National Eisteddfod prepares strategy to make it more inclusive
National Eisteddfod chief executive Betsan Moses has announced new volunteering plans as the festival prepares to announce a five-year strategy to widen its appeal and make it more inclusive.
Thousands of people from Rhondda Cynon Taf have flocked to the Eisteddfod Maes in the first few days of the festival this year and thousands more are expected before the end of the week.
Around 15,000 local families with lower incomes can take advantage of the free ticket scheme for eligible families, funded by the Welsh Government, and organisers say that the level of enthusiasm from locals has exceeded their hopes and expectations.
Fund-raisers also have raised more than £330,000 by staging dozens of community events which have helped raise awareness of and the use of the Welsh language.
Opportunities
“It’s important we reflect contemporary Wales in all elements of our work, and today we’re announcing our volunteering plans to encourage more individuals to work with us on different projects throughout the year,” Betsan Moses said.
“We’ll be working with currently underrepresented groups to reach new volunteers across all areas of society, and we’re currently mapping opportunities across our projects and the festival itself.
“Opening up the Eisteddfod to secure its place as the festival for everyone here in Wales has been a priority for us for many years, and as we prepare to announce our strategy for the next five years, this will become a more prominent element of our work
“We’ve already taken great strides to ensure that our artistic programs reflect society here in Wales, and we’ve been working closely with partners such as Tŷ Cerdd over the past few years on projects such as Codi Cân, to nurture and develop individuals by offering them opportunities to perform at the Eisteddfod, often for the first time in Welsh.
“We’ve also worked with artists like Eadyth over a number of years, offering developmental and mentoring opportunities, on projects such as the worldwide network for female music producers”
Underrepresented communities
She added: “It’s important that we represent everyone in society in every element of our work, and this year we’ve introduced a new competition for choirs competing at the first time in the Eisteddfod.
“Over the next year, we’ll develop a plan to promote this with groups and associations from communities that are currently underrepresented. We hope to see from underrepresented groups competing in 2025.”
Eisteddfod President and Chair of the Management Board, Ashok Ahir, said: “We strongly believe in an inclusive Eisteddfod that creates and offers opportunities for everyone to be part of every element of our work.
“By announcing that we’ll be collaborating with a number of bodies and organisations to reach communities and groups currently underrepresented in our work, we’re trying to ensure that yet another element of our work is appealing and welcoming to everyone.
“It’s vital that we as the main festival in Wales reflects contemporary Wales in every element of our work and we’re keen to collaborate and partner with others to help us achieve the goal.”
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About time …
I remember a few years ago the then chair of the Eisteddfod saying terribly racist remarks against the people of Uganda. He even defended his remarks at first but then eventually ‘apologised’. He was even given a vote of confidence by his fellow committee members and wasn’t dismissed. It was disgraceful.
It’s good now they are trying to make the Eisteddfod more diverse but as I said , about time..
You should remember that the core characteristic of the Eisteddfod is that it is a Welsh language festival – a week’s worth of pethe yn y Gymraeg. Accordingly it’s diversity should be mainly about enabling non Welsh attenders to understand what is going on around them, in much the same way as if you or I went to, say, a Jamaican festival we should not expect that event to churn out Welsh stuff just to make us feel “included”. I think most Jamaicans and other ethnicities get that, it’s white non Welsh who are most active in dreaming up “exclusions”… Read more »
Eifion Lloyd Jones revealed his underlying mentality by “joking” that Uganda, Northern England and Rhyl where Iori Roberts had worked were similar as all three were inhabited by the uncivilised (the BBC chose to use “savages” as their option of the translations available). IF ELJ had not had that mentality / had an idea of what was not appropriate / was better at forming a joke the problem would not have arisen which was made worse when he acted twp and doubled down. If ELJ had said that IR had worked in the “Developing world ” in places like Uganda,… Read more »
“….prepares to announce a five-year strategy to widen its appeal and make it more inclusive”
I think the very fact its primarily a Welsh language festival will always limit its appeal to a wider audience in Wales. But there is nothing wrong with that, many minority festivals do very well, if they don’t alienate their core audience that is!
How about making more inclusive for the people who live on their doorstep and live in one of the poorest and forgotten regions, Rhondda. I have spoken to many who, like myself simply couldn’t afford to visit because of the high entrance fee.