Culture and Entertainment

Wales is famous for its musical and literary heritage - its roll call of international entertainers would be hugely impressive for a much larger country.

Poet  Dylan Thomas and actor Richard Burton are legends of the past. Singers Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey remain worldwide stars after 40 years.

A new generation of Welsh talent includes Oscar winners Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones and opera giants Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins.
Wales has also enjoyed a successful period in pop music through acts such as the Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics, Charlotte Church and Jem, with newer bands such as Funeral For A Friend and The Automatic adding to the mix..

All branches of the arts are well represented, with galleries, theatres, museums and concert halls hosting the high-profile cultural activities.

Among the major cultural events that regularly attract visitors from across the globe are:

• The well-respected Cardiff Singer of the World competition held in St David's Hall
• The National Eisteddfod of Wales, a unique and ancient celebration of culture, literature, poetry and music, held since 1176
• The Hay Festival - Hay on Wye, a town of just 1,300 people stages the UK’s biggest annual literary event
• The Brecon Jazz Festival attracts big name musicians from across the world each August

Wales newest showcase venue is the £100m Millennium Centre on the Cardiff Bay waterfront. This is home to the internationally renowned Welsh National Opera and regularly hosts top performers from other branches of the arts.