Artists apply now to exhibit at Y Lle Celf in 2010 Blaenau Gwent National Eisteddfod

Once again there will be a large multi media exhibition in Y Lle Celf (Art Space) at the 2010 National Eisteddfod in Blaenau Gwent. Applications in both fine and applied art(including the moving image and performance art)are now invited.

The National Eisteddfod is taking place between 31 July - 7 August 2010 and Y Lle Celf is an ongoing successful partnership between Arts Council of Wales and the Eisteddfod.

Initially, entrants are requested to submit work in the form of high quality Jpeg images. Because of the large number of entries most of the works will be selected from these images, therefore it is important to submit clear images of your work and to show items that are available for the exhibition. Entrants who work through the medium of the moving image or performance art are invited to present their work on DVD.

After viewing the entries a small number of those short-listed for the exhibition may be visited by the selectors. The selected works will be displayed in Y Lle Celf for the duration of the Eisteddfod. Where the work necessitates, it may happen other than in the building itself.

The Eisteddfod tradition of honouring excellence will be maintained in the following sections:

FINE ART
THE GOLD MEDAL FOR FINE ART
Prize: The Gold Medal for Fine Art (replica) and £5,000 to be awarded at the discretion of the selectors.

CRAFT AND DESIGN
THE GOLD MEDAL FOR CRAFT AND DESIGN
Prize: The Gold Medal for Craft and Design (replica) and £5,000 to be awarded at the discretion of the selectors.

YOUNG ARTIST SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship: £1,500
The scholarship will be awarded to the most promising candidate to enable him/her to pursue a course in a recognised school or college of art and design or attend master classes. The scholarship is open to those under 25 years at the time of the Eisteddfod. Short-listed candidates will be expected to prepare a portfolio of work and submit a letter of application describing how the scholarship will be put to use.

The work submitted may be displayed in Y Lle Celf. The successful candidate may also be offered space at the following Eisteddfod's Lle
Celf to display his/her work.

SELECTORS:
Chris Coppock (Director Spike Island, Bristol)
Pamela Rawnsley (Maker)
John Selway (Artist)

IVOR DAVIES AWARD
Prize: £600. Awarded to the work in the Visual Arts Exhibition that conveys the spirit of activism in the struggle for language,culture and politics in Wales.

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Prize: £500 (Josef Herman Art Foundation) to the most popular work, or collection of works, in the Visual Arts Exhibition - an opportunity for the public to vote.

CONTEMPORARY ART SOCIETY FOR WALES - ANNUAL PURCHASE PRIZE
The Contemporary Art Society for Wales will award a purchase prize to a work in the Visual Arts Exhibition. The purchased work will enter the CASW collection for subsequent distribution to a public gallery in Wales.

THE DEREK WILLIAMS TRUST PURCHASE
The Derek Williams Trust works with National Museum Wales and the National Eisteddfod to add to its collection of contemporary art. At each Eisteddfod the Trust considers whether to acquire work from an exhibiting artist, and if a purchase is made this is shown in Y Lle Celf the following year.

ARCHITECTURE
For further details contact the Eisteddfod Office.

THE GOLD MEDAL FOR ARCHITECTURE
Prize: The Alwyn Lloyd Memorial Medal (replica), in conjunction with the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. (Sponsored by the Design Commission for Wales)

PLAQUE OF MERIT
For smaller projects of a high standard of design and quality in Wales.

ARCHITECTURE SCHOLARSHIP
Open to individuals under 25 years.
Prize: £1,500

Please contact the Visual Arts Officer at the Eisteddfod if you require more information and an application form: Robyn Tomos: robyn@eisteddfod.org.uk or visit the website: www.eisteddfod.org.uk/

Photograph: Lowri Davies 2009 Gold Medal Winner for Craft and Design

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Caerphilly Council inspired by the arts to make its mark

World Record Holding Triple Jumper, Jonathan Edwards recently visited Caerphilly Castle to help generate enthusiasm for London 2012 and congratulate Caerphilly Arts Development Team's success in being the first Cultural Olympiad Project in Wales to receive the London 2012 Inspire Mark. Honored guest Jonathan, also saw performances from 2008 Caerphilly's Got Talent winners, Triawd and Phoenix Dance, who inspired others to begin engaging in the Cultural Olympiad Project.

