News Archive

Academi’s Literature Success: Writing for all in the South East Welsh Valleys

Writing Aloud event at Llanhilleth Miners Institute, November 2008

Academi's South Wales Valleys Literature Development Initiative is a three-year project creating new literature projects in the authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen.

To date the initiative has developed a programme of work which includes both site-specific literature programming and events which draw on audiences throughout the valleys area and beyond. The project has supported over 170 events attracting over 8,000 people.

The Academi believes that literature – like sport – is a powerful unifying force not just in Wales but in the world.  This particular project is ground-breaking in reaching out for new talent among a group of people which finds it difficult to step forward and take advantage of what we have hitherto offered.

The major partners in the project have been The Arts Council of Wales and the seven local authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Torfaen. The project has  worked closely with Cardiff City Football Club, The Welsh National Opera, The National Literacy Trust, The Basic Skills Agency Wales and the University of Glamorgan as well as 35 other agencies.

Five regional events have celebrated a range of writing themes and genres, including:

• Space Time Machine and Monster
 A Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy conference attracting 120 people, held at the University of Glamorgan, Treforest campus.
• Writing Aloud
 Conference bringing writers and publishers together attracting 140 people, held at Llanhilleth Miners Institute, Llanhilleth.
• All Skilled Up
 A new writing project with Cardiff City Football in the Community team combining creative writing and sport, targeting thirty schools in three authorities (Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen) over three years with funding from the Football League, and piloting in a further four local authorities.
• Merthyr Literary Day
 Celebrating Glyn and Jack Jones, two Library of Wales authors from Merthyr Tydfil, held at The Castle Hotel, Merthyr.
• Criminal Intent
 A Crime Writing Conference attracting 80 people, held at St Mary’s Priory, Abergavenny.

A selection of other events have included:

• Reading Is Fundamental
 A National Literacy Trust Project which gifts free books to children aged 0-19). Over 800 free sports-related free books gifted with visits from Rugby legend Scott Quinnell.
• Other sports related projects have included:
Surf Academi
 Author Tom Anderson working with Rest Bay Surf Lifesaving Club to create a mini graphic novel.
Boxing Beats
 A Welsh National Opera MAX partnership project. Author Louise Walsh worked with boxers in Gelligaer gym to create journals and songs which were subsequently performed by members of the Welsh National Opera.
• Poetry in Motion
 An Arriva Trains poster poem project. Children from Glyncoed Primary school worked with poet Peter Read to create a poem to celebrate the opening of the new Ebbw Vale rail link .
• Healing Words
 Project with GARTH, Head4Arts and Arts Alive. Mental Health Service Users in Blaenau Gwent created a series of poems with writers Anita Flowers, Mike Church and Graham Hartill. These were then illustrated and displayed at Neville Hall Hospital.
• Global Poetry System
 Linking with South Bank Centre to map poetry in the local environment.

Peter Finch, Academi Chief Executive, said: “Writing is something that anyone with the right inclination can do.  It’s popular, it’s inexpensive, it’s very satisfying.  The Academi’s Valley’s project has for the past two years brought a huge amount of new creativity to areas of Wales that are often not at the forefront.  Literature has left the library shelf.  Watch out for it where you live.”