A year of high drama

BBC Wales's arts correspondent takes an in-depth look at the cultural highlights from 2001.

The visit of the 42nd president of the United States of America, William Jefferson Clinton, to book-packed Hay-on-Wye put the small town on the world map.

Locals enjoyed the pastime of spotting the Secret Service agents who accompanied him, identifiable by their accents, sharp suits and microphones in their lapels.

Bill Clinton: Addressed Hay literary festival

The two Arts Council of Wales Books of the Year were also announced at Hay - Swansea poet Stephen Knight for 'Mr Schnitzel' - fabulous stories about the Austrian Navy "told" to him by his father - and Owen Martell for 'Cadw Dy Ffydd Brawd' - about a young man's dream of America.

One of the world's most extraordinary pianos moved into a new home in May.

The only Stuart concert grand piano in Europe arrived at the Welsh College of Music and Drama from Tasmania.

The instrument represents the only major advance in piano design since the nineteenth century.

In July performer Eddie Ladd won a £67,000 Nesta prize to develop her art, which harnesses technology to theatre.

Winning poem

Her current touring production, 'Scarface' has received many critical plaudits and is an interpretation of Brian de Palma's film of the same name.

History was made at a rain-sodden National Eisteddfod in Denbigh when a woman - 37 year old Mererid Hopwood from Carmarthen - won the chair for the first time.

Her winning poem told the affecting story of a young woman who falls in love, has a child which she subsequently loses.

That beleaguered body, the Arts Council of Wales might have turned the corner in 2001.

Cerys Matthews: A year of change

New chief executive, Peter Tyndall, recruited from the Welsh Local Government Association, made a confident start at the helm of an organisation that finds itself in the pleasant position of deciding how to spend over a million pounds of additional money, granted by the National Assembly. The Council is being also restructuring with money and a measure of autonomy moving out to regional offices.

The autumn saw the new arts centre at Aberystwyth win a prestigious Royal Institute of British architects award and Welsh popsters Catatonia disband after much publicised health problems of lead singer Cerys Matthews.

Contrasting views

The Manic Street Preachers' new album failed to reach Number One in the charts, pipped to the post by Eva Cassidy but the Super Furry Animals made pop history by releasing their new album 'Rings Around the World' simultaneously on CD and DVD.

It was a time when two culture ministers aired contrasting views.

Welsh culture minister Jenny Randerson finally presented her strategy for the future - a 10-year plan for the arts in Wales, which places emphasis on youth and community arts.

It was broadly welcomed although some people felt that it was not clear enough a vision.

Kim Howells: Uncultured remarks

UK minister Kim Howells meanwhile launched a swingeing attack on elitism within the arts - and had a pop at folk music and the lack of Welsh light entertainment television hits.

Some theatrical highlights of the year included the welcome return of Charles Way's "Ill Met by Moonlight" with Hijinx theatre touring this magical tale of the last of the Borders' fairy folk for three months around south Wales.

Clwyd Theatr Cymru, celebrating their 25th year, produced a new theatre version of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird as well as a brand new play, The Rabbit by a young Pembrokeshire poet, Meredydd Barker.

Note of expectation

Cardiff's Sherman Theatre staged a double bill of Roald Dahl with both James and the Giant Peach and the Enormous Crocodile entertaining young audiences.

The Wales International Film Festival in November moved to a new principal venue at the UGC cinema in Cardiff.

It attracted 6,000 people to an event which saw eight new films by Welsh directors or made in Wales.

The year ended on a note of expectation.

A green light for building the Wales Millennium Centre as new home for Welsh National Opera is anticipated early in the New Year.

It ends a long saga and signals a new era in Wales, in a capital that is marshalling its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008.