NAFOW Eisteddfod Competitions 2020 ~ Email or Mail-in
Read competition guidelines above for full information on entry requirements.
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During this challenging time of physical separation and isolation where we are unable to meet in person, the time-honored tradition of the NAFOW Eisteddfod still carries on! We hope that our new Poetry Composition Competitions will help stir your creative urges and strengthen our shared sense of community and continuity. Trusting that you are safe and healthy, we look forward to seeing your inspired submissions! |
Photo: 2019 North American Festival of Wales, Milwaukee, WI, Eisteddfod Winners' Concert. Director Mari Morgan leads a group from The North American Welsh Choir in the world premiere of "Tir Iarll", the winning hymn tune by Kim Lloyd Jones in the inaugural Hymn Composition Competition for the Daniel Protheroe Award (with words from Protheroe's "Milwaukee"). Steve Jensen, accompanist.
For 2020, we offer these two distinct Poetry Composition Competitions:
Welsh Language Poem (read full guidelines)
English Language Poem (read full guidelines)
Any questions about the Eisteddfod and the competitions should be directed to eisteddfod@nafow.org .
Welsh Language Poem (read full guidelines)
English Language Poem (read full guidelines)
- Each competition offers a single grand prize of $250. We thank Rev. Robert Dayton (former Welsh North American Association Board Member and current President of St. David's Society of Pittsburgh) and an anonymous donor for sponsoring the prizes this year.
- The theme for this year is "Hope/Gobaith", applicable to both competitions. Entries submitted for English Language also must involve some relevance to Wales and/or Welsh history or culture.
- Specifics on requested poem length and meter, etc., are in the detailed guidelines.
- Entrants will use pseudonyms, and anonymity is maintained during the adjudication process. Two adjudicators will be assigned to evaluate entries in each competition.
- There is no entry fee for either competition, and the deadline for entering is August 12, 2020. (Please note: this is not a postmark deadline; all entries must be received by that date.)
- Submissions will be accepted via email as well as via air/surface mail; please consult the detailed guidelines for specific instructions.
- The winner of each competition will be invited to record a recitation of their poem, for inclusion in a virtual NAFOW program over Labor Day weekend.
Any questions about the Eisteddfod and the competitions should be directed to eisteddfod@nafow.org .
ADJUDICATORS
We are very grateful to our four adjudicators for offering their time and talents to assist us this year:
Tony Curtis (English): Emeritus Professor of Poetry at the University of South Wales (Glamorgan); author and editor of books of poetry and prose. Winner of Gregory Award (1972), National Poetry Prize (1984), Dylan Thomas Award (1993), Cholmondeley Award (1997), and made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (2000).
Rev. Robert Dayton (English): Lifelong student of poetry, especially of the works of R.S. Thomas and Euros Bowen. Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 45 years; current President of St. David’s Society of Pittsburgh. Longtime adjudicator of English Language Recitation at the NAFOW Eisteddfod.
Menna Elfyn (Welsh): Creative Director of the Master’s Program in Creative Writing, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.; poet and writer of children’s books and anthologies, and plays for radio, television, and stage. Awards and distinctions include: Member of the Gorsedd for contribution to Welsh Literature (1995), Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales (2002), and Creative Wales Award (2008).
Eurig Salisbury (Welsh): Lecturer in Creative Writing, Dept. of Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth University; editor of Poetry Wales magazine. Cynghanedd expert, winner of the Bardic Chair, National Urdd Eisteddfod (2006) and Prose Medal, National Eisteddfod of Wales (2016). Author of books of poetry and prose; Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales (2011-2013).
We are very grateful to our four adjudicators for offering their time and talents to assist us this year:
Tony Curtis (English): Emeritus Professor of Poetry at the University of South Wales (Glamorgan); author and editor of books of poetry and prose. Winner of Gregory Award (1972), National Poetry Prize (1984), Dylan Thomas Award (1993), Cholmondeley Award (1997), and made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (2000).
Rev. Robert Dayton (English): Lifelong student of poetry, especially of the works of R.S. Thomas and Euros Bowen. Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 45 years; current President of St. David’s Society of Pittsburgh. Longtime adjudicator of English Language Recitation at the NAFOW Eisteddfod.
Menna Elfyn (Welsh): Creative Director of the Master’s Program in Creative Writing, University of Wales Trinity Saint David.; poet and writer of children’s books and anthologies, and plays for radio, television, and stage. Awards and distinctions include: Member of the Gorsedd for contribution to Welsh Literature (1995), Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales (2002), and Creative Wales Award (2008).
Eurig Salisbury (Welsh): Lecturer in Creative Writing, Dept. of Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth University; editor of Poetry Wales magazine. Cynghanedd expert, winner of the Bardic Chair, National Urdd Eisteddfod (2006) and Prose Medal, National Eisteddfod of Wales (2016). Author of books of poetry and prose; Poet Laureate for the Children of Wales (2011-2013).