New Award to Celebrate Emerging Bangor Writers
A new prize at Bangor University celebrates the achievements of emerging writers as a memorial to one of Wales's most famous poets.
The inaugural R.S. Thomas Literary Award 2024 was presented to Leigh Roberts for gaining the highest mark in her Masters thesis in Creative Writing (English), which is a work of original fiction exploring the cross-generational legacy of 1990s countercultures. The sponsor of the award, Ali Anwar of the H'mm Foundation, presented her with a Venetian glass trophy at a special event in Pontio Arts Centre, and Leigh will have the opportunity to publish her work with Gomer.
Representing the R.S. Thomas Research Centre, its Co-Director Professor Tony Brown noted the helpfulness of initiatives like the H'mm Foundation in supporting the arts at a challenging time for cultural funding. He praised the 'astonishing freshness and intensity' of the winning piece of writing.
Reacting to the award, Leigh said: "This award means the world to me, and having the chance to publish my work is a dream come true. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited about everything that’s to come."
The evening also featured readings by ten other current or recent MA Creative Writing students, who launched a collection of their own poetry and prose entitled echoECHOecho, which this year's students had edited, designed and published as part of their degree.
"This prize will highlight the strength of new voices on our writing programme, and the ways in which our students contribute to a vigorous literary culture. I'm particularly glad that the first award has been given for such outstanding and unusual work," said Professor Zoë Skoulding, Director of the MA in Creative Writing (English).