Swansea plans annual St David's Festival

Swansea's successful 2009 St David's Day celebrations have sparked proposals to develop them into an annual festival which puts the city on the cultural map and boosts the local economy.

n March 2009, Swansea was the only Local Authority in Wales to embark on an ambitious week-long programme of events marketed by Swansea Council but based around activities arranged or backed by private businesses as well as the Council.

It resulted in more than 20,000 extra visitors to the city centre for the Get Welsh activities alone, more than 16,000 unique hits on the dedicated website and thousands of pounds worth of free publicity and goodwill to increase Swansea's profile within the UK.

The Festival also proved an excellent launch pad for the Spring Tourism marketing campaign organised by the Council's Tourism Section.

On Thursday, Swansea Council's Cabinet will be asked to consider future options for celebrating the national holiday and will be asked to back an annual investment in the St David's Day marketing campaign.

If Cabinet gives the go-ahead then Swansea Council could co-ordinate a series of St David's Day events to realise real benefits for the city residents and businesses.

Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, said: "Historically Swansea has put on a number of events in celebration of St David's Day but these have been largely arranged and promoted on an ad hoc basis by individual event organisers.

"There are currently few high profile festivals in Wales to mark St David's Day. This offers Swansea a unique opportunity to co-ordinate a series of St David's Day events to realise real benefits for the City and its economy.

"2009 could provide a stimulus for a much more successful and bigger Festival in future years- one which in addition to celebrating our cultural roots locally could provide an excellent opportunity for attracting day and staying visitors.

"The St David's Day Festival could provide an exciting opportunity for all sectors of the community including retail, education, tourism, leisure and transport.

"A number or organisations and groups have already expressed an interest in working with the Council for 2010 in order to take the Festival to another level."

In 2009 Swansea Council encouraged private sector activity in return for a marketing campaign funded by the Authority.

The Council also programmed and themed its own events to support the Festival including Max Boyce at the Grand Theatre, The Storys at the Brangwyn Hall and a Gourmet Evening at the Dylan Thomas Centre.

Swansea Market ran the annual Children's photographic sessions for local children dressed in national costume.

Other venues within Culture and Tourism also developed Welsh focused exhibitions and activities to support the initiative such as a guided Daffodil Walk through the Botanical Garden, themed activities in libraries, an exhibition in the Civic Centre and Welsh Poetry sessions at the Dylan Thomas Centre.

Marketing ranged from social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter and a dedicated website through to hoardings, banners and brochures.

Future plans could also include engaging all interested groups and organisations, particularly Welsh language groups, in order to fully develop the Welsh language content and programme as part of the Festival.

In addition to providing a modern and exciting festival for residents and visitors, the Festival could further stimulate the celebration of Swansea's and Wales's cultural heritage through school and local community events and projects.