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13.06.2024
2024 marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and the Royal Welsh Show. In this exhibition titled Tipyn o Sioe! (Transl. : What a Show!) we celebrate the ‘Sioe Fawr’, one of Europe's biggest agricultural shows.
Taking place in July each year, it was originally held in Aberystwyth in 1904. It went to various locations until 1963, when it found a permanent home in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. The photographs in this exhibition reflect how the Show and agriculture have evolved over the decades.
The majority of them are the work of two documentary photographers, Geoff Charles and Arvid-Parry-Jones. Both have diligently documented the Royal Welsh Show through engaging and revealing images.
Other photographers appearing are Haydn Denman who has documented his photographic journey along the A470 through Llanelwedd, and Bruce Cardwell who has published a recent book containing contemporary images of the Show.
Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales, said:
“The Royal Welsh Show is one of Wales' most important events, giving our agricultural excellence an international platform. Thank you to the Society for choosing to announce this year’s Show with us and it is our pleasure to curate this exhibition of photographs from our collection which documents the history of the Show over the years. We look forward to welcoming people from far and wide to see them.”
Aled Rhys Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said:
“We have built a very close relationship with the Library over the past year and are very grateful to them for preparing this special exhibition which records the development of the show, and its contribution to the Welsh countryside. Also, having the opportunity to host the official launch of the 2024 Show in the Library was a historic event, celebrating the birthplace of the show in Aberystwyth back in 1904.”
--ENDS—
** Mae'r datganiad yma hefyd ar gael yn y Gymraeg**
The National Library of Wales Media Contact
Rhodri ap Dyfrig, Head of Marketing and Audiences
rhodri.apdyfrig@llyfrgell.cymru / 07521761762
Notes for editors
About the National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales is a library for Wales and the world. Located in Aberystwyth, it is the home of the story of Wales.
Opened in 1907, the Library is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations.
The purpose of the Library is to make our culture and heritage accessible for everyone to learn, research and enjoy.
We are a legal deposit library, which means we are entitled to a copy of every print publication in Britain and Ireland, but our collections also include the following:
• 7,000,000 feet of film
• 250,000 hours of video
• 6,000,000 books and newspapers
• 40,000 manuscripts
• 1,500,000 maps
• 150,000 hours of sound
• 950,000 photographs
• 60,000 works of art
• 1,900 cubic meters of archives
You will find further information on our website: https://www.library.wales/
About the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has played a leading role in the development of agriculture and the rural economy in Wales for over a century since its formation in 1904.
Today our work includes providing support for business, social welfare and education in rural communities, and the organisation and staging of our ever-popular society events; the Smallholding and Countryside Festival, the Royal Welsh Show and the Winter Fair.
The society is a registered company (Company Registration No. – 892851 Wales.) and charity (Charity Registration No. – 251232), with the offices based at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Powys.