Rio Hosts NAASWCH and Welsh Heritage Week
By: Laith Hamid, Marketing and Communications Intern
In July, Rio hosted both the NAASWCH (North American Association for the Study of Welsh Culture and History) and Welsh Heritage Week. Rio first welcomed NAASWCH in 1995, and for the first time since 2018, the university once again served as host of this event, which explores Welsh-American culture. Just a few days later, Rio also hosted Welsh Heritage Week—a weeklong celebration focused on teaching the Welsh language, music, and dance. Both events were led by Dan Rowbotham, Director of the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande.
Rio remains the only institution in North America with a center dedicated specifically to Welsh studies—an accomplishment that makes Rowbotham proud.
“It's important that we are supporting academia regarding Welsh studies, not just here at Rio Grande, but also in North America and Wales,” he said. “I view Rio as an innovative institution because of its role in advancing the study of Welsh culture, which is something rarely seen in this part of the world. Because of this, we’re able to host two incredible events that many institutions simply cannot.”
According to Rowbotham, both events were a tremendous success.
“It was incredible having people from all over the country visit Rio. Welsh Heritage Week not only celebrated and taught Welsh culture, but it also gave our visitors a unique perspective on our local community.”
He emphasized how vital it is for Rio to continue hosting Welsh-centered events.
“We have such a unique position, with the resources and connections we have,” he said. “It gives us the opportunity to serve those who are specifically interested in learning Welsh and exploring Welsh culture. Being able to bring all of that together into two separate events allowed us to reach two completely different audiences. We’re contributing not only to the academic field of Welsh studies, but also to the wider North American Welsh community.”
During the academic conference, a member of the Welsh Parliament spoke about the upcoming election and the workings of the Welsh government. The first-ever Welsh-language podcast recorded in North America also took place during the event.
When asked why he feels so passionate about Welsh culture, Rowbotham shared a personal story:
“It’s the first language I knew, and I grew up immersed in Welsh culture. Then I heard about Rio and its Welsh program when I had the chance to study abroad. We had students from Rio at my college in Wales who told me about this university in America with a program focused on Welsh culture. Learning how important Welsh heritage is to this place—well, that just makes me proud to be Welsh. The amazing thing is that even though I came here knowing so much about Wales, I’ve learned even more—not just about Welsh culture, history, and language, but also about the history and character of Southern Ohio.”
To learn more about future Welsh events on campus, contact Dan Rowbotham at drowbotham@rio.edu.
