An Arts Council of Wales fund to support artists to work with communities to develop the use and ownership of the Welsh language is opening its third round
Llais y Lle (‘The Voice of Place’) aims to empower creative individuals to collaborate with specific communities, fostering the use and broadening the ownership of the Welsh language.
This fund is open to individuals or groups who are enthusiastic about the Welsh language and have experience of working creatively with communities.
Applicants are asked to propose a plan that will place Cymraeg at the heart of all they do.
Applicants are not expected to know what the end product will be but you must have a clear creative action plan that will allow a central voice (Llais) for Cymraeg (Welsh) and for the community (Lle).
We welcome applications from across Cymru but will prioritise the following areas: Caerphilly, Torfaen, Flint, Meirionnydd, Pembrokeshire, Newport, Bridgend.
Llais y Lle was first launched in 2023 and is made possible through the generous support of National Lottery players.
How to Apply:
The fund is open for applications between 24 February 2025 and 11 April 2025.
Information Sessions:
The Welsh Language Enabler at the Arts Council of Wales will host three online information sessions about the fund, details to follow.
For more details, visit: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/llais-y-lle
Llais y Lle stands out from other funds because collaboration and sharing is at our core. We’re here to support, encourage, and challenge you as we work together to tackle real-world challenges. Every community has its own needs, experiences, and potential—and the diverse range of projects that we've already supported reflects that. This is your opportunity. If you have an idea, go for it. And we’ll have plenty of fun along the way!
Einir Sion, Welsh Language Enabler for Arts Council of Wales
Llais y Lle supported 17 original projects in 2024. Here are some examples:
Fran Higginson – Y Fenni (Abergavenny)
Fran is a holistic therapist and a Welsh-learner. Her project includes a Welsh-language floorwork laboratory with community dancers that focuses on movement vocabulary, exploring metaphor, and crafting a shared poetry of material, kinetic connection between human bodies and the ground.
The process will be captured in a film, created in collaboration with a neurodiverse, non-Welsh-speaking artist-filmmaker. Here, the Welsh language becomes an active tool for fostering understanding and intimacy throughout the creative journey.
Eadyth Crawford - Merthyr
“Y KandE Collective” is a year-long project, supported by Canolfan Soar and Menter Iaith Merthyr Tydfil, that connects the Merthyr community through music, arts, and performances to inspire Welsh language learning. Through workshops, collaborative music-making, live performances, and a public art installation, the project creates an engaging and dynamic language experience.
Rhiannon Mair, Pontiets, Carmarthenshire
Rhiannon is a theatre and performance practitioner and creative researcher. She worked with Llangyndeyrn Community Council and a local chapel to look at the story of the Twrch Trwyth, a fabulous wild boar from the tales of King Arthur. Legend has it that the Twrch Trwyth came through Pontiets and Rhiannon will imagine the path it took, looking at ancient and more recent history on the way. The journey will go through the village and along the path of the former railway tracks that once carried coal from the valley to the sea. The journey will become a foundation for Welsh-language creative activity in the area.
