AM urges Clwyd South groups urged to apply for Road Dahl grants

Culture groups are being urged to apply for Welsh Government funding to celebrate the centenary of one of the Britain’s most-loved authors.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates wants arts organisations in North East Wales to apply for cash to stage their own events next year to mark a century since Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff.

Labour AM Mr Skates, who is also the Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, media and sport, said: “We are offering funding for groups to organise events marking the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth in Wales.

“He’s one of my favourite authors of all time and one of Wales’s – and the world’s – true literary icons, and it would be wonderful to see some major events taking place in North East Wales during 2016.”

Mr Skates added: “The grants are being administered by Literature Wales and more information is available at literaturewales.org/roalddahl100.”

Next year has been designated as the Year of Adventure by the Welsh Government, with Mr Skates embarking on an unprecedented campaign to promote Wales as the world’s capital of adventure tourism. The idea has won the support of prominent adventurers Bear Grylls and former Wales rugby international Richard Parks.

Mr Skates added: “Celebrating cultural icons will be an integral part of the Year of Adventure, which comes on the back of year-on-year record growth for tourism in Wales and record investment by the Welsh Labour Government in Welsh tourism attractions.”