So much has been said already about the proposed cuts to the Welsh Books Council, but this is one of those subjects where we really cannot make enough noise about what is happening. If you thought that this was a discussion for ‘literary types’, or an argument about books that doesn’t affect you, then you were wrong. This is about our shared identity, our future, and it affects all of us.
Contributing to an article about the thirtieth anniversary of Seren Books in 2011, Owen Sheers made the following comments:
‘As a publishing house it’s a sign of national and cultural strength – to what degree a nation has its own publishing house is important. It’s also a way of allowing a country a voice.’ (Full article available here).
Sheers was absolutely right. Writers and artists are at the heart of a nation’s identity; it’s not just about how we identify ourselves through our literary and cultural heritage, but about how we are identified by other nations and cultures around the world. And it is most definitely not just about authors or publishers - it’s about the editors, readers, critics, book groups and writers circles who will all, one way or the other, be so desperately affected by the proposed cuts to the Welsh Books Council.
But there is another problem, one that worries me just as much as the effects such cuts would have right now, and that’s the question of what future we are giving our nation’s culture. The development of improved literacy levels in schools is one of the Welsh Government’s priorities; there are schemes and frameworks in place which are aimed specifically at encouraging children to read and write, and to emphasise the importance of doing so.
What message are we sending out to those same children and young people if we condone such devastating cuts to the council that supports so much of our nation’s literary and publishing work? What hope are we giving our aspiring authors, editors and publishers by limiting their prospects of publishing success in Wales? What heritage are we leaving future generations whose access to books written or published in Wales may, consequently, be severely restricted?
Many people have already pointed out that the Welsh Books Council enables us to write, publish and read about Wales and Welsh identity in our own words. It allows us to define and explore our identity and history. Don't future generations of writers and readers also deserve to have that opportunity to examine and shape their own national and cultural identity, without having to go outside of Wales for support?
Yes, it is possible to be Welsh and a writer and not be published by a Welsh publishing house or supported by the Welsh Books Council, but we have such a rich literary heritage here in Wales and surely we want the next generation of Welsh writers to be part of that. Surely it is the job of the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism to protect that heritage and support the bodies which provide opportunities and assistance to writers and publishers, both new and established. That simply isn't the message that the proposed cuts are sending out.
The list of writers and publishers who have already voiced their concerns about the cuts is extensive, but that list needs more names, more voices, more people to stand together to protect the future of our literary and cultural heritage. Whoever you are, whether you read, write, teach or publish, your voice matters. Make it heard, before it’s too late.
Want to get involved? You can use social media to share your thoughts about Welsh books by using the hashtag #WhatWelshBooksMean
Contributing to an article about the thirtieth anniversary of Seren Books in 2011, Owen Sheers made the following comments:
‘As a publishing house it’s a sign of national and cultural strength – to what degree a nation has its own publishing house is important. It’s also a way of allowing a country a voice.’ (Full article available here).
Sheers was absolutely right. Writers and artists are at the heart of a nation’s identity; it’s not just about how we identify ourselves through our literary and cultural heritage, but about how we are identified by other nations and cultures around the world. And it is most definitely not just about authors or publishers - it’s about the editors, readers, critics, book groups and writers circles who will all, one way or the other, be so desperately affected by the proposed cuts to the Welsh Books Council.
But there is another problem, one that worries me just as much as the effects such cuts would have right now, and that’s the question of what future we are giving our nation’s culture. The development of improved literacy levels in schools is one of the Welsh Government’s priorities; there are schemes and frameworks in place which are aimed specifically at encouraging children to read and write, and to emphasise the importance of doing so.
What message are we sending out to those same children and young people if we condone such devastating cuts to the council that supports so much of our nation’s literary and publishing work? What hope are we giving our aspiring authors, editors and publishers by limiting their prospects of publishing success in Wales? What heritage are we leaving future generations whose access to books written or published in Wales may, consequently, be severely restricted?
Many people have already pointed out that the Welsh Books Council enables us to write, publish and read about Wales and Welsh identity in our own words. It allows us to define and explore our identity and history. Don't future generations of writers and readers also deserve to have that opportunity to examine and shape their own national and cultural identity, without having to go outside of Wales for support?
Yes, it is possible to be Welsh and a writer and not be published by a Welsh publishing house or supported by the Welsh Books Council, but we have such a rich literary heritage here in Wales and surely we want the next generation of Welsh writers to be part of that. Surely it is the job of the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism to protect that heritage and support the bodies which provide opportunities and assistance to writers and publishers, both new and established. That simply isn't the message that the proposed cuts are sending out.
The list of writers and publishers who have already voiced their concerns about the cuts is extensive, but that list needs more names, more voices, more people to stand together to protect the future of our literary and cultural heritage. Whoever you are, whether you read, write, teach or publish, your voice matters. Make it heard, before it’s too late.
Want to get involved? You can use social media to share your thoughts about Welsh books by using the hashtag #WhatWelshBooksMean