The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that it will contribute an additional £100,000 to the National Eisteddfod of Wales in a bid to ensure the event goes ahead.

Alun Ffred Jones, the Welsh heritage minister, said that the extra investment was necessary in order to protect the Welsh language festival, which is due to be held in Bala in August, from encountering financial difficulties The additional funding adds to the £485,722 already awarded to the National Eisteddfod by the Welsh Assembly Government, which is administered through the Welsh Language Board.

Two other organisations – the Urdd and Mudiad Ysgolian Meithrin youth movements – will also receive additional funding in order to continue promoting the Welsh language and culture. Jones said: "It is apparent that unless the Welsh Assembly Government provides additional funding, this year's 2009 National Eisteddfod will face serious financial difficulties and several of its core activities will not take place."

Elfed Roberts, chief executive of the National Eisteddfod, added: "The people of Meirionydd have worked tirelessly to raise locally more than £200,000 of funding and this additional contribution by the Welsh Assembly Government will mean that their efforts will not have been in vain and that the Eisteddfod's core activites will be similar to those held in recent years."