About

Elena Schmitz has over ten years’ experience of working in the Welsh arts and literature sector and is based in Cardiff. She is Head of Programmes at Literature Wales and part of the Senior Management Team.

She leads on driving the creative direction of the organisation and ensures the effective management and operational delivery of Literature Wales’ varied programmes (including high-profile projects in Arts & Health; Education; Funding Schemes; International Projects; Writer Development). She is particularly interested in collaboration, co-production, interdisciplinary work and achieving social change through arts provision. 

Summary of work

Celebrating and Supporting the Written and Spoken Word

Established in 2011, Literature Wales is the national company for the development of literature in Wales. Literature Wales is responsible for leading the sector and actively collaborates with organisations and individuals who contribute to the promotion, creation and enjoyment of literature in Wales.

We believe that literature belongs to everybody and can be found everywhere. We work in a wide range of communities, to make sure that literature is a voice for all. We believe that literature can improve people’s lives and contributes to better skills, employability, health and engagement with society.

Summary of work to develop

In the last year, I have established new partnerships and delivery models for Literature Wales addressing a sharpened focus on achieving social change. Whether through better joined-up working with fellow National Companies, adopting best practice from Spread the Word, the Reading Agency or closer collaboration with Welsh colleagues.

I would like to take this further and my ambition is to create interdisciplinary projects in Wales that adopt models of turning Empathy into Action. I want to focus on changing attitudes; generating opportunities for the writers of Wales to work differently; empowering communities to translate thinking into action.

Contact

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