The Inspire Marked Project, namely Futura, has been created and developed by the Arts Development Team and Sean Tuan John, the projects Artistic Director/Choreographer. The project aims to provide the residents of Caerphilly County Borough with opportunities to engage with a range of creative and cultural activities leading up to the Summer of 2012, when Caerphilly Castle will play host to a spectacular finale event.

The finale event will be the culmination of the activities that will take place in the lead up to the Olympic year. The Arts Development Team will work with and engage as many local communities as possible, with the intention of engaging those who do not already take part in arts activities like dance, music, circus skills and carnival arts by providing existing artistic groups with a chance to expand on their repertoire by working with a variety of professional artists.

Arts Development Manager, Joanna Smith said, 'This is a great opportunity for the residents of the county borough to engage with some very exciting and innovative artists, to create what we hope will be a spectacular event, which will leave a lasting legacy for years to come and put Caerphilly County Borough on the Olympic Legacy map.'

If you belong to an artistic group that would like to become involved in this creative legacy then please email Arts Development or if you're a creative individual wanted to try something new then look out for further information on how you can get involved.

read more... “Caerphilly Council inspired by the arts to make its mark”

Win £1,500 award for Torch Theatre's New Annual Open Art Competition

An award of £1,500 is being offered to the winner of a new Annual Open Art Competition and Exhibition being launched at the Joanna Field Gallery in the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, next spring.

With the aim of being cutting edge, visually stimulating and thought-provoking, local, national and international artists practicing in contemporary and conceptual art, inclusive of painting, installation, film, photography, print, sculpture and ceramics are invited to submit entries for consideration before the deadline of 8 January.

Work should be recent, original and existing - proposals will only be accepted if fully developed and artists must be prepared to fund any new work themselves. Entry is free and there are no geographical restrictions, but artists must be over the age of 21. Size limitations are according to available gallery space. Work will be selected from a submission of a maximum 4 images, supplied in digital format, slides or DVD.

The panel of selectors for Pembrokeshire Open 2010 includes an experienced curator, Tracey Warr, together with artists David Fitzjohn and Alison Hayes. Artists whose work is selected for exhibition will be notified by the end of January 2010.

All works selected (up to 40 artists) will be included in an exhibition at the Joanna Field Gallery at Milford Haven's Torch Theatre from 20 February to 28 March 2010 with the award being announced at a Private View on Friday 19 February.

If you are an artist and would like the opportunity for your work to be exhibited, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk for more information and an application form. The Torch Theatre is funded by the Arts Council of Wales.

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Raise a glass to the pub landlord

The Times calls him 'awe-inspiring', The Sun 'a genius' and The Daily Telegraph 'a national treasure' and Al Murray's at Cardiff's Wales Millennium Centre in his Pub Landlord persona on Sunday.

The Guv’nor, who's added extra dates to this popular tour, wants to to raise a glass with you, the beautiful British public, while merrily musing over a heady brew of topics; including the global financial crisis, London 2012, and his personal crusade to fix Broken Britain.

Don’t miss this last chance to see the Guv’s biggest ever live show.

Al Murray is the star of the hit prime time ITV1 shows Happy Hour; a second Audience with Al Murray The Pub Landlord; and the critically acclaimed Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder.

Tickets and information at wmc.org.uk

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Disposable People

Today, over 200 years after the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, an estimated 27 million people worldwide are still locked into slavery and servitude across the globe. Aberystwyth Arts Centre hosts the Disposable People exhibition bringing together eight projects by leading Magnum photojournalists which expose the unpleasant underbelly of a consumer driven world.

