Chapter’s Creative Producer, and one of the brains behind their new Peilot scheme, Cathy Boyce, reveals her South Wales Secret.

Could you explain what Peilot is?

Peilot is Chapter’s Associate Artist programme that will support six artists over three years to make new work, develop new audiences and make new connections at home and abroad. We’ve selected experimental harpist Rhodri Davies, darkly comic bilingual theatre company Triongl, performance collective Common Wealth, performance artist Tim Bromage, Be Aware Productions (who fled their native Turkey after one of their plays was interpreted as being as a rehearsal for an anti-government coup), and dancer, choreographer and movement director Jo Fong.

What was the inspiration behind Peilot?

Supporting artists is in Chapter’s DNA but up until now it has always been ad hoc and a bit under the radar. We commissioned a research project to find out what artists were most in need of and the Peilot programme is a result of those findings. Artists often feel isolated and under-supported and as arts organisations come under increasing financial pressure it is more and more difficult for venues to take risks on new work.

I hope that Peilot can shout about the great work that is being made in Wales. I’d like them to think of themselves as Welsh international artists and look more towards Europe rather than London. I’d like to develop new ways of connecting with presenters that is more grass roots and more about individual relationships and commonalities rather than always looking to the often spirit crushing and financially crippling Edinburgh festival.

What’s your South Wales Secret?

Sunflower & I; the strange (and apparently haunted) café bar and flower shop in the Bay. Dark and atmospheric with mismatched antiques and opera playing. It feels like being inside a Jean Cocteau film.

Peilot: Chapter Associate Artist Programme, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org