Jersey Eisteddfod
Encyclopedia
The Jersey Eisteddfod is a cultural festival and competition in Jersey
.
It was founded in 1908 by a former Dean of Jersey
who saw its competitive classes as a means by which the speech, presentation, and musical standards of his fellow islanders might be improved. With the exception of the years of the two World War
s, it has taken place annually ever since. It was based on the eisteddfod tradition of Wales.
After its inception it expanded rapidly to encompass other disciplines and crafts, with dance, art, needlework, photography being early additions, which still thrive. Sections have been discarded when no longer applicable (as laundry, shorthand) but others are adopted and integrated (as youth creative arts and crafts and flower arranging). The advent of television in the 1960s had a depressing effect on entries, but this trend was reversed by the middle of the 1980s. From that time there has been a steady increase in interest.
There are currently two festivals held annually:
Each attracts nearly 3,000 entries, and, via teachers, relations and supporters, it is estimated that the Jersey Eisteddfod reaches a minimum of 10% of the population at any one time. With its continuing growth, it has been necessary to move to larger premises for the Spring Festival, and to operate simultaneously at two venues in the Autumn. There are currently fourteen autonomous sections: Arts and crafts as adult, primary school, secondary school and youth creative arts; photography, flower arranging, video, handwriting and needlework; dance, music, English speech and drama, Jèrriais
and French
. Each section sets its own syllabus, engages one or more adjudicators and supervises the entries and the management of the competitions; and is responsible for communications with the competitors. The management of the Jersey Eisteddfod is accomplished by volunteers who either hold office, or who are enrolled to assist [as in stewarding] on an occasional basis. There are currently over 100 persons recorded as having official status.
In 1998 the Jersey Eisteddfod celebrated its 90th anniversary in a day-long event held at Samarès Manor; the year 2008 saw its centenary.
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
.
It was founded in 1908 by a former Dean of Jersey
Dean of Jersey
The Dean of Jersey is the leader of the Church of England in Jersey. He is ex officio a member of the States of Jersey, although since the constitutional reforms of 1948 the Dean may not take part in parliamentary votes...
who saw its competitive classes as a means by which the speech, presentation, and musical standards of his fellow islanders might be improved. With the exception of the years of the two World War
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, it has taken place annually ever since. It was based on the eisteddfod tradition of Wales.
After its inception it expanded rapidly to encompass other disciplines and crafts, with dance, art, needlework, photography being early additions, which still thrive. Sections have been discarded when no longer applicable (as laundry, shorthand) but others are adopted and integrated (as youth creative arts and crafts and flower arranging). The advent of television in the 1960s had a depressing effect on entries, but this trend was reversed by the middle of the 1980s. From that time there has been a steady increase in interest.
There are currently two festivals held annually:
- the Festival of Creative Arts, held in March (the 'Spring Festival)
- the Festival of Performing Arts held in November (the 'Autumn Festival').
Each attracts nearly 3,000 entries, and, via teachers, relations and supporters, it is estimated that the Jersey Eisteddfod reaches a minimum of 10% of the population at any one time. With its continuing growth, it has been necessary to move to larger premises for the Spring Festival, and to operate simultaneously at two venues in the Autumn. There are currently fourteen autonomous sections: Arts and crafts as adult, primary school, secondary school and youth creative arts; photography, flower arranging, video, handwriting and needlework; dance, music, English speech and drama, Jèrriais
Jèrriais
Jèrriais is the form of the Norman language spoken in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, off the coast of France. It has been in decline over the past century as English has increasingly become the language of education, commerce and administration...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Each section sets its own syllabus, engages one or more adjudicators and supervises the entries and the management of the competitions; and is responsible for communications with the competitors. The management of the Jersey Eisteddfod is accomplished by volunteers who either hold office, or who are enrolled to assist [as in stewarding] on an occasional basis. There are currently over 100 persons recorded as having official status.
In 1998 the Jersey Eisteddfod celebrated its 90th anniversary in a day-long event held at Samarès Manor; the year 2008 saw its centenary.