Wisconsin Welsh Weekend Literary Arts, Visual Arts, Recitation and Music Competitions
Information About the 2024 State Eisteddfod
To learn more about participating the 2024 Wisconsin Welsh Weekend Eisteddfod, please read through this year’s rules in the Welsh Weekend promotional document. If you are entering the English or Welsh recitation competition, here is the recitation piece.
About the WGGAW Eisteddfod
To encourage appreciation of Welsh culture and tradition, an eisteddfod competition was held at Trydedd Penwythnos Cymreig i Bawb in 2009 and a chair awarded with traditional pomp and ceremony. In each subsequent year we have repeated the process with the help of contributions of chairs and adjudication of entries by volunteers. Each year has had a theme connected to the location of the Welsh Weekend.
In 2011 the competition was expanded to include not only entries in the form of poetry but also in essay form. In 2017 the Eisteddfod competition expanded to two categories: literary arts and visual arts. 2018 added a musical performance competition as well. General rules for submission in these categories are given below.
NOTE TO POTENTIAL COMPETITORS: Each year a theme is chosen for the competitions. A recitation piece is also chosen and must be performed for this portion of the competition. It is especially important to be aware that winners must be present at the award ceremonies held during the Welsh Weekend to receive an award. In both 2017 and 2018 the Chair was awarded to another writer because the writer of the work chosen as best by the adjudicators was not present.
All entries are judged on the criteria of how well they capture the theme, the extent to which they incorporate Welsh components, and the quality of the work. Winners are determined by adjudication, with the exception of the Visual Arts category, in which the winner receives the most votes cast by attendees at the weekend.
The Eisteddfod Committee acknowledges the significant thought, effort and time that goes into the creation and performance of the submissions, and all entrants will be recognized and thanked for their efforts.
Rules for Submission
Literary Arts: This is the competition for The Bardic Chair.
This competition calls for an original poem (50 lines or less) or an essay (750 words or less) on the year’s theme, and written specifically for this competition. To be considered, the poem or essay must be submitted under a pseudonym (ffugenw) and not your actual name. Poems and essays may be written in Welsh or in English. To win the Bardic Chair, our highest honor, the writer must be present at the Eisteddfod chairing ceremony.
ENTRY SUBMISSION DEADLINE BEFORE THE WELSH WEEKEND: So that the adjudicators will have time to read entries and choose the winner, entries must be submitted by email to the adjudicators no later than the appropriate deadline specified each year (usually about two weeks before the Welsh Weekend).
Visual Arts: This is the competition for The Crown.
This competition was added in 2017. Submit an original work of art including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, photography, ceramic piece, sculpture, textile art piece (such as quilt, knitted or crocheted piece, or woven piece) created specifically for the Crown competition. To win the Crown the writer must be present at the Eisteddfod chairing ceremony.
Each entry must be labeled with a pseudonym (ffugenw) and title and also include a brief statement about how the piece was created and its connection to the theme. Each entry will be judged by popular vote on the quality of the work as well as how well the work expresses the theme.
(See the Past WGGAW Events page for examples submitted with the winning entries for the 2017 and 2018 Crown competitions.)
ENTRY SUBMISSION: Each entry must be submitted on the day of the crowning ceremony. Entries will be displayed for judging at the venue.
Recitation Competition: This is the competition for The Microphone.
In this competition, participants must deliver the poem selected for this year’s competition by the adjudicators. The poem may be read in English or Welsh from memory or by reading.
ENTRY SUBMISSION DEADLINE BEFORE THE WELSH WEEKEND: After you send in your registration, the text of the poem will be sent to you.
Music Competition: This is the competition for The Baton.
This competition was added in 2018.This is the competition for The Baton. Voice and instrumental soloists are encouraged to use Welsh music. Each piece must be no longer than six minutes in length. Welsh hymns must be selected from the WGGAW or WNAA hymn books.
ENTRY SUBMISSION DEADLINE BEFORE THE WELSH WEEKEND: Please send your music in advance to the adjudicators if an accompanist is needed. Performances will take place on Saturday.
Please refer to the Welsh Weekend for All page on this website for a link to the current year’s eisteddfod guidelines.
To learn more about the tradition of the National eisteddfod of Wales, see Marilyn Schrader’s informational handout prepared for the presentation by her, Ann Lemmenes, and Danny Proud at the Ninth Welsh Weekend for Everyone.