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Leading arts commentators from across the UK are descending on Cardiff tomorrow (Saturday) for an event to celebrate the end of a pioneering scheme to boost arts criticism in Wales.

The New Critics Programme was launched in 2010 and offered budding critics encouragement via a mentoring project, which saw them partnered with experienced names in the business.

The New Critics Day will see panel discussions headed by guests like Lyn Gardner and Elisabeth Mahoney from The Guardian; Matt Wolf from the New York Times Online, Arts Desk co-founder and author of Bred of Heaven: One Man's Quest to Reclaim His Welsh Roots (Profile Books) Jasper Rees, and journalist, broadcaster and critic Aleks Sierz.

Other guests include Artistic Director of , Arwel Gruffydd, and academic and literary critic Prof Hazel Walford Davies.

The day at the is being hosted by in conjunction with .

It will be officially opened by the theatre company's Artistic Director, John E McGrath The four new critics to successfully complete the scheme are - Ben Bryant, Megan Jones, Dylan Moore and Adam Somerset.

They applied for the unpaid roles last year and after demonstrating their passion for the arts, were given the opportunity to critique events during National Theatre Wales' first season. During the debate and discussion session, they will offer their feedback on the scheme.

Theatre-goers, writers and armchair critics are invited to attend the event from 1.30pm-7.00pm.

Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. For more information and to book tickets contact Literature Wales: 029 2047 2266 / post@literaturewales.org.