Included are: Abbas, documenting child labour in Bangladesh; Ian Berry, examining the effects of international trade rules on farmers in Ghana; Stuart Franklin exploring chattel slavery in Sudan; JimGoldberg, documenting the trafficking of young people from Eastern Europe; Susan Meiselas, investigating the conditions of Indonesian women working in Singapore as domestic servants; Paolo Pellegrin documenting Haitian ‘Restaveks’ (child slaves); Chris Steele- Perkins, documenting South Korean women who were held as sex slaves by the Japanese inWorldWar II and are still seeking restitution; AlexWebb, photographing Haitian cane workers held in organised bonded labour in the Dominican Republic.

The exhibition runs until January and there's a free discussion event next Monday, November 23, with Mark Sealy, Exhibition Curator Autograph ABP and Jeff Williams, Head of Christian Aid in Wales, chaired by Jenny Edkins Professor of International Politics, Aberystwyth University.

read more... “Disposable People”

Seminar on 2012 disability arts programme

The Arts Council Wales are holding an advice session for people interested in the Unlimited programme - the disability arts programme of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Unlimited is:

Unlimited Commissions - A £1.5million commission fund to support high-quality collaborations between disability arts organisations, disabled artists and producers, and mainstream arts organisations.

Unlimited Talent - Successful applicants will receive support in developing their winning ideas through bespoke training and mentoring from experienced practitioners.

Unlimited Presents - Work created through Unlimited Commissions will be showcased in London and across the UK up to and including games time.

Unlimited International - This will support collaboration between the artists in the UK and other countries, and showcase new work around the world. This pillar of the programme is still in development, full details will be announced in 2010.

Here at The Arts Council Wales, Cardiff, we are holding an advice session on December 7 between 2-4pm (lunch is provided at 1pm) which will bring together the programme managers from London 2012 and Arts Council England so you can find out more about the programme and how you can apply for funding.

You can find out more on the website: www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/unlimited


This event is free but please RSVP with any specific dietary and access requirements by 30th November 2009 to:Jennifer.Stoves@artswales.org.uk or Maggie@dacymru.com

Please let us know your access support requirements by 30th November so that we can make sure the support is in place.

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Celebrating the Shakespearean sonnet in pictures

There's currently an exhibition in Builth Wells library of Photographs taken at the Sonnet Festival held at Living Willow Theatre by Builth Wells Photographic Club.

There are some fantastic shots of the festival, held in Penlanole to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets last June.

The exhibition is in the library from Tuesday, November 10 to Tuesday, December 1.

Library opening times are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30am – 1pm and 2 – 5pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12.30pm.

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Prestigious UK award for stadium art project

An innovative Swansea arts project has beaten off competition from some of the UK's leading cultural attractions to win a major prize.

The vibrant artworks that line the walls of the city's Liberty Stadium won the JTI Arts and Business Community Award ahead of other shortlisted entries from the British Museum, The Hay Festival and London's Southbank Centre.

The prestigious national award is given to a partnership that encourages community engagement with the arts or has made a significant contribution to regeneration or sustainable growth.

Swansea's Liberty Stadium was recognised for a project alongside Pippin's Designs where star rugby and football players such as Shane Williams, Ryan Jones and Lee Trundle worked alongside about 1,500 local young people, youth groups and children with physical and learning difficulties to produce artwork.

Some of the artwork includes the autographed portraits of Swans and Ospreys players lining the Liberty Stadium walls that are now seen by over 750,000 fans a year.

Art experts also worked alongside players and local young people to put together paintings of the visiting Australian rugby team, Elton John and the Princess Royal.

Cllr John Hague, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, is a Director of the Swansea Stadium Management Company.

He said: "The calibre of this award can be illustrated by the other shortlisted projects. This community arts scheme has beaten off competition from some of the foremost cultural venues and attractions in the UK . Everyone involved in the arts scheme is thoroughly deserving of national recognition because the project has helped the stadium become a heartbeat of the community."

Cllr Graham Thomas, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, is Chairman of the Directors of the Swansea Stadium Management Company.

He said: "The artwork that lines the walls of the Liberty Stadium has become a very popular feature of the venue that attracts a lot of interest from the thousands of rugby and football fans who attend games every week during the season.

"The arts scheme has helped raise the profile of the stadium and receiving this award will further heighten recognition of this wonderful facility across the UK."

