Heritage Projects

With financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (Cronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri), CYMDEITHAS EISTEDDFODAU CYMRU developed a programme of workshops in traditional Welsh cultural forms. Two Development Officers — Trystan Lewis and Geraint Hughes — planned and delivered these sessions, working approximately six hours per week across a two-year project period.

Workshop Areas

• Folk dancing (dawnsio gwerin) — Dawnswyr Talog provided step-dance training for groups of young people, building skills in traditional Welsh step dancing.
• Folk singing (canu gwerin) — Workshops developed with input from specialists in the Welsh folk-singing tradition.
• Cerdd dant — Sessions focused on the distinctive Welsh art of vocal improvisation to harp accompaniment.

Working with Local Eisteddfodau

Local eisteddfodau were involved throughout the project to ensure that appropriate competitions were included in their programmes, giving workshop participants meaningful opportunities to perform and compete.

For more on related initiatives, see our Activities page or About Us.

The heritage programme reflects the society's wider commitment to ensuring that traditional Welsh cultural forms continue to thrive and inspire future generations. By bringing trained practitioners into community settings, the workshops create practical opportunities for young people to engage with folk dancing and folk singing as living traditions rather than museum pieces. The work of the Development Officers helped build local capacity, enabling committees and community groups to sustain these activities beyond the funded period. Through such initiatives, the society offers not only resources and assistance but also a lasting connection to the rich cultural heritage of Wales, ensuring that the significance of these traditions is maintained, celebrated, and passed on.