Literature Wales

Literature Wales (formerly the Academi (Welsh: Yr Academi Gymreig) is the Welsh national literature promotion agency and society of writers, existing to promote Welsh-language and English-language literature in Wales. Literature Wales publishes a literary magazine called Taliesin and a bilingual listings magazine called A470. It offers bursaries for writing projects, runs literary events and lectures, and provides financial assistance for creative mentoring and other literary-based ventures. The organisation also selects the National Poet for Wales, and manages competitions including Wales Book of the Year, the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, and the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition.

The Academi was initially formed as a Welsh language society in 1959, following a public discussion between Robert Maynard Jones and poet Waldo Williams. The Academi attracted notable Welsh writers and academics into its society from the start, and while a Welsh language-only publication, had as its chairmen Iorwerth Peate (1959–63), T. J. Morgan (1963–66) and J. E. Caerwyn Williams (1966–1975). An English language section was added in 1968 through the initiative of editor and linguist Meic Stephens in his then capacity as literature director of the Welsh Arts Council. The first chairman of the English language section was Glyn Jones who held the post until 1973. He was followed by Roland Mathias (1973–78), G.O. Jones (1978–81), Sam Adams (1981–84), Tony Curtis (1984–87), Gillian Clarke (1987–1993) and Sally Roberts Jones (1993–1997). The Welsh language chairmen after J. E. Caerwyn Williams were R.M. Jones (1975–78), Alun Llywellyn-Williams (1978–82), R. Gerallt Jones (1982–87), R. Geraint Gruffydd (1987–90), Gwenlyn Parry (1990–91), Harri Pritchard Jones (1991–96) and Nesta Wyn Jones (1996–98).

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