Andrew Davies, General Manager of the Liberty Stadium who collected the award on behalf of the Stadium, said: "This is a fantastic achievement and I'm delighted for Jon and Sally Phillips of Pippin's Designs and all the individuals and groups involved in the project.

"This is after all a reflection of their hard work and, while we are delighted that their work has brought colour to the Stadium, the real achievement for us is the impact it has had on the young people involved.

"We hope that this award will be the platform which will allow the project to go from strength to strength."

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Safle announces new Chair of the Board of Trustees

Safle, the Public Art Agency for Wales has announced Sue Essex as the organisation's new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

The former Welsh Assembly Government Minister Sue Essex will succeed Safle's founding chair Harry James, continuing her broad and
prolific career by joining the independent public art consultancy.

A qualified planner, Sue as Minister for the Environment set up the Design Commission for Wales and changed the planning system to give greater recognition for design in development and regeneration initiatives.

Sue Essex: "Having always been interested in art in all its forms I am delighted to join the board at Safle. I believe that public art is important to people's lives and together we will strive to continue to produce imaginative and admired artworks that capture people's imagination - in line with previous installations such as the 'Animal Wall' structure commissioned earlier this year, an installation that impressed me greatly. Our concentration is now firmly on Safle's future and I am greatly looking forward to working with the organisation and its supporters."

Throughout her professional and political career Sue's strong and active interest in contemporary art, architecture and design has greatly impressed Safle's board and staff members.

Wiard Sterk, Executive Director of Safle said:

"I am delighted that Sue Essex has agreed to succeed Harry James. Safle is a unique organisation in Wales and the UK and its work confirms and supports Wales's leading role in placing the arts and culture at the heart of public life. Sue brings to Safle a wealth of experience and knowledge, to lead the organisation in its next phase of development and assist the Staff and Board in taking forward current work and new initiatives. I look forward to work with Sue and place Safle on a firm footing, strengthen existing partnerships and develop new strands to our work."

Safle is supported by Arts Council of Wales.

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Soundtrack International Film and Music Festival scores again

All film and music buffs get ready for a week of sheer bliss as Soundtrack International Film and Music Festival takes over Cardiff for 5 days.

It's going to be hard to top last year's bill which included such high profile guests as Slumdog Millionaire Director, Danny Boyle and renowned Welsh actor, Jonathan Pryce but they've done it again! From Wednesday 18 November to Sunday 22 November, the festival, which takes place in various venues around Cardiff and the Bay area will be welcoming some very special guests...

2009's event will see musical legend, composer and artist, John Cale return once more to Wales. Cale, who was born in Garnant near Ammanford, made his name as the co-founder of iconic New York art-rock group, The Velvet Underground in the 1960s before forging a highly successful solo career as a producer and performer, before making the leap into the world of composition for film.

Cale who represented Wales at the Venice Biennale earlier this year, returns to the Captial to celebrate his career as both a composer and solo musician through two very special events. On the 20th November, John Cale will take part in an 'In Conversation' event where he will discuss his film work before a screening of the cult favourite, 'American Psycho' (for which he provided the score) at Cardiff Cineworld.

The following evening, November 21, Cale will perform a special concert at the newly reopened Coal Exchange venue in Cardiff Bay. For the first time ever, Cale will perform his seminal solo album, 'Paris 1919' in its entirety, backed by his LA based band and a large compliment of backing musicans.

Also appearing live at Soundtrack '09 will be Cardiff psych-rockers, Super Furry Animals, who will perform at the Coal Exchange as part of a special series of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iconic Creation Records label. The band will perform tracks from their years on the label on the 20 November.

Gruff Rhys, SFA's frontman will also be making his debut as a film-maker with the premiere of his new film, 'Separado' at Cineworld, Cardiff on November 19. Separado is a psychedelic western musical in which Gruff takes us on a pan continental road trip in search of his long lost Patagonian uncle, the poncho wearing guitarist, Rene Griffiths. The film will be followed by a Q and A session with Gruff, his co-director Dyl 'Goch' Jones and the Guardian Journalist and author, Will Hodgkinson.

