Ifor ap Glyn
Nominated for Culture award
Ifor ap Glyn is an award-winning broadcaster and poet. He was born in London to Welsh parents but now lives in Caernarfon.
He became the 4th National Poet of Wales in 2016. The National Poet of Wales initiative is delivered by Literature Wales. His role is to respond to events of national significance and to appear at events and festivals worldwide to raise the profile of writing and writers from our country.
During his time as National Poet of Wales, his commissioned work has included poems to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Assembly, the centenary of the Armistice and to welcome Syrian refugees to Wales. In 2008-09 he also held the post of Bardd Plant Cymru (Welsh Children’ Poet)
He has twice won the Crown for poetry at the National Eisteddfod. In 1999, his winning series of poems were about adult learners of Welsh; in 2013, he wrote in response to the number of Welsh speakers recorded in the 2011 Census.
In 1996, he co-founded Cwmni Da, an independent television company, and has worked as a director, producer and presenter. He has won BAFTA Cymru Awards for his work on Lleisiau’r Rhyfel Mawr, a series about the First World War and Popeth yn Gymraeg, about the use of the Welsh language. Cwmni Da now has over 50 employees and is owned and controlled by the workforce.