
LAST week I met with Seren in Bridgend, Wales's preeminent publisher of (English-language) books talking to their CEO Bronwen Price & Deputy CEO Sarah Johnson about the challenges faced by print publishers during tough times. Like its Welsh-translation, Seren's star shines light on various voices possessing cultural characteristics tied together with Wales: highly commended three times at the Forward Poetry Prizes, and also longlisted for the Poet Laureate's Laurel Prize for eco-poetry just during 2024 as a testament to their skills selecting highly regarded littérateurs. I'm thrilled that this is happing locally, showing success doesn't only happen in international hubs like London, Paris or New York.
The Books Council of Wales has lost 10% of its funding, £273,000 in publishing grants over 2024-25. I'm completely clear, more must be done on ensuring sufficient support for Welsh Government. Because as a proud nation of storytellers, writers & poets we must forever keep celebrating creativity in its myriad forms reflecting richness of our differing life experiences – we must value culture correctly as it is particularly powerful! I intend to work with Welsh Conservative colleagues highlighting how important it is to totally reverse wrongfully short-sided cuts catastrophically affecting a number of prominent stakeholders under umbrella of our otherwise dynamic creative industries.