Eisteddfod 2025 festival village recreated in Minecraft
Dr Shafiul Monir, associate dean for international and partnerships in the faculty of arts, computing and engineering at Wrexham University, said: "We wanted to create a platform that not only showcases the vibrancy of the Eisteddfod but also promotes digital skills and access for young people.
"Minecraft is a powerful, creative tool, and by using it to celebrate Welsh culture, we're building both virtual and cultural communities.
"By using a widely accessible and familiar game such as Minecraft, the project bridges the gap between tradition and technology, making Welsh culture more engaging and approachable for the next generation."
Children will also be able to contribute by adding their own activities and landmarks, making the experience interactive.
In addition to the Minecraft world, a "time machine" installation will be on display at the physical Eisteddfod site.
The 'time machine' installation will be on display at the physical Eisteddfod site (Image: Supplied) Created by the university's School of Art in collaboration with the engineering department, the time machine invites attendees of all ages to record their predictions for the future of the Welsh language.
Dr Monir said: "While the time machine is a fantastic way of ensuring the legacy of the Wrecsam National Eisteddfod, as it encourages people of all ages to look ahead and think about the future of the Welsh language."
The recorded messages will be digitally stored and revisited in future years, forming a 'living archive' of aspirations for the language.
The "time machine" itself has been built with recycled materials such as buttons, fans, and discs salvaged from the university's former engineering block, which is currently being demolished to make way for new facilities.
The installation will play a part in the Eisteddfod's closing event on the main stage on the final Saturday of the festival at 10.30pm.
Dr Monir praised the teamwork behind the two initiatives.
He said: "I'd also like to take this opportunity to recognise some of our incredible team members, who have worked tirelessly on both initiatives.
"For Minecraft, I want to call out lecturers, Matthew McDonald-Dick, Rachel Rowley, Daniella Povey and Teri Birch from our computing and games team.
"While, for the time machine – a big shout out to master sculptor, Robin Connelly from our School of Art.
"It's been a true team effort."
Elen Mai Nefydd, Wrexham University's head of Welsh development and vice-chair for culture of the Wrexham National Eisteddfod Executive Committee 2025, said: "Both the Minecraft game and Welsh language time machine are excellent examples of how digital innovation can support the Welsh language and promote inclusivity.
"It's been incredibly inspiring to see staff from different disciplines across the university come together with a shared purpose – to make the Eisteddfod even more engaging and accessible to more children, young people, and families.
"These fantastic projects not only highlight the role of STEAM subjects in cultural engagement but also support our university contributing to the Welsh Government's goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050, and leaving a legacy for us as a university.
"I'd like to thank our incredible team of academics, who have fully embraced and got involved with the National Eisteddfod preparations to create some wonderfully engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.
"We are so excited for the festival to get underway now."
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Following the festival, the "time machine" will be relocated to Wrexham University's Creative Industries Building, where students will be encouraged to use it and record their own hopes for the future of the Welsh language.
The Eisteddfod Minecraft village is now live and can be accessed by searching for the following server details in the game:
Server Name: EisteddfodIP Address: 198.244.179.144Port: 2117
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