Original, Quirky, Daring – the brand new festival for young people in Wales. The new youth arts festival RawFfest GŵylGrai takes place in Newport from 18th to 21st August and promises the very best of theatre, music, art and film being created by young people today. This unique festival is created for young people, by young people, with 14-25 year olds having created an exciting mix of performance, workshops and masterclasses with the hopes to bring young people together.
The event will see the promotion of 500 young artists and performers and will be situated at the Riverfront Newport and spilling into town. It has seen funding by the Arts Council of Wales and sponsorship from Cardiff School of Art and Design (Cardiff Met) and University of South Wales. The festival which offers a programme over 4 days, Thursday 18-21 August, and is a welcomed new addition to the arts in Wales. It will provide opportunities for skills exchanges and social interaction for young individuals. Not only are they offering great skills but also an opportunity for young people to completely immerse themselves as Campus Living Villages are sponsoring accommodation in the Newport Student Village.
The festival will be bilingual and will include work by disabled young people. Thanks to funding from both the Arts Council Wales and the Welsh Government, RawFfest GŵylGrai will become an annual festival with the 2017 festival already booked in to Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Events running through this festival include a silent disco, Twmpath, creation station, Opera and a Q&A with Philip George the head of the Arts Council For Wales.
words NATALIE POWELL