Following Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones’ announcement that the Welsh Assembly Government will fund a free entry scheme to the National Eisteddfod Maes on Sunday 1 August, the National Eisteddfod itself, today, announces how the scheme will be administered.
The aim of the scheme is to give people a taste of the National Eisteddfod, allowing us to further develop the Sunday as a family day. The Eisteddfod is particularly keen to appeal to families and those living within the catchment area of this year’s festival, which is held from 31 July – 7 August at The Works, Ebbw Vale.
Local people in Blaenau Gwent will have the first opportunity to apply for a free ticket to the Maes, with the scheme launching on 1 March. People across Wales will be able to apply for a free ticket from 1 May onwards. Tickets will be available by ringing 08454 090 300 or 08454 090 400 or through the Eisteddfod’s website – www.eisteddfod.org.uk. Application forms will also be distributed to all households in the Blaenau Gwent county during March, and will also be available in libraries,council offices, public buildings and businesses across the county. Priority will be given to local applications for the first two months, and 10,000 tickets have been made available through the scheme.
National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Elfed Roberts, said:
“We are grateful to the Welsh Assembly Government for funding this scheme and to the Welsh Language Board for their support to ensure that we can offer free entry to the Eisteddfod Maes on Sunday 1 August. It’s an opportunity for us to deliver one of our main aims, which is to attract a new audience to the National Eisteddfod.
“Many years have passed since the Eisteddfod last visited the Blaenau Gwent area, and this is the first chance many local people have had to visit us, and we want to make sure that there are no barriers to stop them and that they have a day to remember. As a festival which travels around Wales, it’s vitally important that we appeal to local people, and it’s also important that people across the country believe that the Eisteddfod belongs to them.”
Councillor Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council added:
“We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government has provided funding to offer free entry to the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys Eisteddfod on Sunday 1 August. People in Blaenau Gwent want to welcome the National Eisteddfod’s visit – we are hosting one of the world’s greatest cultural festivals and we are very much looking forward to making the Eisteddfod an event to remember and 2010 the year of Blaenau Gwent.
“This is a great offer for local people in communities across Blaenau Gwent to apply for a free ticket to join in for a day at the Eisteddfod. We are confident that everyone will want to show their support on Sunday 1 August and throughout the week.”
The free Maes ticket does not provide entry to the Cymanfa Ganu (congregational singing) in the Pavilion at 20.00 on the Suncay evening. Tickets for this event and all the other concerts go on sale on 1 March.
The 2010 Eisteddfod site is convenient for visitors from all parts of Wales. It is easy to reach from the A465, the M4 and the A470. The journey from Cardiff city centre takes around forty minutes and it takes around two and a quarter hours from Dolgellau.
The National Eisteddfod festival attracts around 160,000 visitors annually, and is held in north and south Wales alternately. Entry to all festival activities is free for the price of a daily Maes ticket.
The Eisteddfod receives a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government through the Welsh Language Board, and from all unitary authorities in Wales through a partnership agreement with the Welsh Local Government Association. This year’s festival has received £300,000 from the Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Programme, to enable the Eisteddfod to visit the Blaenau Gwent and Heads of the Valleys area.
