Diosg: Celebrating creative writing and community in Bethesda
The Welsh-language creative writing group was established by writer and poet Casia Wiliam as part of the Llên mewn Lle / Lit in Place project, which offers funding to writers and facilitators to create, set up and deliver activity in their local area. The aim of the overall project is to support communities to explore the climate and nature emergency in their locality through literature.
The group in Bethesda has been meeting since April 2024 at Canolfan Cefnfaes in the village, and the name ‘Diosg’ was adopted after a poem penned by Casia that discusses the group’s experiences. The project was initiated by the poet Meleri Davies, who was the Chief Executive of Partneriaeth Ogwen in Bethesda at the time. They, along with GwyrddNi Dyffryn Ogwen, became natural partners for the scheme.
Leusa Llewelyn, Artistic Director of Literature Wales, said, “Literature and creativity are central to the identity and heritage of the people of Bethesda and Dyffryn Ogwen, and we are very fortunate to support this wonderful project in the area led by Casia Wiliam.
One of the objectives of the scheme in Bethesda was to establish a group that would take root and continue to meet, growing from seed planted through our Lit in Place funding. By collaborating with Partneriaeth Ogwen and GwyrddNi, we were very confident that the creative energy and vision would continue.”
Casia Wiliam said:
“Over the past year, we have met every fortnight in Bethesda to explore different types of writing and the area. The sessions provided a small window for members to step back from busy lives, to focus on expressing themselves creatively while getting to know the surrounding area better; the untrodden paths, hidden corners, and historical sites.
“It has been a special experience to see the group develop, growing in confidence, refining their writing approaches, becoming familiar with some new places within their square mile, and bonding as a group too. This experience has crystallised the importance of creativity when it comes to well-being, and feeling connected to our area in order to face the challenges of climate change.”
The Diosg writing group will continue to meet every other Wednesday at Canolfan Cefnfaes, Bethesda, going out for walks to local green spaces to enjoy nature and write. From now on, attendees of the group will lead the sessions, having received a training session on facilitating workshops for the crew by Casia and Iola Ynyr.
Commissioned Artwork
As part of the Lit in Place scheme, artworks are commissioned and gifted to communities. They are inspired by the ideas and creativity of the groups involved. As a gift to the Diosg group, artist Catrin Williams has created two murals. The first features a composite poem composed by the group, and the second mural is a playful and interactive piece that includes words on pieces of Velcro to encourage people to create their own poems and have fun with words.
Catrin Williams said:
“It was a great pleasure to be part of the process of creating two creative works with the Diosg team. Despite the challenge of the commission, the warmth and welcome I received through their creativity was extremely valuable to me as a freelance artist.”
The GwyrddNi climate action movement will support the community to continue with the writing group from now on. Establishing a creative writing group that offers a safe space to share personal writing with an emphasis on writing about nature and the environment is among the priorities of their Community Climate Action Plan for Dyffryn Ogwen.
Chris Roberts, Community Facilitator for GwyrddNi – Dyffryn Ogwen said:
“It has been wonderful to see the group coming together as part of Literature Wales’ Lit in Place. The group is clearly gaining a lot of creative inspiration and benefiting from meeting regularly. We are pleased to be able to support the crew to continue to meet.”
Lit in Place is run by Literature Wales in partnership with WWF Cymru. The scheme’s projects have been held in Rhosgadfan, Treherbert and Swansea, with another currently underway in St Davids.
Rhian Brewster, Head of Communication at WWF Cymru said: “Huge congratulations to Casia and all the members of Diosg on the success of the group, it is wonderful to see the fruit of a labour of love that draws inspiration, strength and well-being from the natural world and the environment around them. The deep connection of the Welsh people to the land and sea surrounding us is central to many of our creative works and our culture for centuries, and through this scheme we encourage the continuation of this connection and its development to reflect the Wales that is ours.
Nature gives us so much, from the food we eat to the air we breathe, it keeps us healthy and thriving. But sometimes, we forget that nature needs a little help from us too, so while we let nature work wonders for our well-being and creativity, we should remember to support our amazing natural world in return. Because when we restore nature, nature restores us.”
The project in Bethesda received funding from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Gwynedd Council, and is being supported by Partneriaeth Ogwen and GwyrddNi.
Casia Wiliam is a busy author and poet, a former Bardd Plant Cymru , and a creative practitioner who runs writing workshops for children across the country. The Lit in Place scheme offers her the opportunity to gain experience working with adults. Casia was mentored on the scheme by author and facilitator Iola Ynyr, who herself ran a Lit in Place scheme in Rhosgadfan last year.