Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee

Policy Review: English medium writing in Wales

Aberystwyth Centre for the Book

Dear Colleague I write on behalf of Aberystwyth Centre for the Book, a partnership of the National Library of Wales, the Welsh Books Council, and the University of Wales Aberystwyth (Department of Information Studies). The aim of the Centre is to foster interest in all aspects of the book in Wales, its past, present and future, its design and use, and its contribution to Welsh life and culture. The Centre has promoted research in the field of book studies, including two important reports, Public Libraries in Wales and the Welsh Book Trade by Gwilym Huws and Jane Del-Pizzo (2000) and A Survey of the Publishing Industry in Wales by Gwilym Huws, Jane Del-Pizzo and Greg Stevenson (2002). It also publishes an annual journal, Y Llyfr yng Nghymru / Welsh Book Studies, which acts as a forum for discussions in Welsh and English on various aspects of the world of the book. I note below our observations on the points in your letter: The barriers and opportunities which currently exist The Centre believes strongly in the importance for the culture of Wales of English medium writing. Its annual publication is bilingual: contributors are invited to write in the language of their choosing and contributions in Welsh and English are equally welcome. We feel that there is a tendency to undervalue writing in English about Wales or to conceive of it as being inferior; but it is vitally important to support a range of publications which will present Wales to the world through the medium of an international language. A factor stressed in the report A Survey of the Publishing Industry in Wales is the lack of adequate marketing of English medium publications about Wales, and in this regard we believe that the Joint Marketing Strategy currently in consultation is crucial. The Welsh Assembly Government should seriously consider providing resources to implement this strategy, which represents a significant effort on the part of the publishing industry to co-operate in a common aim. Links with other sectors, such as education and tourism We believe that English medium writing has a valuable contribution to make to education and tourism in Wales, because for a sizeable audience this will be the most accessible path to learning about the life and traditions of the nation. If we are to overcome the prejudices and ignorance concerning Wales that are more commonplace than we acknowledge, intelligent English medium writing must be fostered. The National Curriculum could give greater attention to Welsh writing in English and Education Boards outside Wales should be encouraged to take account of it. Tourist centres and attractions should also be encouraged to stock and sell works about Wales, and such works should be more actively marketed in bookshops in London, Scotland and Ireland. It is exceptional to find books about Wales stocked by such bookshops. The role of relevant players We welcome the move to extend to the Welsh Books Council responsibility for the publishing portfolio previously held by the Arts Council of Wales, and we urge the Assembly Government to give the same financial backing to English medium publishing as it has recently given to Welsh language publishing through the work of the Task and Finish Group on Publishing. We feel that it is very important to enable publishers to commission English medium authors to write the books for which there is a demand. Priority to new writing or the `classics' Although there is a need to promote the classics and to continue to market them, we feel that the first priority should be to encourage new writing, in order to emphasise how lively and creative the Welsh tradition is. The aim should be to showcase contemporary writing, its wealth and quality. Support for maintaining `classic' English medium Welsh writing `Classic' writing should continue to be supported by means of scholarships and grants, but this should be linked to an effective marketing strategy which will continue to foster this kind of writing, which has tended in the past to be a closed world, known only to a limited circle of readers. I trust that these comments will be of interest. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Review. Yours sincerely Rhidian Griffiths on behalf of Aberystwyth Centre for the Book c/o National Library of Wales, ABERYSTWYTH, Ceredigion SY23 3BU Tel: (01970) 632801 Fax: (01970) 632882 Email: wrg@llgc.org.uk