This is just a taster of the great events on offer at this year's Soundtrack Festival. For more information, please visit the website: www.soundtrackfilmfestival.com

Film Agency Wales, which organises the festival, is supported by Arts Council of Wales.

Photograph: John Cale at the Venice Biennale (c) British Council

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Wyeside Arts Centre seeks new trustees to join its Council of Management

Wyeside is an independent arts charity based in an historic listed building in the heart of rural Mid Wales in Builth Wells with a turnover of over £300,000. The building has been home to one of Wales longest running cinemas for over ninety years and the arts centre has just finished celebrating its thirtieth birthday.

Wyeside CEO and Artistic Director, Guy Roderick said, "We're all really proud of Wyeside. It has a fantastic history of enabling access to the arts for the wide geographical area of communities that it serves. Some of the famous stars that have appeared on the Wyeside stage over the years include the top names in all fields of arts and entertainment from jazz and comedy legends Ronnie Scott, and Eddie Izzard, to literary giants like Carol Anne Duffy and Germaine Greer.

Famous visiting companies have included the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Welsh National Opera. More local community arts activity has seen the arts centre hosting annual performances by Builth Wells Community Arts, Mid Powys Youth Theatre and the Young Farmer's Clubs. It is an enormously valuable and important cultural asset in Mid Powys."

Over the past few years Wyeside has faced potential closure a number of times but in the face of real adversity the staff and volunteers have repeatedly rallied round to keep this well loved venue open to the public and have continued to deliver a great programme of events that is renowned for its breadth and quality.

Last year they were hugely strengthened in their efforts by the extraordinary public petition to the Heritage Minister that gathered over eight thousand signatures - all determined to 'Save Wyeside' - the second largest petition ever received by the Welsh Assembly Government. Any prospective Trustees will be very interested to note that Wyeside is one of only three arts venues in Wales to have secured the coveted Investors in People status, has a dedicated and committed active Friends group and its record of promoting opportunities for volunteering has been recognised by the Prime Minister's Office.

Equally worthy of note is the support that Wyeside gets from its key main funders, the Arts Council of Wales and Powys County Council, alongside equally vital support from Builth Wells Town Council and a wide range of fundraising activities.

Over the course of a typical year Wyeside presents more than 1000 events ranging from classical music, theatre, film, community plays and youth theatre to comedy nights, contemporary music and arts workshops.

Chair of Wyeside Council of Management, Julian Gibson Watt said, "Wyeside has been well served over a long period by a Board who have steered the company through some very difficult times. It is an important duty of every Board of Trustees, though, to build Board Succession Planning into their long-term strategy. Although we know that there are significant challenges ahead we recognise that adding new and highly motivated Trustees to our Board will bring great benefit to Wyeside and in turn to our huge audiences - generally numbering around 40,000 people attending events per year. We want to attract new Trustees who will be prepared to share their expertise and knowledge with Wyeside's small, but highly regarded staff team and to work alongside them to meet and overcome those challenges that lie ahead.

"We have some particular areas of expertise that we feel would be a priority for us to attract including: strategic finance, fund-raising, PR & communications, marketing & audience development, current arts sector experience, leadership and governance, human resources, health and safety and digital media artforms. That said, however, the most important thing that any new trustee would bring to the Board would be their willingness to fully engage with the arts centre and its activities and a preparedness to offer vital volunteer management support to the team. We are well aware from the kind of support we received through the petition that Wyeside is widely acknowledged as being a vibrant, professional and innovative arts centre and we are keen to attract new trustees who will strive to match the aspirations and ambitions of our audiences and our team."

Anyone with an interest should, in the first instance request an information pack by contacting Julian Gibson Watt, c/o Wyeside Arts Centre, Castle Street. Builth Wells. Powys. LD2 3BN or by email to chairman@wyeside.co.uk

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The Makers Guild in Wales new Christmas exhibition, 'Seren Arian' open now

Come to Craft in the Bay, Cardiff, from Saturday 14th November to see a festive Christmas exhibition 'Seren Arian' (Silver Star).

