A Welsh Government Minister has named a piece of threatened Swansea artwork as an “important local feature” in response to an Assembly Member.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas; Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism; made the comments about the ‘More Poetry is Needed’ artwork that could soon be lost under Swansea redevelopment plans.

The comments came in response to a letter from regional Assembly Member Suzy Davies who had asked what action was being taken to preserve the artwork that has been in Swansea since 2014 when it was commissioned as part of the Dylan Thomas 100 celebrations by LOCWS International’s Art Across the City project.

Suzy Davies, Welsh Conservative AM for South Wales West, wrote to Welsh Government asking them what support they would be willing to give to preserve the artwork following their support and funds to move the Banksy artwork in Neath Port Talbot earlier this year.

“This is a piece of art from a Tuner Prize winning artist” said Mrs Davies.

“While ‘More Poetry is Needed’ was indeed planned initially as a temporary art installation, it is fair to say that is has already become an iconic piece in the city centre.

“We must not forget that the Eiffel Tower was only ever planned as a temporary piece, but no one bats an eye-lid that it is still standing 130 years on from the World’s Fair, so I am extremely pleased that the Culture Minister has now also acknowledged that ‘More Poetry is Needed’ is an important local feature.”

In his response to Mrs Davies, Lord Elis-Thomas went on to say that it is for Swansea Council “to consider the impact any proposed development may have on local heritage, culture and townscape assets and to consider what statutory protection should be afforded.”

Mrs Davies added “Following the Minister’s helpful comments I have today [11th December 2019] written to Swansea Council asking them to show us the assessment they have completed on how the city centre redevelopment may affect this and other important local heritage.

“Considering the Banksy art in Port Talbot could be moved and St Fagans National Museum has entire century old houses from around Wales that have been dismantled and rebuilt at their site, I am sure a solution can be found where Swansea city centre redeveloped goes ahead and ‘More Poetry is Needed’ is also preserved.”

Mae Gweinidog Llywodraeth Cymru wedi enwi darn o waith celf Abertawe sydd dan fygythiad fel “nodwedd leol bwysig” mewn ymateb i Aelod Cynulliad.

Arglwydd Dafydd Elis-Thomas; Dirprwy Weinidog Diwylliant, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth; gwnaeth y sylwadau am y gwaith celf ‘Mae angen Mwy o Farddoniaeth’ y gellid ei golli cyn bo hir o dan gynlluniau ailddatblygu Abertawe.

Daeth y sylwadau mewn ymateb i lythyr gan yr Aelod Cynulliad rhanbarthol Suzy Davies a oedd wedi gofyn pa gamau oedd yn cael eu cymryd i warchod y gwaith celf sydd wedi bod yn Abertawe ers 2014 pan gafodd ei gomisiynu fel rhan o ddathliadau Dylan Thomas 100 gan prosiect LOCWS Rhyngwladol “Art Across the City” International.

Ysgrifennodd Suzy Davies, AC Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Orllewin De Cymru, at Lywodraeth Cymru yn gofyn iddynt pa gefnogaeth y byddent yn barod i’w rhoi i warchod y gwaith celf yn dilyn eu cefnogaeth a’u cronfeydd i symud gwaith celf Banksy yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot yn gynharach eleni.

“Dyma ddarn o gelf gan artist sydd wedi ennill Gwobr Tuner” meddai Mrs Davies.

“Tra bod‘ Mwy o Farddoniaeth Angenrheidiol ’yn wir wedi’i gynllunio i ddechrau fel gosodiad celf dros dro, mae’n deg dweud bod hynny eisoes wedi dod yn ddarn eiconig yng nghanol y ddinas.

“Rhaid i ni beidio ag anghofio mai dim ond darn dros dro y cynlluniwyd Tŵr Eiffel erioed, ond does neb yn ystlumio caead llygad ei fod yn dal i sefyll 130 mlynedd ymlaen o Ffair y Byd, felly rwy’n hynod falch bod y Gweinidog Diwylliant bellach wedi cydnabu hefyd fod 'Angen Mwy o Farddoniaeth' yn nodwedd leol bwysig. "

Yn ei ymateb i Mrs Davies, aeth yr Arglwydd Elis-Thomas ymlaen i ddweud mai mater i Gyngor Abertawe yw “ystyried yr effaith y gallai unrhyw ddatblygiad arfaethedig ei chael ar asedau treftadaeth, diwylliant a threfwedd leol ac ystyried pa amddiffyniad statudol y dylid ei roi.”

Ychwanegodd Mrs Davies “Yn dilyn sylwadau defnyddiol y Gweinidog, rwyf heddiw [11eg Rhagfyr 2019] wedi ysgrifennu at Gyngor Abertawe yn gofyn iddynt ddangos i ni’r asesiad y maent wedi’i gwblhau ar sut y gallai ailddatblygiad canol y ddinas effeithio ar hyn a threftadaeth leol bwysig arall.

“O ystyried y gellid symud celf Banksy ym Mhort Talbot ac mae gan Amgueddfa Genedlaethol St Fagans dai canrif gyfan o bob rhan o Gymru sydd wedi’u datgymalu a’u hailadeiladu ar eu safle, rwy’n siŵr y gellir dod o hyd i ateb lle mae ailddatblygiad canol dinas Abertawe yn mynd yn ei flaen ac Mae 'Angen Mwy o Farddoniaeth' hefyd yn cael ei gadw."