Wales Arts Review announces our Person of the Year 2019, the individual figure we believe has offered a great contribution to the arts and culture of Wales, who has moved to shape and drive the most important issues of our time.
For 2019, the Wales Arts Review Person of the Year is actor and activist Michael Sheen. In 2019, Sheen was central in bringing the 17th Homeless Football World Cup to Cardiff, putting a substantial amount of his own money into the tournament to ensure it took place at all. It was played between over 500 players from 50 countries for a week in July. Shortly before it all kicked off, Sheen told The Observer newspaper, “Although it does help to a degree to have an actor’s name attached to something, I wanted to be more involved”, in reference to his decision to split his time between acting and activism. Sheen also said how “it’s about getting more support for people at risk. Those who have come out of the army or prison. We should also be going into schools, where you can often spot those who may be on the edge of homelessness, then support them earlier. The point of crisis is not the only place to offer help.” The tournament in Cardiff proved a huge inspiration to players and public alike. (For more stories of inspiration from the Homeless World Cup visit the Street Soccer website).
(image credit: Huw T Walters)
WALES ARTS REVIEW PERSON OF THE YEAR 2019
MICHAEL SHEEN
“FOR ACTIVISM ON THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF INEQUALITY AND BRINGING THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP TO WALES”