Be prepared to be dazzled by a wonderful array of designer crafts - striking jewellery by Award winner Suzie Horan, delicate crystalline glass bowls by Ruth Shelley and beautifully designed coffee tables by the Cadmans are just some of the unique items available.

Textile Artist, Laura Thomas, who was recently awarded a Creative Wales Ambassador Award by the Arts Council of Wales and was the Ashes Vessel Artist, is also exhibiting at 'Seren Arian'. She is showing six 'Resonate' Sculptures, (textiles cast in acrylic resin) and two framed jacquard woven pictorial pieces.

Whether you are looking for stocking fillers or that very special gift for your loved ones - you will find plenty of choice in this sparkly exhibition. And in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Makers Guild in Wales there's also a festive area of gifts retailing at under £25 - tree decorations, leather purses, felt brooches..... many tempting items! So folks, form an orderly queue.

For more information, please visit the website: www.makersguildinwales.org.uk

Photograph: A work by Laura Tomas

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Duffy's look at the world and his wives

Tomorrow night at the Weston Studio Theatre in the Wales Millennium Centre you can take a fresh female persepctive on the lives of the great men.

A new stage version from poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy's (who's achieved so many firsts in that post it's hard to list them all) acclaimed poems that see history through the eyes of wive's of the mighty men of myth and history.

From Mrs Faust and Frau Freud to Queen Kong and Mrs Midas Marlowe's performance also casts an astute glance over the modern world. Laced with dark humour and acerbic wit, this passionate expose will enthral lovers of Duffy’s poems and newcomers alike.

Linda Marlowe has enjoyed great acclaim for her previous solo work including Berkoff’s Women, which toured internationally and played the West End seasons. In this new show, her virtuoso performance of Duffy’s brilliant and often controversial verse is interspersed with commentary about the poems.

Tickets and full details at WMC.org.uk

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Barti Ddu sails in Captain Morgan's sea lanes

A Welsh Black Bart, Barti Ddu, is docking at the Wales Millennium Centre tomorrow for a swashbuckling adventure for children of all ages.

We've had our share of sea dogs throughout history, including the most famous of them all, Captain Morgan so Barti's celebrating a real Welsh tradion.

Sharpen your swords and have your wits about you as you join brave Barti and his friend, the pirate doctor Gumbo as they cross stormy seas on their quest to win back their beloved ship. There are skeletons, horrible monsters and the evil Sea Witch and maybe even a few cannibals to face along the way in this bustling, animated Welsh language pantomime production.

Your sea legs will get a work out with a show packed full of singing, dancing and sword fights, with a live band to make you feel as though you’re part of Barti Ddu's crew.

Full details of tickets, reductions and pre-show meal deals at WMC.org.uk

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Enjoy Christmas at Oriel Ynys Môn

Christmas is once again just around the corner and Oriel Ynys Môn is offering customers a special experience.

This year, the Art Gallery provides a home for the Craft Fair which will exhibit works by established artists and those developing their talents. The Craft Fair begins this Saturday, November 14th, and will last until Christmas Eve, December 24th.

Principal Museum, Culture and Archives Officer, Pat West, explained, "We'll have original works and prints for sale, with something for everyone's taste as well as prices to suit every pocket. This will be a special way of buying that unique gift for a loved one or even spoiling yourself before Christmas."

She added, "To help people buy the craft works, Oriel Ynys Môn is also offering shoppers a chance to join the Principality Saving Scheme which is an interest free service."

The Oriel's shop, Jac Do, is also selling a range of crafts, including books, toys, greeting cards, gifts and special decorations. It also offers a wide variation of new and inventive craft work by some of the best craftspeople.

To end your visit in style, after all your shopping, why not relax and enjoy something from the tasty menu at our café, Blas Mwy.

So visit us for a unique shopping experience - and a day to remember!

Oriel Ynys Môn - Llangefni - Opening Hours: 10.30 am - 5.00 pm
Free entry
Phone: 01248 724444

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Artist's commission to create wooden sculpture in Cwmbran

The Ancient Cwmbran and the Cistercians Partnership are commissioning an artist to create a wooden sculpture of the well loved and infamous 6th century Celtic Church Warrior Saint, Derfel.

