The time-smoothed stones of the ancient Bridge will once again echo to Welsh creativity over the Taff, as the town hosts the 2024 Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod.

Arts Council of Wales is pleased to declare their support for the Eisteddfod with a direct grant of almost £100,000. This is to improve access to the Eisteddfod Field and to attract new audiences through creative events. We are also giving individuals and organisations over £385,000 to create additional arts activities during the Eisteddfod week.

Last year we gave the Eisteddfod a grant to appoint an Accessibility Officer. This year the Eisteddfod will use additional funds from us to offer BSL sign language provision and improve the Llecyn Llonydd – a quiet space on the Field for neurodiverse visitors and those with physical disabilities.

Some of our grant will be used to employ a Volunteer Coordinator to focus on attracting younger volunteers. The Eisteddfod will change their volunteering offer and promote it in a new and appealing way.

Mâs ar y Maes (‘out on the field’) is a successful partnership between the Eisteddfod and Arts Council of Wales. This is a full programme of events organised by members of the LGBTQ+ community which includes Q&A sessions, performances, readings, light entertainment and plays. One of the highlights of this year's offering is ‘Atgof: canrif o gariad cwtiar’ (“memories: a century of queer love”). This is a candlelit event featuring singing, music, dance and poetry to celebrate a century since E. Prosser Rhys won the Crown at the Pontypool National Eisteddfod with ‘Atgof’, his bold poem featuring sex and gay love.

As part of Mâs ar y Maes' offering we are also supporting Theatre Genedlaethol's presentation of 'Brên. Calon. Fi', Bethan Marlow’s funny and harrowing monologue about lesbian love and lust. And Frân Wen will be offering 'Corn Gwlad' - a wonderfully queer Welsh musical.

We are also directly supporting 14 other events at the Eisteddfod. Amongst these are:

  • Mentrau Iaith Cymru (‘Wales Language Initiatives’) who will mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the Cwm Rhyd-y-Rhosyn record with a multi-sensory experience for the whole family
  • almost a decade since Gary Owen's captivating play, Iphigenia in Splott, the Sherman will present a new Welsh-language translation of the play on the Eisteddfod Field

Of course, we are also supporting additional activities from the companies we fund on a multi-year basis – in music, dance and theatre.

 

We will also be launching a National Arts Conversation at an event on the Field, at the Lido in Ynys Angharad Park, at 5pm-6pm on Tuesday 6 August. The event will include a panel chaired by author Jon Gower and will include Dafydd Rhys, our Chief Executive and Einir Siôn, our Welsh Language Enabler, Eluned Haf, Head of Wales Arts International, and Judith Musker Turner, Portfolio Manager with responsibility for Arts and Climate Justice.

We will be holding our own special events as well, including creative individuals from Llais y Lle (‘the Voice of Place’) and the Welsh Art Consortium who will be giving you the opportunity to experience inclusive and creative approaches to the use of Welsh at YMa at 10am-1pm on 7 August. A very warm welcome to all.