Gillian Clarke
First Minister's Special Award 2023 winner
Gillian Clarke was awarded the First Minister’s Special Award at the St David Awards ceremony.
The poet and author was chosen by the First Minister for her impressive contribution to the arts, literature and culture in Wales.
Gillian Clarke is originally from Cardiff but now lives in Ceredigion.
Her work has been part of the GCSE and A Level exam syllabus for over 30 years and she performs her poetry regularly for student audiences in the UK and in several European cities.
Gillian has written radio and theatre drama, and translated poetry and prose from Welsh. She has written over 100 poems throughout her career.
Gillian was the National Poet of Wales from 2008 until 2016, awarded the Queen’s Gold medal for Poetry in 2010 and the Wilfred Owen Award in 2012.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said:
Language is so important to us in Wales. Being a place where two languages are spoken every day means that words define us, as individuals and as a nation. It is why poets have always had such a celebrated part in our history.
“Today’s award is a way of restating that in contemporary Wales, honouring one of the outstanding poets of my lifetime. Gillian Clarke’s work captures the grace, the power and the connected nature of our lives. It is an honour to have offered her this award.