The project is part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project which will research the Ancient history of Cwmbran and aims to encourage local communities to become engaged with the history and culture surrounding them. The sculpture will be used to raise awareness of Cwmbran's early medieval history and to celebrate this local Celtic Saint commemorated in early April of each year on St Derfels Day.

The following historical content of this commission needs to be observed by the commissioned Artist:

Derfel is celebrated within Early Medieval Welsh poetry as a follower of the famous King Arthur and one of only seven survivors of King Arthur's 6th century, last battle at Camlan, the poem describes that Derfel survived through the strength of his spear.

Derfel is said to of retired into the church after the said battle and to of built two churches in Wales one in North Wales at what is now Llanderfel village and the other here in Cwmbran within what was the Lordship of Caerleon and finally he became the bishop of Bardsey Island (the island of 20,000 saints).

Both churches became sites of pilgrimage in the medieval period and thousands of pilgrims every year within the pilgrim season visited these shrines to pray to St Derfel, as it appears to of been a tradition that Derfel could enter Hell and retrieve the lost soul of a relative of the praying pilgrim.

Later Medieval Tudor history records and describes a wooden stature of St Derfel with a legend attached to it that if it burnt it would burn down a forest was taken from Wales under the orders of King Henry V111 Bishop of London who described the Welsh devotion to such statures as the "idol worship of gargoyles" to be used as the part of the funeral pyre at the public burning of a Franciscan Friar the confessor of Catherine of Aragon a one John Forest for refusing to except King Henry V111 as the supreme head of the Church of England.

The artist will be required to liaise with community volunteers in the project's Art Group and the project officer and attend some of the workshops aimed at examining local Iron Age design, use of wood in figurative work, and the use of religious idols in the past. It is anticipated that the ideas and artwork created in the workshops could be used to influence the design a sculpture of St Derfel, made from wood. The public should be allowed access to the working process of the sculptor as part of the project.

The sculpture should be transportable and will be displayed across several sites within the Cwmbran area as part of the St Derfel celebrations and educational aspects of the project. The sculpture will then have a permanent home in Thornhill Community Centre.

A total of £4,000 is available to include all artists fees, expenses, materials and installation costs*. Fees will be payable on the completion of this phases of the project, to be set out in an agreement with the Ancient Cwmbran and the Cistercians Partnership.

The brief will be sent to suitably qualified artists from whom three will be selected for interview by members of The Ancient Cwmbran and The Cistercians Partnership Board and volunteers from the project's Art Group. The successful artist will be expected to develop ideas for the project in workshop sessions with the volunteers of the Art Group. These ideas will then need to be approved by the Board before the final sculpture is created.

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Head 4 Arts seeking artistic team to deliver Community Play for Ebbw Vale Eisteddfod 2010

The community initiative Head for Arts is seeking to engage an artistic team to deliver a bilingual community play in Ebbw Vale to co-incide with next year's National Eisteddfod, based on thematic material gathered during the first phase of this project (Fflach/Flash).

Applications for the delivery of this commission can be submitted by arts organisations able to cover all aspects of the commission or by a consortium of individual practitioners working in partnership.

The commission is being put out to tender via the Blaenau Gwent CBC procurement unit and full details are included in their Request for a Quotation on the Council's website: www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/Eisteddfod.asp

Organisations (or partnerships) unfamiliar with local authority procurement can be advised on the processes by contacting Paul Jones, Senior Corporate Procurement Officer, Blaenau Gwent

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Youth mosaic project in Denbighshire

Denbighshire Heritage Service has been working on the Merseyside Connections Mosaic Project since being awarded £24,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund last year.

The project – continuing on from the Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 – involves young people in Denbighshire creating a mosaic trail based on the county’s connections with Merseyside. Subjects covered include the Resurgam submarine, H M Stanley and Vale of Clwyd evacuees. Through workshops, the young people involved have had the opportunity to learn new lifelong skills and discover more about the richness of their county.

