A University of Queensland lecturer will launch a new book celebrating the highs and lows of the Australian eisteddfod movement over the past 150 years.
Comprising comic and tragic human stories, 'Eisteddfod: A Welsh Tradition in Australia' has been written by Dr Cath Filmer-Davies from UQ's School of English, Media Studies and Art History.
The book will be launched by the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency Major-General Peter Arnison, AO, on April 1 at the George Hogg Auditorium in Ipswich.
In the first of its kind, the book traces the eisteddfod movement from the days of Welsh druids and bards, to the Ballarat goldfields in 1855, through to its present day format.
'If you ask people what Welsh tradition has been part of Australian cultural life for 150 years, you will probably receive a blank look in reply. But ask them if they, or if anyone they know, has ever been part of an eisteddfod, chances are the answer will be a resounding yes!,' Dr Filmer-Davies said.
Every year around Australia there are more than 1300 days of eisteddfod competition, with around 150,000 competitors in a range of categories including performance, written and visual arts, she said.
'The eisteddfod has moved with the times and has adapted into various forms, such as the Rock Eisteddfod and the Croc Eisteddfod for young people. There is even an on-line eisteddfod conducted by the National Library of Wales,' Dr Filmer-Davies said.
'Eisteddfodau (eisteddfods) have been a primary means of fostering excellence in the performing arts in Australia. Names such as Joan Sutherland, Donald Smith, Kiri Te Kanawa and June Bronhill were made in Australian eisteddfodau,' she said.
The project was funded by the University of Queensland's Office of Research and the School of English, Media Studies and Art History.
The book launch will take place at 4pm, following a concert by the Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir.
Bookings for the event can be made by contacting Ipswich Events on 07 3812 2974.
For more information, contact Dr Filmer-Davies (telephone 07 3365 2503 or email: c.filmerdavies@mailbox.uq.edu.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 7045 or email to: communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au)
