professor M. Wynn
Thomas, Director of CREW (Centre for Research into the
English Literature and Language of Wales), University
of Swansea, and Chairman of the Welsh Books Council’s
Publishing Grants Panel (English-language). ‘Through
them, Wales speaks both to itself and to the whole world.
Now, for the first time in history, a multicultural Wales
is publicly acknowledging the importance of its English-language
writers by publishing a blueprint of dramatic new developments
to support their work. It is to be hoped that the
vision shown by the Culture Committee, in acknowledging
one of the defining strengths of Wales’s majority
culture, will be promptly translated into effective action
by the Welsh Assembly Government and its ministers.’
The Books Council welcomes the fact that the report’s
main focus is on supporting and developing the publishing
sector. These elements include:
- a commissioning fund for authors
- strengthening the infrastructure of publishing houses
- support and investment for marketing
- encouraging bookshops to display and promote the books.
In addition to the above, the report notes the crucial
role of libraries and the education sector in promoting
Welsh Writing in English to new readers. The report also
highlights the importance of Book Awards in promoting
the best books from Wales and the need for the ‘classics’
to be kept in print.
‘The Books Council is confident that the publishing
industry will respond positively to this report,’
said Gwerfyl Pierce Jones. ‘We are also sure
that all sectors of the publishing industry will relish
the opportunity of working with the Assembly to implement
their recommendations. By working together we can
make sure that Welsh Writing in English is given the prominence
it deserves.’
During the launch of the Report it was announced that
W H Smith would be promoting books from Wales in all their
stores throughout Wales. A W H Smith Book of the
Month will be launched in their stores in Wales and they
will also be showcasing a selection of some of the best
Welsh Writing in English. Other booksellers are
also looking to expand their range of English-language
books from Wales in the near future.
For further information please contact:
Elwyn Jones, Head of Administration and Public Relations,
Welsh Books Council, Castell Brychan, ABERYSTWYTH, Ceredigion
SY23 2JB
T (01970) 624151 F (01970) 625385 elwyn.jones@cllc.org.uk
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