A POWYS-born actress has been appointed to the new post of Welsh language enabler with the Arts Council of Wales.

Einir Sion, who was born in Machynlleth, will be primarily responsible for promoting the use of Welsh in the arts, including identifying and arranging training, creating partnerships and facilitating and stimulating the creation and production of new works in Welsh. Her job will look positively at the use of Welsh in the arts and its potential to make a difference to users and producers.

Many will have seen Einir acting in the 1990s Welsh sitcom Satellite City, in which she played the character Bridget.

Creating this post was one of the recommendations of the Welsh language mapping report that the Arts Council commissioned in 2019. It is part of an ambition to develop a sustainable vision for the Welsh language.

“I have enjoyed a varied working life. The arts and the Welsh language have been the two worlds that have steered my whole career,” said Einir.

“For 20 years I have acted on my passion to bridge these two worlds and to inspire and motivate others to see their creative potential. This job is an important step and I am ready for the challenge.”

Einir was born and raised in Machynlleth and moved to Ceredigion as a teenager. She moved to Cardiff in the early 90s to study acting at the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Many will have seen her acting in Satellite City and, in Welsh, Y Palmant Aur.

After a decade working as an actor, she moved to Pontypridd to raise a family. She is a proud mother of two and continues to live in the Valleys.

Over the last 15 years Einir has been working developing local bilingual community projects. She completed an MA in arts in the community and drama 10 years ago and has enjoyed putting her studies into practice ever since. Before joining the Arts Council of Wales, she worked in Menter Iaith Merthyr and Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.