COMMUNITY fundraising groups have started the process to raise £300,000 for the Monmouthshire Eisteddfod 2016.

There have been five meetings so far to establish local appeal committees and two have been formally set up in Monmouth and Abergavenny. Others are looking to be established in Chepstow, Usk and Caldicot.

All the community groups together will have to raise £300,000 towards the Eisteddfod which is to be held in Castle Meadows, Abergavenny. The Abergavenny committee will have to raise the most money with £100,000 through various fundraising events.

The festival, which attracts 160,000 visitors every year, was last held in Monmouthshire in 1913.

Alwyn Roberts, deputy organiser of the National Eisteddfod, said: “Organising the National Eisteddfod is a community based and led process, and the fundraising element in itself provides important social and economic legacies which in turn generate a sense of community spirit and pride. I would urge everybody to embrace the fact that Monmouthshire is the 2016 host county for Wales’ leading festival and get involved in any way they can to show the rest of Wales that a county along the border such as Monmouthshire can play its part in hosting a Welsh national festival.”

Organisers predict that Monmouthshire will take in £6 million to £8 million for the week-long festivities which begin on July 31 to August 6. Monmouthshire council will have to provide £580,000 towards hosting the event.

David Roberts, chairman of the Abergavenny appeal committee, said: “We are looking at it as a fundraising marathon not a sprint as it’s a lot of money to raise in the next 18 months. We have been looking at different ideas including walking expeditions and concerts.

“We want as many people to get involved as possible. It is important that we establish a legacy for the Monmouthshire Eisteddfod such as the Eisteddfod choir at Ebbw Vale which is still going strong – this is something that we would want to achieve.”

The next Monmouth committee meeting is on February 18 at 7pm at the Kings Head, Monmouth, and the Abergavenny committee will be meeting on February 25 at 7pm at the Melville Theatre in Abergavenny.