18th century research has revealed that Glastonbury is one of a number of towns in England, which, according to tradition, can elect their own bard to represent the local arts scene.

A Bard is a poet or lyrical musician. Robert Burns, for example, is referred to as "The Bard of Scotland", but in the sense of the Bardic Chair, the word refers to a poet in the Celtic Tradition.

The original bards were from Iron Age poets-mystics who kept the lore and history of their tribes, held high status and fulfilled an important cultural role. They were closely akin to the Druids and many believe that when occupying Romans destroyed, or drove the Druids underground, their knowledge and rites were passed on to the Bardic Order.

There is no evidence to suggest the continued existence of this Bardic Order but there is evidence of frequent resurgences of the tradition, in one form or another, from the Iron Age right up until today, mainly in Wales.

Today, the strongest commonly known expression of the Bardic Tradition is The Welsh National Eisteddfod, of which the Queen is patron. Second to this is the Cornish Gorseth which literally means "high seat" but refers, as does "Eisteddfod", to a group or gathering of bards.

Few people are yet aware of the Bardic Tradition in England. Of the thirty-one towns believed to have been Arch Druidic centers in ancient times (and therefore also bardic centers), the following have now been revived: Bath, Bristol, Winchester, Avebury, London, Ely, Exeter and Glastonbury. New Chairs are being set up at Flag Fen in East Anglia and Brighton on the south coast. Even the Small World travelling stage has its own Chair.

Each bard holds the post for one year and a day, before setting up a competition to elect a successor.

The "Chair" refers to the position but, in some cases, as in Glastonbury and Bath, there is a physical ceremonial chair which is passed down from bard to bard. We also have a blue ceremonial robe and the ceremonial Silver Branch of Ynys Witrin, which are passed on with the title.

Each Bardic Chair has its own Celticised name and is frequently associated with a specific location which is often, but not always, a natural or man-made mound. Of course in Glastonbury the focus would be the Tor.

The long-term goal of the Bardic Revivalist Movement is to create an annual English Eisteddfod where all the city bards can compete to become Bard of England. The proposed location for this is Stonehenge and petitions for royal assent have already been forwarded.

Bardic Trials

We are looking for :-

1. Poets, storytellers and (lyrical) musicians/songwriters who would like to enter the trials to become the next Bard of Glastonbury.
2. People who would like to support the growth of this tradition and meet up to share in gatherings, performances & ceremony to celebrate local arts & culture on a more regular basis
3. Suitable People to judge the submissions

We now have two mailing lists - 'council' for general discussion of bardic busines and 'announce', which will be purely for announcements of Bardic interest. If you wish to be included on either of these lists or you intend to contend the Chair of Ynys Witrin in May, contact info@bardic.org

The decision is made and a new Chief Bard chaired at our Annual Open Gorsedd on St Dunstan's Day (May 19th) every year. Details of this year's Open Gorsedd can be found here.

The Institution of the Bardic Chair of Glastonbury is independent and belongs first and foremost to the people of Glastonbury, regardless of faith or background. The position of Bard of Glastonbury is open to anyone who lives within walking distance of the Tor. We trust that anyone wishing to join us will be sympathetic to the Celtic Tradition from which it claims its heritage. See Rules of the Bardic Trials

A small Bardic Booklet, containing the text of the poems and songs performed by last year's entrants, has been published, and is available from shops in the town at £3.50. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards the costs of staging each annual Open Gorsedd.

Performers who wish to enter the contest for the Bardic Chair of Ynys Witrin this year should email info@bardic.org or pick up an entry form at the Library of Avalon, Glastonbury High Street, Somerset. This year's Open Gorsedd is being organised by the Gorsedd Committee of the Bardic Council of Ynys Witrin.

Submissions For The Bardship of Glastonbury

A recent revival of an ancient Artistic Tradition