Academi

It is now 10 years since Academi was reformed and won the franchise for the Welsh literature promotion agency. Nobody who was not involved in those events can image how intense and time-consuming they were. They would form the basis of a good Ph.D. by a research student, or a book by a literary historian, or a contribution to the social history of... modern Wales. Suffice is to say that the achievement of the past 10 years makes Academi the greatest success story in the arts sector. Back in 1998, Academi faced the reduction of its revenues to £50,000 within a few years - enough to continue the employment of its two directors but without funding for any activities they might organise. Worse still, there was the prospect of a rival organisation winning the new franchise and consigning it further to the sidelines. Fortunately, Academi regrouped, reformed and beat the challenge. Its funding now, 10 years later, is treble what it was then, which is extraordinary. But the increase can be accounted for largely by the additional responsibilities it has assumed. In other words, the surge in funding has come with the award of such additional activities as Bursaries, the Book of the Year award and various other ventures. The amount dedicated to the activities of the pre-1998 Academi amounts to no more than 15% of its present budget. That, in turn, throws up a difficulty Academi has not yet succeeded in resolving: the securing of sufficient extra resources to improve the condition of its members, the writers of Wales. They still suffer a disproportion in the rates of remuneration they receive in Wales from those enjoyed by writers elsewhere. However, our glass is more than half full and credit for this goes to our Chief Executive and his staff. Their talent, dedication, hard-work and professionalism is beyond praise, and has been rewarded in signal fashion this year by two awards. The first was the Arts Council of Wales's Beacon Company award, designed 'to recognise and reward excellence, enabling those companies and ...Read More