PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS
Selected by CORRIE DAVID
CABAN CREFFT
Run by Arts Alive Wales, Caban Crefft is a two-year health and wellbeing initiative targeted at 16-25-year olds. Two groups have been created in Abergavenny as a part of ‘Solas Cymru’. Professional artists run weekly workshops providing social opportunities and confidence building exercises whilst learning valuable skills including digital arts and filmmaking, helping address the discrimination and stigma they face.
Info: artsalivewales.org.uk
ARTS AND MINDS REGENERATION
Situated in Blaenau Gwent, the regeneration focuses on neighbourhood of the Tai Calon Community Housing, the largest social landlord in the region. A collaboration of Tai Calon, Head4Arts and Aneurin Leisure, the project represents a departure from conventional professional approaches to urban planning and managing, and focuses on delivering environmental change.
Info: 079 2965 9410 / www.artsandmindscymru.com
CONFLUENCE
Part of an initiative by the Arts Council of Wales, Confluence is a three-year arts and regeneration project in Haverford West. It is the re-imagining of the ancient port into a vibrant and memorable market town. Events so far have included workshops to create artwork to add to the design along the river, and new festivals to celebrate the town.
Info: www.thelabhaverfordwest.org
LOST SPACES
Based in Llandudno, this project is a culture-led regeneration of the town’s ‘lost spaces’, focusing on unused or significantly underutilised places. Derelict and disused buildings and plots of land will be regenerated not just for economic and functional goals, but to sustain social and cultural dimensions within the area.
Info: www.cultureactionllandudno.co.uk
FROM THE STATION TO THE SEA
Located on Swansea’s High Street, this is a programme of diverse yet connected projects which all address perceptions, concerns and focuses on the desires and needs of locals. Thirteen sub-projects focus on three themes: the idea of the high street as the historic, commercial and symbolic centre of the city; the connections between the high street and other places; the high street being a social place and a source of pleasure and wellbeing.
Info: 017 9246 4790 / station2sea.com
STAMP
Coinciding with the regeneration of Caernarfon, this three-year programme aims to enrich the regeneration projects through inclusion of artistic content. Stamp wants to commission a series of artistic interventions on and within the town and run a series of events exploring themes geared towards uncovering potential intervention sites on the waterfront, and possibly other areas.
Info: www.stamp.cymru
FINDING MAINDEE
Finding Maindee includes the development of both green and urban spaces. Surveys have been produced to indentify the areas most in need of some green spaces, where kids can all reach to play. Development of the urban spaces includes encouragement in shopping local, with both independent businesses and high street banks and retailers in the town. The Maindee Festival has also been regenerated, in order to entice tourism into the area, featuring a variety of arts and music.
Info: 016 3330 9443 / www.maindee.org
IT’S ART BUT IT’S NOT
The three year community regeneration project is based in the villages of Penygraig and Porth, in Rhondda Cynon Taf. A partnership between Trivallis Valleys Kids and Artes Mundi, aims to explore art and the heart of the regeneration. Art is being used to highlight the areas’ existing assets and identity, making physical improvements to the towns, nurturing community cohesion, developing vocational skills and raising aspirations.
Info: itsartbutitsnot.wordpress.com
INDIA WALES – BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH ART
Part of the UK/India Year of Culture 2017, a partnership between Arts Council Wales, Wales Arts International and the British Council has launched a joint fund supporting new collaborative art projects between India and Wales. These include the Khamira tour and Dreamtigers.
Info: wales.britishcouncil.org
ORGANHAUS ART SPACE
Beginning in March 2018 as a part of Wales – China 2017, run by Wales Arts International, this is an independent art organisation set up by artists and curators located in China. The art space is specifically targeted at young artists; it runs a studio exchange programme and hosts regular exhibitions. They wish to provide a studio space for experimental artists working in all areas of media to help the development of international contemporary art.