Government urged to restore funding to Welsh language publishers

Language campaigners have written to Mark Drakeford, the cabinet secretary with responsibility for the Welsh language, calling for “severe and damaging” cuts to the Welsh language publishing sector to be reversed.

According to the Books Council for Wales, cuts to its budget for Welsh language publications amount to 40% in real terms over the last ten years, which has led to a 34% reduction in the number of Welsh books published by the main publishers with grant support.

Cymraeg 2050

In an open letter, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has urged the Welsh Government to restore the level of funding to what it was in 2010, and for it to be protected for the future, saying that not doing so would jeopardise the Government’s efforts in their Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers strategy.

In the letter, Joseff Gnagbo, National Chair of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith, writes: “The impact of these cuts is both highly significant and damaging as regards jeopardising the future of the publishing companies and jobs, often located within Welsh communities and that require skills in the Welsh language.

“The contribution of writers and poets and the publishing sector is essential to the future of the Welsh language and Welsh culture, along with contributing to achieving the Welsh Government’s goals in their Cymraeg 2050 strategy to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050 and to double the proportion of the population that use the language every day.

Reconsider

It ends: “We call on you to reconsider these cuts and to restore the level of funding for Welsh publishers that is provided through the Books Council of Wales to what it was in 2010, and to protect this budget in the coming years as part of implementing the Government’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for the Welsh language.”

Lefi Gruffudd, editorial head of Y Lolfa press, Myrddin ap Dafydd and Llio Meirion, Directors of Gwasg Carreg Gwalch and Ashley Drake, acting chair of Publishing Wales, have all expressed concern over the future of Welsh language publishing without the restoration of adequate funding.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise how important the publishing sector is to our economy, and the vital contribution it makes to our rich linguistic and cultural life.

“We will consider our spending decisions as we develop our Draft Budget in the weeks ahead.

“We continue to support Welsh language publishers, through the Books Council of Wales, to meet the challenges faced by the industry and identify the best ways to help ensure the long-term future of publishing in Wales.”