The executive producer of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been made redundant amidst what has been described as the “dire” financial situation facing the 76-year-old festival. 

At a meeting in the Pavilion last night (Monday) at which grassroots members and supporters of the eisteddfod were invited to come up with ideas for its future survival, vice-chairman Chris Adams revealed this year’s event had led to a loss. 

Another eisteddfod official later explained to the news/comment blog, llanblogger, that the actual amount was yet to be verified but was "substantial".

Later it was announced that executive producer Camilla King has been made redundant. 

An official statement says: “Camilla is leaving with the thanks of all board members and chairs of the committees.  

“She has been executive producer since September 2021 and steered the festival since the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Sarah Ecob, chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been severely impacted by the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and by the current cost of living crisis.  

“Like many other cultural organisations, the eisteddfod is facing an extremely challenging future due to our financial situation.  

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“The Board and the Committee Chairs have met to discuss emergency actions to try to stabilise our organisation. We have taken the very sad decision to make our executive producer redundant and we will shortly be launching a major fundraising campaign to safeguard the eisteddfod’s future.  

“We’d like to thank Camilla for her outstanding work at our festival and wish her well for the future. 

"We would like to thank our customers, volunteers, staff, competitors, performers and funders who make the eisteddfod such a special event every year…with their help we can ensure the eisteddfod continues to be central to cultural life in Wales and continue its role in promoting peace in an uncertain world.” 

The festival statement adds that several new board members have been appointed “who will work with the staff and hundreds of volunteers to make sure the eisteddfod continues”. 

It is believed that Camilla King has five days in which to appeal the decision.

At last night's meeting, Chris Adams told around 60 supporters gathered in one of the pavilion’s meeting rooms and others who had joined via Zoom that the financial situation was “frankly dire” with inflation, the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic all taking their toll on last month's 2023 eisteddfod. 

He added that the people running the eisteddfod knew they must now "move very quickly" to ensure that enough money was generated to keep it trading. 

He said that a number of small specialist groups within the organisation were already working on plans to see that next year’s festival went ahead on a firm financial footing, explaining: “There’s a lot to be done but I see this is as an opportunity as well as a challenge.” 

The supporters split into small groups to discuss key factors of the eisteddfod such as fundraising, competitions, concerts and events on the field. 

The large number of suggestions they put forward were then collated and discussed before being taken back for further consideration by the board.