Mosaic artist, Tricia Jones, has been running workshops. She and members of Denbighshire Youth Service have worked with young people to formulate their ideas and the final locations for the mosaics.

The mosaic trail leads from Rhyl in the north of Denbighshire to Llangollen in the south with the initial, outlying mosaic located on the docks in Liverpool. The latter, which has been created by children from the ‘Welsh’ streets in Liverpool, reflects the voyage of the Mimosa – a ship in which many Welsh people sailed to Patagonia.

There will be an end of project celebration on Sunday 6 December at the Ruthin Gaol for all those who took part in the project.

For further information, please contact : Susan Dalloe, Museums Development Officer at Denbighshire County Council on 01824 708274 or susan.dalloe@denbighshire.gov.uk

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Debate on working in support of homeless and vulnerable people: the value of the arts

Shelter Cymru & Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, invite you to attend an afternoon debate on Friday 20th November 2:30 - 4:30pm to discuss: "Working in support of homeless & vulnerable people: the role and value of the arts."

The discussion will be kicked off by presentations from the distinguished panel: Matt Peacock, Chief Executive Streetwise Opera; John Puzey: Director Shelter Cymru & Margaret Jervis, Council member, Arts Council of Wales; Carl Chapel, Cymorth Cymru and Cyrenians Cymru. Broadcaster, Nicola Heywood Thomas will be chairing the debate.

Streetwise Opera works with homeless people on a year round basis in 11 Homeless centres in England and has just been awarded the 'Music in the Community Award' by The Times. The panel will be asked for their thoughts on how we might achieve higher provision and recognition for art initiatives in Wales.

The audience will also have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel and hear about innovative art projects that are already working with and making a difference to the lives of homeless people.

Taliesin is host to the remarkable music & film installation commissioned by Streetwise Opera and homeless people in 2008. My Secret Heart was written by electronic composer and Warp artist Mira Calix, video artists Flat-e and sound designer Dave Sheppard. They worked with around 100 Streetwise performers from across the UK to create a unique work that is being shown around the world. People attending the debate can view the work from 1:30pm at no cost (booking essential).

There will be a public "performance at 7.30pm. (Wales premiere- tickets £5).

read more... “Debate on working in support of homeless and vulnerable people: the value of the arts”

Mission Gallery, Swansea presents major new work by Weaver, Muriel Clement

Mission Gallery, Swansea, is delighted to present this exhibition of new work by the weaver Muriel Clement between 14 November 2009 and 3 January 2010.

Many years of teaching and travelling have a place in her work: Greek islands, Gower beaches, French countryside. Gallery and studio visits the world over, some of them, like The Edinburgh Tapestry and her enduring admiration for weaver Archie Brennan, are constant themes.

She insists that tapestry is its own mistress, seeking neither to imitate painting nor produce photographic likeness. In her weaving, her passion, perhaps above all else, is colour and form. Her dye book is itself a work of art, a document of her quest for the perfect blue, red or green... floating at the gallery walls, we might see in her 'windows' views of our world, shared and personal journeys, and a particular interiority that is her landscape.

As Angela Maddock states in her exhibition text; "Tapestry weaving embodies time. You can't dash off a quick sample, can't easily try something out. If ever there was a labour of love, this is it and it teaches a different kind of art: one that grows slowly and can't be rushed. Yet, this is the essence of its appeal - it takes time, and lots of it. Tapestries bring a different quality to space. So definitely cloth and so assuredly tied to both hand and body, they lend a haptic quality that can be lacking in other media. Warmth is reflected not just in the quality of Muriel's materials - the jouissance of her colours - but the 'body' of her cloth, its ability to cushion sound, to absorb the noise of the everyday and to soften walls into flesh. Loosing herself in time and space, absorbed in colour - this is Muriel's text, one that is rich and accomplished, a true celebration of her language".

Curator Sally Moss will talk about Muriel Clements' work and the exhibition at 2pm Saturday 5th December. Mission Gallery is supported by Arts Council of Wales.

For further information and images, please contact Amanda Roderick on 01792 652016
open daily 11am - 5pm admission free.

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