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Australian National Eisteddfod
Eisteddfod events occur around the world wherever ex-patriot Welsh folk find themselves.
Welsh people living in Canberra are no different from communities elsewhere. By 1929 the Canberra Male Choir was established. It was members of this choir who spearheaded the move to establish an Eisteddfod in Canberra.
The leader was William J Hunt (later Musical Director of the Canberra Philharmonic Society) who raised the proposal at the Choir's AGM in 1935, and asked at the 1936 AGM 'what progress?' But by June 1937 arrangements had been completed for a juvenile Eisteddfod with awards of gold and silver medals.
Eisteddfodau, with sections in voice, instrument and dance were held from 1938 to 1941 when the Society went into recess due to the constraints of World War II.
The late 1940s to early 1950s saw a revival in community activity, and the Australian National Eisteddfod Society Inc (ANES) - was formed under the Patronage of the then Governor-General, with Vice-Patrons the Prime Minister, the (Federal) Minister for the Interior and the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom - to be a vehicle 'to encourage and foster the national development' of the performing arts (Object of the Society).
The first Eisteddfod presented by the re-established Society was held in 1955, with competitions in age and Open categories for voice (singing and speaking), instrument and dance.
The object of the Eisteddfod movement is to encourage and foster the development and progress of dance, drama, literature, music, public speaking and other allied arts.
Though the Eisteddfod encourages a seeking for excellence in the disciplines and skills employed in the performing arts, and many young participants develop a career or amateur in the performing arts, many develop their careers in other callings.
Currently, the Eisteddfod attracts between 1,500 and 2,000 individual performers each year and an additional 2,000 to 2,500 members of groups. There are some 200 event categories for ages 6 years and under to "open". The ANES is a non-profit making body and many of its activities are carried out by volunteers who work ceaselessly on its behalf.
The Eisteddfod, as a whole, is described by ANES as a "…traditional festival of the performing arts from Wales based upon ancient bardic schools where lore and its presentation in various styles encouraged the development of cultural excellence by all."
Unlike some Eisteddfodau elsewhere, the Australian event is actually a series of events over a period of time. It offers a low-cost performance opportunity to individuals and groups to display their performance skills in age and open categories in one of the voice or instrumental styles.
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