Bardd Plant Cymru

Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh for 'Children's Poet (laureate) for Wales'; sometimes shortened to Bardd y Plant ('Children's poet (laureate)')) is the poet laureate of Welsh-language children's literature. It is one of the two national children's literature roles in Wales, alongside the English-language Children's Laureate Wales role. It is run by Literature Wales, and supported by the Welsh Government, S4C, the Welsh Books Council and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.

The current holder, for 2023–2025, is Nia Morais. The role was established in 2000, and has since been held by 18 people.

Description

Bardd Plant Cymru is a national literature role, which aims to encourage imagination and inspiration towards Welsh-speaking children using Welsh-language poetry. It was established in 2000, and managed by Literature Wales, and supported by the Welsh Government (specifically its Welsh Language Division[1]), S4C, the Welsh Books Council and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Since its establishment 18 poets have held the role. The role is awarded every two years, and to a poet that displays passion for children and young people to take up Welsh-language literature. All activities conducted by the Bardd Plant Cymru are conducted in the Welsh-language, although some extra support is provided to children and young people whose first language is not Welsh. Bardd Plant Cymru, as part of their role, can organise classroom poetry workshops, pen official children's poems for special occasions, create online children's literature resources, and act as a voice for literary children and young people nationally and internationally.[2][3][4]

Bardd Plant Cymru is one of the two children's literature roles in Wales, alongside Children's Laureate Wales, which is the position representing English-language children's literature in Wales. Both roles are run by Literature Wales and run concurrently, although only further support is provided for the Welsh-language role.[3][5][6][7]

By 2006, the position was chosen by a panel of judges, which would review nominations that have been put forward by librarians, writers, critics, and booksellers, including the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).[8]

On 1 June 2023, at the 2023 Llandovery Urdd Eisteddfod, Literature Wales announced Nia Morais as the new Bardd Plant Cymru, taking over from the existing holder, Casi Wyn, in September 2023.[2]

Specific commitments for the Bardd Plant Cymru is:[3]

• Increase the access to Welsh-language literature for children and young people, specifically those from marginalised and under-represented backgrounds
• Improve the physical, mental health and well-being of children and young people through literature
• Increase the enjoyment of literature by children and young people.
• Empower children and young people through creativity

List of holders

This is a list of the holders of the title, which are:[9]

• 2000 – Myrddin ap Dafydd
• 2001 – Mei Mac
• 2002 – Menna Elfyn
• 2003 – Ceri Wyn Jones
• 2004 – Tudur Dylan Jones
• 2005 – Mererid Hopwood
• 2006 – Gwyneth Glyn[8]
• 2007 – Caryl Parry Jones
• 2008 – Ifor ap Glyn
• 2009 – Twm Morys
• 2010 – Dewi "Pws" Morris[10]
• 2011 – Eurig Salisbury
• 2013 – Aneirin Karadog (also as Bardd y Plant)[11]
• 2015 – Anni Llŷn[12]
• 2017 – Casia Wiliam[13][14][15]
• 2019 – Gruffudd Owen[16][17][18]
• 2021 – Casi Wyn[5]
• 2023 – Nia Morais[2]

See also

• National Poet of Wales
• Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
• Poet laureate

References

1. "Coronavirus through the eyes of the children of Wales". www.s4c.cymru. S4C. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
2. "Nia Morais is the next Bardd Plant Cymru". AberdareOnline. 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
3. "Bardd Plant Cymru". Literature Wales. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
4. Price, Stephen (2023-12-08). "Newly instated Bardd Plant Cymru gets straight to work". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
5. Review, Wales Arts (2021-10-07). "Literature Wales Announce Children's Poet Laureates - Wales Arts Review". www.walesartsreview.org. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
6. "Children's Laureate Wales & Bardd Plant Cymru". Libraries Wales. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
7. Sarah (2021-10-09). "More poetry is needed: two children's laureates for Wales". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
8. "Glyn's child laureate 'challenge'". 2006-05-31. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
9. "Previous Bardd Plant Cymru". Literature Wales. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
10. Davies, Dylan (22 August 2024). "Tributes paid to Dewi 'Pws' Morris". Cambrian News.
11. Morgan, Sion (2013-05-28). "Children's Poet Laureate for Wales named at National Urdd Eisteddfod". Wales Online. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
12. "S4C congratulate Anni Llŷn, the new Bardd Plant Cymru". www.s4c.cymru. S4C. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
13. "Casia Wiliam to become Wales' children's poet laureate". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
14. "Casia Wiliam is the new Bardd Plant Cymru for 2017-2019". AberdareOnline. 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
15. Crump, Eryl (2017-05-30). "New Bardd Plant revealed at Urdd Eisteddfod". North Wales Live. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
16. "Poet, Performer, Juggler: Gruffudd Owen is the new Bardd Plant Cymru". Literature Wales. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
17. Crump, Eryl (29 May 2019). "Children's laureate honour for Gruffudd". TheFreeLibrary. Daily Post.
18. "Poet, Performer, Juggler: Gruffudd Owen is the new Bardd Plant Cymru". AberdareOnline. 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2023-12-09.