Academi, the Welsh Literature Promotion Agency, welcomed its one millionth audience member at an event on Saturday 20 March 2010.
Euthalia Antippas from Cyncoed in Cardiff attended the ‘Meeting of Two Laureates’, a sell-out event at the St. David’s Hotel in Cardiff. Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and National Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke read selections of their work and discussed the parallels – and differences – of their two respective roles as National Poet of Wales and Poet Laureate of Britain.
Academi’s data analysis revealed that the one millionth Academi audience member since its re-formation in 1998 would coincide with the ‘Meeting of Two Laureates’ event. After careful counting, it was established that Euthalia Antippas was the one millionth audience member. To mark the occasion, Academi Co-Chair Harri Pritchard Jones and Academi Chief Executive Peter Finch presented Euthalia with a certificate, as well as a copy of the Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. The Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and National Poet Gillian Clarke offered their congratulations and both poets posed for a photograph with the lucky audience member.
Academi is proud to have reached out to 1,000,000 people so far through its varied activities since its re-formation in 1998. Academi activities include events, funding schemes, courses, competitions, conferences, tours by authors, lectures, international exchanges, events for schools, readings, literary performances and festivals. In 1998, the then writer’s society, the Welsh Academy, won the franchise from the Arts Council of Wales to establish Academi – the Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency.
Academi Chief Executive Peter Finch says: “to get to a million is a real achievement. Academi’s literary services – our events and workshops and our author visits to schools are certainly in demand.”
Academi’s one millionth audience member Euthalia Antippas says: “I am a fervent supporter of the Academi and it’s a real honour for me to be the one millionth audience member. Thank you for the wonderful gift of the Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales – I have always wanted one of these. I wish the Academi all the best for the future.”
Academi is already looking forward to reaching out to the next 1,000,000 people over the following decade with its varied programme of events and activities.
