FINANCIAL experts have called for the National Eisteddfod to be based at the Royal Welsh Showground every other year.
Professor Gerald Holtham, chairman of the Welsh Government’s independent commission of funding and finance, suggested the plan in an article for the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
Prof Holtham put forward the suggestion because he says the event is making financial losses and has to cut its spending to fit its level of support.
But the National Eisteddfod cast doubt on the practicality of the idea.
In his article Prof Holtham said the event had made losses over the last couple of years amounting to more than £120,000.
The visiting professor at Cardiff Business School said there were ‘no fairy godfathers or mothers’, that the event had already received public subsidy, and that it would not get any more in the current economic climate.
In the article he stated: “There is no escape from cutting its expenditure to fit its level of support.
“The obvious way is to modify the tradition of moving around to a new location every year.”
He suggested that the event could still continue to move around Wales.
But as it alternates between north and south, Mid Wales would be its best natural home.
In November, Plaid Cymru AM and ex-heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones said the National Eisteddfod should move away from some of its traditions if it was to be profitable.
He said: “The traditionalists cannot hold out if it makes a loss every year.”
Responding, the Welsh government said it had given a subsidy of £493,000 to the National Eisteddfod during 2011-12 through the Welsh Language Board.
It also claimed it provided £25,000 towards a ticket pricing scheme.
National Eisteddfod chief executive Elfed Roberts remains doubtful about the plan.
He said: “For one thing it's a site for an agricultural show and meets different needs.
“Looking back at 1993 there were eight days between the end of the Royal Welsh Show and the start of the Eisteddfod.
“Three teams had to work 24 hours a day to prepare it for the fast turnaround.
“Having spoken to a number of people who have been to the Royal Welsh Show they said they wouldn't want to go back there twice in three weeks.
“There's also a local appeal that has to raise £300,000 and it's doubtful whether it is fair to expect the people of Brecon and Radnor to raise that every other year.”