The Literature Wales Management Board has announced that Lleucu Siencyn has been appointed Chief Executive of Literature Wales. The appointment for this key role leading one of the main national companies for the arts in Wales is effective from 1 November 2011.
Originally from Talgarreg, Ceredigion, Lleucu Siencyn is a familiar face in the world of literature in Wales. She studied English at Oxford University before returning to Wales to work as a researcher and scriptwriter with various television companies and then as Literature Officer for the Arts Council of Wales. Lleucu was Academi’s Deputy Chief Executive from 2002 – 2011.
Since Peter Finch’s sabbatical in June 2011, she has developed several new initiatives for Literature Wales as Acting Chief Executive. These include the announcement of the Young People’s Laureate for Wales – the first of its kind –, forming new partnerships with institutions such as Cadw and the National Trust and creating a new form of membership for students. The most ambitious was the Literature Lounge, which buzzed with activity throughout October in Cardiff’s St David’s shopping centre. This encapsulates Lleucu’s vision of presenting literature to each and everyone and to do this using new ways of reaching out and in unexpected places. All this has been developed under her leadership in the last six months. It certainly is an exciting time for literature in Wales.
John Pikoulis, Literature Wales Joint Chair, said: “The appointment of Lleucu Siencyn will be widely welcomed in the literary community. It signals the beginning of a new programme of activity, built on the achievement of Academi and Tŷ Newydd but greatly expanding on it, to heighten the public’s awareness and enjoyment of literature and to reach all parts of Wales in a manner befitting a national company. The oldest art form in Wales has just got itself a new face.”
Harri Pritchard Jones, Literature Wales Joint Chair, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome an enthusiastic, experienced woman to run our main literature agency. Her background, education and career mean that she is familiar with the literature of Wales in both languages and she has also taken note of the wider literary and cultural world. Her intellectual personality and energy will also be very valuable as we develop and promote the new organisation, Literature Wales.”
An event will be held in the New Year formally to announce the appointment in conjunction with further developments in Literature Wales’ innovative programme of events and activities.
Literature Wales is the national company for developing and promoting literature in Wales. The Welsh Academy – the society for writers – and the Tŷ Newydd Writers’ Centre are part of the company. Literature Wales is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government.
