The programme will support a cohort of 14 writers by offering the following:
A bursary of £3,000
An additional travel and ticket fund
6 online industry-focused virtual workshops of up to two hours each
4 creative writing Masterclasses, two of which will be residential weekends at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre
4 Mentoring Sessions of 1-2 hours
Regular opportunities for the cohort to share creative work and feedback
Networking opportunities throughout the year
A bespoke after-care programme post-March 2024
“Representing Wales has been nothing short of life-changing.” – Amy Kitcher, 2022-2023 Cohort Member
The successful writers will be selected by a specialist bilingual independent panel through a careful and detailed assessment process where applications and creative work will be judged based on quality, potential and suitability. The fourth round will officially begin in April 2024 and will run until the end of March 2025.
Representing Wales is a bilingual programme, and Literature Wales welcomes applications from Wales-based writers who write in Welsh and/or English. Writers who are new to writing in Welsh but who are interested in getting started are very welcome, as are writers who enjoy experimenting with both languages in their creative work. Workshops will be delivered in both Welsh and English, and simultaneous interpretation will be offered where required. You can learn more about the bilingual format of the programme in our FAQ section.
Claire Furlong, Literature Wales’ Executive Director says:
“The Representing Wales programme has changed Literature Wales and literature in Wales massively since 2019. The scheme has contributed to a range of successes, such as Hanan Issa becoming our National Poet of Wales, Nia Morais’ recent appointment as Bardd Plant Cymru 2023-25, and Alex Wharton’s appointment as Children’s Laureate Wales 2023-25, among countless published works with many more to come.
In 2022 we widened eligibility to all those who identify as under-represented in the sector gaining greater focus on the variety of experiences and identities which co-exist within Wales, and I am pleased that we can continue with this for the fourth round. With each year the programme strengthens, and we look forward to enhancing and supporting Welsh language representation further, providing opportunities for Welsh speakers to work and share their knowledge with other writers in Wales.
We’re grateful to the continued support of Arts Council Wales which enables this programme to continue, and I personally can’t wait to see more of the participants careers flourish and create a literature scene that truly represents Wales over the coming years.”
To find out more about Literature Wales’ Representation and Equality work, please refer to Literature Wales’ 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
On reflection of her experience as a writer on Representing Wales, Rhiannon Oliver said:
“The Representing Wales programme is brilliant and already changing how I see myself as a writer. Being a Welsh learner and being part of the programme is really helping me grow confidence in both my poetry and the idea that I can develop a career as a bilingual writer.
Hear more about last year’s writers’ experiences by watching the below video: