It might not have been a vintage Summer for the weather, but the arts in Wales have offered plenty to enjoy at home and abroad.  One of the particular pleasures of the past few months has been seeing how confidently Wales promotes itself on the World stage.  Hay Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, John Cale at the Venice Biennale, the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the National Eisteddfod, Brecon Jazz Festival – all celebrate the quality and vigour of the arts in, and of, Wales.

Earlier in the Summer the National Assembly’s Communities and Culture Committee produced a report Promoting Welsh Arts and Culture on the World Stage.  In its Foreword, the report says:  “The promotion of Wales’ arts and culture has the potential to help us build bridges and forge relationships with people from all over the world, creating new opportunities for trade and business, and for learning from one another’s countries and cultures.”

Do give the report a read.  Whatever you might feel about the Committee’s conclusions, it’s good to see the Assembly taking such a direct interest in the arts.  And in the Autumn the Assembly will be turning its attentions to culture more broadly as it begins debating the One Wales commitment to introducing a cultural ‘duty’ across local government in Wales.

As the government purse strings tighten in the coming months I’m keen that we do everything possible to remind anyone who’ll listen of the value of the arts:  the value they bring to the quality of everyday life; the value they offer in bringing imagination and creativity to the delivery of government policies; the value they represent in promoting Wales as a country where people will want to live, work and visit.

We need also to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of public investment in the arts, and to reassure taxpayers that their money is being well spent.  This is why our Investment Review – the most detailed examination of our funding we’ve ever undertaken – is so important.  Things are well underway, and we’ve been busy over the summer consulting on the key aspects of the Investment Review process.  The responses that we’ve received have been insightful, thoughtful and helpful.  They’ll have a direct bearing on how we move forward.

In the meantime, do keep in touch.  Visit our website, keep an eye on the discussions within the Assembly, contribute to the debate.  Let’s make sure that our ‘voice’ continues to be heard, and that the arts are as appreciated at home as they are abroad.

In early August we launched a web based discussion forum to allow debate on issues surrounding the Investment Review, in particular, the eleven discussion papers that have been written to accompany it.

If you wish to view or participate in the discussion, the forum is located at the following address:
http://www.artswales.org/forum Please note that you can view the discussion papers and topics without registering by clicking on:http://www.artswales.org.uk/page.asp?id=412You will need to register an account if you wish to participate in the discussion.

Literature in Wales Stand (Photos: Academi)

‘The Hay on Wye Festival was a tremendous success again this year. Our Literature in Wales stand, (a partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government, Arts Council of Wales, Academi, the National Library of Wales, Wales Arts International and the Welsh Books Council), was a hive of activity with a high profile turn from Rugby International, Scott Quinnell, who presented his ‘Quick Read’ to a large crowd.  Writer, Louise Walsh, packed a punch with her discussion about women’s boxing and her latest book, ‘Fighting Pretty’. 2009 Creative Wales Award Winner, Owen Martell demonstrated how Welsh America actually is with his latest book, ‘Dolenni Hud’.  And 2007 Creative Wales Award winner, James Hawes, presented his latest opus, ‘Why You Should Read Kafka Before You Waste Your Life.’

New writers also made their debut at the Literature in Wales stand.  Meirion Jordan, discussed his astonishing first poetry collection, Moonrise, (Seren 2008); Honno press introduced Caroline Ross, whose first novel, The War Before Mine was published in 2008 and  Lorraine Jenkin discussed her renowned blog, Chocolate Mousse and Two Spoons, (Honno, 2008), and her latest work, Eating Blackbirds.

Writer, Michael O’Brien, signed copies of ‘The Death of Justice’ (Y Lolfa 2008), a no holds barred account of the eleven years he spent in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  And the multi-award winning writer, Mererid Hopwood, discussed the Wales Arts International/British Council workshops she recently attended in Jaipur, India, and the schools’ workshops she has since conducted in India and Wales.

Poet Ifor ap Glyn and Musician Gwyneth Glyn worked with enthusiastic members of Academi’s Young Writers Squads. And the long-list for this year’s Wales Book of the Year was also revealed. All in all, a wealth of literary goodies for visitors!

Deborah Kay Davies

This year, Deborah Kay Davies won the English language Wales Book of the Year Award for her debut short story collection, 'Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful', published by Parthian.

The announcement was made on Monday 15 June, at a Gala Dinner at St David's Hotel and Spa. Deborah Kay Davies was presented the £10,000 prize by BBC Wales's Political Editor, Betsan Powys.

Luned Emyr presented a cheque of £10,000 to the author Wiliam Owen Roberts for his novel, Petrograd, published by Barddas, which was awarded the Welsh Language Book of the Year Award.  To read more please click on:http://www.artswales.org.uk/viewnews.asp?id=1214

John Cale (Photo: British Council)

Following six months of intense preparation, John Cale unveiled a new, specially commissioned film and sound installation for Wales at the Venice Biennale of Art on Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, AM, welcomed guests to the first official showing of the work at the Welsh pavilion, which is located in an old brewery building, the Ex-Birreria, on the stunning island of Giudecca. Around 400 people attended one of the most highly anticipated events of the Biennale, with music provided by DJ’s Llwybr Llaethog, Y Diwygiad [Ed Holden/Aneirin Karadog] and Bethan Elfyn.  Even the Sunday Times described the event as ‘the best party at the Biennale’!

It wasn’t only the international art world that had its first viewing of Dyddiau Du/Dark Days, this was also the first time that the Commissioner for Wales at Venice, Mari Beynon Owen, had seen the completed installation as she explains below…

Mari Beynon Owen, A Commssioner’s Tale

Back in February, John Cale, who was here working on the film elements of the installation piece, DYDDIAU DU/DARK DAYS for Wales at the Venice Biennale, was interviewed by Dr Heike Roms at the Miners’ Theatre, Ammanford. That evening, the audience was given a rare insight into his creative mindset and how being commissioned was allowing him to re-explore his emotional relationship with Wales and ‘Welshness’. We were all amazed at the artist’s honesty and openness, therefore when we finally arrived at Venice, it was no surprise to be presented with a challengingly honest self portrait – a reflection on identity both on an individual and national level. 

Top: Aneirin Karadog at the launch party
Bottom: John Cale, Mari Beynon Owen and Bruce Haines

As you enter the Capannone space, the sound of dripping water chills the viewer; the stillness of a cold dawn in Garnant is broken by the hum of lorries on the road and insistent tapping of loose pipes in the family house; the clash of competing anthems in the final dramatic torture sequence reverberates around the high vaulted ceiling. 

In the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the opening days of the Biennale, many art critics, curators and arts professionals were surprised, some even shocked, by Cale’s rigorous honesty and integrity of his visual sound poem which is so different to the other work presented at the Biennale. 

Mounting a show in Venice has particular challenges – all the equipment had to be transported by boat; the five screen installation is housed in an old brewery storeroom full of dust and damp. Given that we only had about six months to realize this production, I must thank everyone who worked tirelessly to bring the artist’s desire to reality in such a very short time. There can be no greater compliment than John Cale saying on the opening night how proud he was of the work and of Wales.

For me personally, it has been a great privilege to work with John Cale, Assuming the role of commissioner for the first time, I embarked on an exhilarating creative rollercoaster ride and thanks to all colleagues at Arts Council of Wales and the team in Venice, we managed to keep on track!

The show remains in Venice until November 22nd and it is hoped that it will tour Wales in 2010, so there will be a further opportunity for you all to experience DYDDIAU DU/DARK DAYS.

To learn more about DYDDIAU DU/DARK DAYS please visit: http://www.walesvenicebiennale.org.uk/

Visitors from around the globe flocked to this year’s National Eisteddfod in Llangollen. Mervyn Cousins, Executive Director, was particularly delighted with this year’s ticket sales. Obviously, the recession has had an affect on people’s travel plans and Llangollen benefited greatly from the new British ‘staycation’ trend!

The Eisteddfod also launched the ‘Musical Encounters’ project with Wales Arts International during the week’s activities. Llangollen Eisteddfod will provide management for the project which will see some of the Festival's adjudicators work with Welsh choral directors during the year, with the aim of enhancing choral directing in Wales.

'Musical Encounters' will also provide specific linkages with top-level contacts at home and abroad and present an opportunity for further developments and projects with other conductors in the future. So watch this space!

Laura Thomas

Welsh Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, made sure that Australian cricket will return home with at least one trophy by presenting a memento to mark the occasion of the Ashes coming to Wales to Cricket Australia.

The Ashes Vessel, the work of Pembrokeshire-born Artist and 2009 Creative Wales Ambassador, Laura Thomas, was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales and Safle - public art Wales.
The vessel takes its inspiration from the spin of a cricket ball and will not only be a commemoration of the first test match to take place in Wales, but also a symbol of friendship between Wales and Australia. The vessel was presented to director of Cricket Australia, Dr John Bannon, representing the Chairman of Cricket Australia, at a reception in Cardiff Castle. The vessel will then be displayed in the prestigious Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

A talented young artist from London, Freddie Yauner, was also commissioned to work as an Artist in Residence at the home of Welsh cricket in Cardiff.  He will produce a piece of public art at the end of his residency which will reflect this unique occasion. Freddie also engaged the cricket crowds by asking them to draw the ‘Ashes urn’. It was not surprising that to most of them the urn was a huge object-obviously reflecting the great significance of the Ashes to them!  You can follow Freddie’s progress by visiting his blog: http://waleshoststheashes.wordpress.com

Top: Y LLE CELF interior
Middle: Lowri Davies, Craft and Design Gold Medal Winner
Bottom: Elfyn Lewis, Fine Art Gold Medal winner

Where else would you get an opportunity to customise a replica of an ancient iron-age crown, to enjoy the work of Wales’s premier artists and to savour the best that cultural Wales has to offer?… Only at the National Eisteddfod of Wales of course.

Once again Arts Council of Wales was delighted to be a partner in the 2009 National Eisteddfod in Bala, North Wales, supporting ‘Y Lle Celf’ pavilion and many other arts activities between 1-8 August 2009.

‘Y Lle Celf’ showcased the very best in artworks from across Wales and was officially opened on Saturday, 1 August at 6.30pm by Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, AM; Professor Dai Smith, Chair of Arts Council of Wales and renowned local Sculptor, John Meirion Jones.  The identities of this year’s winners in all the Art competition categories were also revealed at 10.00am on the first Saturday of the festival:

• Elfyn Lewis: The Gold Medal for Fine Art
• Carwyn Evans: Fine Art award
• Naomi Leake: Highly Commended
• Lowri Davies: The Gold Medal for Craft and Design
• Hywel Prytherch Roberts–Young Artist Scholarship
• Ray Hole Architects –The Gold Medal for Architecture
• Jeff Kahane and Associates- Plaque of Merit for Architecture
• Sian Seys-Evans–Architecture Scholarship

Visitors to ‘Y Lle Celf’ voted for their favourite piece of art for ‘The People’s Choice’ award. The prize of £500, (donated by the Josef Herman Art Foundation), was awarded to the most popular artwork or collection of artworks among the selected exhibits in the Open Exhibition at Y Lle Celf.  This year Lowri Davies, who’d already scooped the Gold Medal for Craft and Design was selected by the public to receive the accolade. Artist, Osi Rhys Osmond, was selected to receive the Ivor Davies Award of £600; this is an award which is given yearly for the work which best conveys the spirit of activism in the struggle for language, culture and politics in Wales. 

A staggering 367 artists, architects and makers submitted artwork for consideration this year with the result that over 150 works of art and craft by 56 Welsh artists and makers, including several Creative Wales Award winners, made their home in ‘Y Lle Celf’ for the Eisteddfod week.

The Eisteddfod and Arts Council of Wales also presented a special exhibition of the sculpture and drawings of the talented sculptor from nearby Blaenau Ffestiniog, David Nash.

Children's Workshops

David is one of the pioneers of sculpture as a process involving nature and the environment. Whilst his work evolves out of a direct relationship with nature and the living forms of trees, he also employs the four dynamic elements of earth, air, fire and water in his sculptures.

Children and adults of all ages had fun participating in our arts workshops too as the photos demonstrate.  Working in collaboration with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, we decided to use the story of T.O. Jones, from Cerrigydrudion, who discovered a rare iron-age grave whilst repairing a stone wall on his farm back in 1924, as this year’s workshop theme.  One of his finds, a magnificent 4th century BC bronze crown, which is displayed at the National Museum of Wales, was used as the inspiration for the youngsters to create their own striking crowns

Y Lle Celf also featured ‘Hadau’, (or ‘Seeds’ in English), this year’s visual art commission for the National Eisteddfod and a partnership between Safle, the Public Art Agency for Wales; National Eisteddfod of Wales; Arts Council of Wales; Cymdeithas Cerdd Dant Cymru; Performing Rights Society Foundation; Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust and Academi.

 This project is a collaboration between the artist Christine Mills and 2009 Creative Wales Award winner, composer Guto Puw, who worked together on their response to the local verse singing tradition or ‘cerdd dant’.  The Cerdd Dant Society, established in Bala, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year so it was a particularly fitting time to look at this popular art form which is unique to Wales.

Our clients were also hard at work on the Eisteddfod field-from rapping to time travelling, there was a lot going on! To read more, please click on: http://www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=1284

International Jazz stars from around the world flocked to the 2009 Brecon Jazz Festival in early August.

Held in locations across the town of Brecon, the festival featured South African piano legend Adbullah Ibrahim; Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and the Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem. UK Jazz's biggest star, Courtney Pine, also returned to perform his new Sidney Bechet-inspired album, 'Tradition in Transition'.

There were over 50 talks and concerts during the three-day period, as well as a number of free family events - including a Jazz Carnival parade through the streets of Brecon on Saturday morning in aid of Usk House Hospice and a special Jazz Service at the Cathedral on Sunday.

The festival was held in five fantastic venues across the town - Theatr Brycheiniog and Studio; the newly-accessed Market Hall; the Castle Hotel and Brecon Cathedral - and tickets were a credit crunch friendly £5 to £15. 

A great time was had by all as the photos demonstrate!

Zephirus String Quartet

Once again, final preparations are beginning made for the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts to take place in Radnorshire's cultural capital over this August Bank Holiday weekend (27 August -1 September).

The Festival will promote over thirty events of which fifteen are concerts together with complimentary events which include talks, composers in conversation, exhibitions, poetry readings, a film, children's shows and guided walks. The main venue for concerts is St Andrew's Church in Presteigne, for many years the jewel in the festival's crown, with other performances given at village churches and halls nestling in the beautiful countryside of the surrounding Welsh Marches.

The outstanding Welsh musical polymath, Huw Watkins, is composer-in-residence and will take part in three events as concerto soloist, chamber music player and recital partner.

As in previous years at Presteigne, important musical anniversaries are marked - the seventieth birthday of John McCabe; the eightieth birthday of Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe and the hugely important Haydn year are all celebrated. A further musical strand is a truly amazing series of chamber and orchestral masterworks by such composers as J S Bach, Bartók, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

To see the full programme please visit:  http://www.presteignefestival.com

From Top to Bottom, work by: Heather & Ivan Morrison,
Kieran Evans, Marc Rees, Simon Fenoulhet, Andy Hazell

Wingless birds, Luminous Landscapes, 24 hour houses, five radio beacons and five interlinked forests –these are all exciting proposals by Welsh artists for an ambitious nationwide project.

Arts Council of Wales announced earlier this month the Welsh shortlist for Artists taking the lead, one of the most wide ranging art commissions in the UK, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

From a UK wide shortlist of 60, 12 commissions totalling £5.4million will be awarded to create 12 new works of art across the country to celebrate London 2012; one in each of the nine English regions, and in the nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For the Wales project, 5 projects have been shortlisted for the next stage, ranging from the spectacular to the eccentric and including proposals by some leading names in Welsh art.

The shortlisted projects are:

• Five Point Reference - Artist, Kieran Evans, in collaboration with Writer, Robin Turner, proposes a multi platform, cross discipline concept that will engage people with the landscapes of Wales. Five separate, small radio beacons will be set up across key points in Wales which will transmit low frequency radio signals, the furthest reach of which will invisibly form the five Olympic rings.

• Luminous Landscapes - A series of site specific sound and light installations around Wales that explore the iconic nature of Welsh buildings and landmarks by artist, Simon Fenoulhet, in collaboration with composer, John Hardy.

• The Annular Forests – Artist, Andy Hazell, proposes creating five annular, interlinked forests on the uplands of Mid-Wales. Each of the ring forests will correlate to each of the continents, planted with different, distinct species and tiered so they present a unique face whatever the season.

• The 24hour house - three separate 'houses' in three different and varied locations in Wales from Cardiff to rural Anglesey will be created by artists, Heather and Ivan Morison. The function of each will be decided upon by the community and will also be fabricated locally, highlighting and developing existing skills and craftspeople. This project is inspired by the 17th-19th century 'Tŷ un nos' (24 hour house) tradition in Wales.
  

• Adain Avion - an extraordinary wingless 'bird' which is the fuselage of a DC9 aeroplane transformed into a mobile art space which will travel across Wales. Curated by dance artist, Marc Rees, Adain Avion will visit four Welsh towns drawing inspiration from each distinct location, collaborating closely with local communities.
  

The shortlisted artists in Wales will each receive a development grant of £3,000 to turn their initial proposals into worked up proposals. They will present these to the artist panel in late September, who will then decide on the final commission, due to be announced in October 2009.

To find out more, please visit: http://www.artiststakingthelead.org.uk

Rhian Lois Evans

The recipients of the HRH Prince of Wales Advanced Study Awards in Music 2009 (ASAM) were announced in early June. This is a scheme that is jointly funded by HRH the Prince of Wales, Arts Council of Wales and Coalfields Talent Nurture Fund.

Auditions were held at the Royal College of Music, London and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in April and this year a record number of talented young musicians came forward for consideration.

The sum of £40,000 is made available annually for the awards. This is the third year for the scheme and its aim is to provide funding to assist some of Wales's emerging young musicians in developing their careers further.
The winners of this year's study awards are:

• Oliver Browne
  
• Sian Cameron
  
• Christopher Davies
  
• Joseph Davies
  
• Rhian Lois Evans
  
• Samuel John Furness
  
• Gary Griffiths
  
• John Pierce
  
• Jennie Porton
  
• Sara Roberts
  
• James Thomas

To read more please click on: http://www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=1244

Heatherwick Units at Aberystwyth

In late May, Aberystwyth Arts Centre celebrated the launch of an extraordinary architectural commission that will provide much needed studio and workshop space for arts organisations in Wales.

The eight new Creative Units, designed and built by the renowned Heatherwick Studio - one of the UK's most creative design practices - have already established themselves as new landmarks for Aberystwyth and go to further enhance the Art Centre's reputation as one of the leading venues for contemporary arts and culture in the UK.

The design is both striking and considerate to its setting. The simple timber-frame buildings are clad with a bespoke crinkled stainless steel system that creates a shimmering futuristic appearance, reflecting the greenery of their site. Unusually, their construction as well as their design was led by Heatherwick Studio whose specialist team worked on site with local sub-contractors to deliver the project. The special cladding system was fabricated on site using a contraption akin to a Victorian mangle that deformed the steel into its irregular form. The studios sit within woodland, and over time will blend further into the maturing landscape around them.

All sixteen studio spaces have been let, with tenants including internationally-renowned painter Mary Lloyd Jones; the publishing house, Honno and Creu Cymru - the National Development Agency for Theatres and Arts Centres in Wales.
Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, AM, who officially opened the units and Arts Council of Wales Chief Executive, Nick Capaldi were both highly impressed with the quirky and striking units, ideal homes for a wide range of local creative businesses, arts development agencies, artists and craft workers.

The development of the Creative Arts Business Units has been made possible with support from Arts Council of Wales’s Lottery Fund; the Welsh Assembly Government and Aberystwyth University.  To read more please visit: www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=1218

© Capita Architecture

On June 28 2009, Sherman Cymru announced that it has received a Capital Lottery grant of £3.9 million from Arts Council of Wales in order to undergo a much needed redevelopment which will see the theatre building completely transformed.
Our grant to Sherman Cymru amounts to 74% of the total cost of the redevelopment which will see the public areas modernised, enhancing the audience's experience as well as refurbishing the backstage areas and improving conditions for staff and participants.

The current Sherman building will close its doors for the 18 month refurbishment in January 2010 following Sherman's 2009 Christmas production, ‘A Christmas Carol’. Sherman Cymru will move to temporary offices in Cardiff and will continue to produce and tour theatre around the UK as well as maintaining its Learning and Engagement work. 

To read more please click on: http://www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=1252

Gareth Clark, Odyssey Theatre

Cardiff's Odyssey Theatre has now reached the final three for the 'Best Arts project' in the National Lottery Awards finals. This is a great accolade for the Theatre Company as it’s the only Wales based organisation to reach the finals in this particular category.

The seven winning projects will receive a £2,000 cash prize to spend on their project.

All votes in both rounds are independently adjudicated by Electoral Reform Services (ERS). The winners of each category will be announced on a special BBC1 show on Saturday 5 September - "The National Lottery: Big 7".  To read more please visit: http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/

Twyn Primary School at Caerphily Castle

By Gwyn L Williams

Two days - five hundred and fifty six miles – four castles – one First Minister and one Culture Minister – two samba bands – three processions and several fantastic artists with hundreds of enthusiastic participants; what a ball the Open Weekend at the end of July was for me!   What I saw of the expanding Olympic family in Wales over two hectic days was not even half of the twenty events registered for a weekend which marks three years to go until the greatest show on earth in July 2012.

At the launch of the weekend in Caerphilly Castle on Friday July 24, the First Minister spoke eloquently about his memories of the 1948 London Olympics and how, despite the fact it was called the “austerity Olympics”. It left an invaluable legacy carried over to the Festival of Britain a couple of years later.

Rhodri Morgan rightly pointed out that the benefits of London 2012 exist not only for athletes and for London.  The Olympiad also embraces artists and educationalists, industry and in particular young people.  In Caerphilly, two of Wales’s promising young paralympians spoke about their 2012 ambitions and the manager of the New Zealand spoke about why the NZ Paralympian Team had chosen Wales as its training base for 2012.  The contracts manager of Rowecord Engineering gave an inspirational account of how the Newport based company manufactured and installed the incredibly complex curved design of the roof of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, which was designed by the well known architect, Zaha Hadid.

July’s Open Weekend proved a useful showcase for our Welsh Cultural Olympiad plans. Caernarfon Castle resounded to Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias’s ensemble Doniau Cudd and the Bangor Sambistas. The castles of  Harlech and Criccieth reverberated with the sounds of the Barmouth Samba Band. Caerphilly Castle glowed with the wonderful felt banners inspired by the heraldry of the Great Hall designed by local primary school children. Young people in Wrexham took part in workshops on Welsh athletes and the old Ironworks of Blaenafon resounded to the sounds of community choirs.  All of these occasions marked the beginnings of the Power of the Flame projects here in Wales.

Street theatre and carnival in Cardiff and sporting events in Newport added to the very busy weekend.   Many of these projects will be seeking the Olympic Inspire Mark branding (there are already five Inspire Mark projects in existence) and the Olympic Family in Wales will continue to grow.

For more information please call the Creative Programmer for Wales – Gwyn L Williams – on 0796 7161 766, or email gwyn.williams@artswales/org.uk

By Hilary Farr, Night Out Officer.

Potted Pirates

"That John guy was awesome!"  One week after having a long chat with the very awesome John McGrath, the boys from Bedwas were as close to gushing as very cool fifteen year olds can get.  They were taking part in the Night Out Young Promoters Scheme and working to stage a performance of "Potted Pirates" at Bedwas Workmens Hall.  John and freelance theatre director Abdul Shayek had very kindly agreed to talk with the group about theatre and the role of the producer, the different jobs involved in putting on a production and how they had got their start in the arts.

The boys were impressed and inspired, enthusiastically turning up the next week for a quick masterclass on writing press releases with the Arts Council of Wales's Senior Press Officer, Joanna Davies. Over the next few weeks they put up posters, set ticket prices and negotiated sales with local organisations, raised sponsorship and handed out and posted fliers. 

The sessions were run by Night Out and the marvellous Christine Smith from Gwent Police with the help of Bedwas Workmen’s Hall Manager Bill Thomas and local Neighbourhood Officers Stuart Lewis and Siân Lloyd and PCSOs Anthony Moore and Christopher Armstrong.  The boys also had an insight into large scale events management during a specially arranged tour of the Millennium Stadium where Ian Peploe, the Security and Events Manager gave them a brief taste of power, sitting in the control box and manipulating the closed circuit television cameras.

July 28th, the day of event was a joyful celebration of a community and its young people where everyone joined in and at the end everyone was smiling.  One of the greatest sights of the evening had to be mid way through the show when a whole row of police officers – some quite senior, were forced to stand up, flap their arms and squawk pretending to be seagulls!

All who worked with the group from the beginning saw a definite change in demeanour from all the boys, who have proved resourceful and tenacious, argumentative and challenging and all made personal sacrifices to make sure that they were there on the night – all things that make great event promoters and artistic producers.

Night Out intends to continue working with the group helping and encouraging them put on more events, giving them opportunities to meet other arts professionals and to see other forms of performing arts and firmly believe that within a few years they will be knocking on Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s door!

For more information about Night Out, please visit the website: http://www.nightout.org.uk/

John McGrath

By John Mcgrath

It’s almost three months now since National Theatre Wales moved into our offices in Castle Arcade, launched our social network at natoinaltheatrewales.org, published our first ‘newspaper’ and announced the key ideas for our launch year under the banner ‘Create, Debate, Respond’.   Since then the team has been busy turning all of these possibilities into realities.

The social network has been an instant hit – functioning as a space where ideas can be debated, where artists can report on their research, and where a range of companies can share their news.  

Meanwhile our ‘debate’ and ‘respond’ strands have been in research mode.  Creative Associates, Mathilde Lopez and Catherine Paskell, have been exploring different models and possibilities for theatre that reacts to news, issues and ideas.  The first try-outs for these strands of work will be in September.

But our biggest focus has been on the development of productions for our launch programme.  As announced in May, this will involve a year of shows – one a month, every month from March 2010, each in a different location, each using a different approach to theatre-making.   Through a series of conversations and ‘creative visits’, where artists and companies shared ideas and working methods with us, we developed 30 potential projects for the programme.  And then we narrowed it down to twelve: the productions that together will create a ‘theatre map of Wales’ and help us achieve our goal of a National Theatre that is engaged, innovative and international.

We can’t announce the shows yet; you will need to wait for our press launch on November 5 for that.  But I can say that I’m hugely excited by the programme that is taking shape.  It will, I am confident, be an extraordinary statement of the richness and potential of Welsh theatre and Welsh artists.  As we move towards the announcement of the programme, we are now working hard to ensure that the widest possible range of audiences know about and come to the work. 

We are also starting to think about how we develop new artists, and give new opportunities to established artists, enriching the pool of talent and ideas that we will draw on in coming seasons.  Already we are beginning to imagine the possibilities for National Theatre Wales many years into the future. 

To learn more, please visit: http://nationaltheatrewales.org

by Rhian Hutchings, WNO Max Director

Many of our artists have played a central role in the United States this summer when Wales was the guest nation at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival for the first time. This annual festival attracts approximately a million diverse visitors who come to experience a celebration of cultures and different ways of life.
This year members of Welsh National Opera’s world-class chorus and orchestra took part in the Festival. They performed various concerts throughout schools across Washington and at the Kennedy Centre. Rhian Hutchings, WNO MAX Director, shares her experiences of the festival.

Tuesday 23 June 2009

We arrive to a fabulous welcome by Glenn Grove, the president of the Rehoboth Cor Cymraeg, with whom we are be rehearsing that evening. We work through the wedding march from Joseph Parry’s opera Blodwen. We finally get back to Washington at 1am in the morning!

Wednesday 24th June 09

Today is the first workshop for The Boy who went to the West Wind and takes place at the British School in Washington.  The school has amazing facilities and we are working with a group of 48 children of all nationalities.

Thursday 25th June 09

The festival site is huge and the Wales exhibition is really distinctive. I sprint over to the Welsh Dragon tent and meet the British School group. I have ten minutes to set up before we perform, and it’s a mad sprint to get the set put up and the instrumentalists settled... It goes really well and the children are fantastic!

Friday 26th June 09

We are off to the Atlas Arts Centre in the troubled Capitol Hill district of Washington to work with a group from the American Youth Chorus.  Our group consists of 20 African-American children, ranging in age from 9 to 16. They have never heard of opera and are so thrilled by the wind instruments. Their energy is infectious and we have a great day with them.

Saturday 27th June 09

I’m off to the Narrative tent to see our final Lift Up Your Voice workshop. I can’t believe how many people are there – it’s packed! Cwm Rhondda  is a huge favourite. At the end of the session, everyone stands and we have a final sing through.

Then we all head back the Welsh Dragon for the Rehoboth Concert which ends with a final Gymanfa Ganu and we all get a chance to join in!

By Angela Tillcock

There must be days when some of us wish we weren’t at work, but the reality for lots of young people today in Wales is that they might never get on the road to getting a job, let alone one that they love!   Imagine how that feels … feeling like nobody cares at home, at school, anywhere … what chance do you have?

As an organisation, we have the opportunity to help change the lives and prospects of young people, through the impact of the Reach the Heights project, which is a Welsh Assembly Government Initiative, funded by the European Social Fund.

Over the next two years, we will be working with a range of arts organisations, community organisations, local authorities and artists to deliver participatory arts projects and training initiatives for young people who are not in school, jobs or training.

During July, our Planning & Development team has been running a tendering process for this project, and will be awarding up to 50 contracts by the middle of September 2009.

All of this work will help young people move on back into school to get a qualification, travel off to college, into a training course or onto getting a job; it will build up the confidence, self belief, and assertiveness levels of everybody involved – all those things which are pretty hard to find if you are a young person struggling, and really essential things to help you make your way in life.

Details of all of the contracts will be issued on our website:http://www.artswales.org/For further information, please contact:  Angela Tillcock, Business Development Manager, Arts Council of Wales: angela.tillcock@artswales.org.uk

Fern Smith

Congratulations to Fern Smith, Joint Artistic Director at the Volcano Theatre Company, who was recently awarded a prestigious Clore Fellowship.

The Clore Leadership Programme is one of the world's foremost development programmes for leadership in the cultural sector awards. Founded in 2003, The Clore Leadership Programme is an initiative of the Clore Duffield Foundation, which aims to strengthen leadership across a wide range of cultural activities. This includes the visual and performing arts, film, heritage, museums, libraries and archives, creative industries and cultural policy and administration. It offers Fellowships and Short Courses for individual leaders, and training for members of Boards of Directors of cultural organisations.

Since September 2004, 156 cultural leaders from the UK and abroad will have been awarded Fellowships on the Clore Leadership Programme.

Arts Council of Wales has funded Fern’s Clore Fellowship.  Fern is a co-founder and one of the two Artistic Directors of Volcano Theatre Company. Since its inception she has been a core performer, writer, director and teacher with the company.

Fern will use her Clore Fellowship to undertake a period of intensive training, research, reflection and mentorship in the area of creative leadership.

Striking Attitudes - The Art of Taking Tea

In a difficult economic climate, it’s good to know that people in Wales are still finding the time and money to attend arts events across the country, now more than ever, as demonstrated in this year’s Wales Omnibus Survey.

Around 1,000 people in Wales were interviewed last year about their attendances to arts events and participation in arts activities.  The Wales Omnibus Survey examines this data in detail and looks at overall demographic and regional trends for the Arts in Wales.

The 2008 report revealed some very positive findings about the levels of arts attendance amongst Welsh adults.  Almost eight in ten (79%) Welsh adults attend at least one arts event once a year or more.  This is a three percentage point increase on last year’s figure of 76%.

In particular, it’s very significant to see an increase in participation amongst people living in economically deprived areas, up five percentage points to 30% in 2008, building on the 7% increase recorded in 2007.

There has also been an increase in attendance for arts events over the last ten years averaging at 72%, (compared with 66% ten years ago), with Film still the most popular art form in Wales.

Arts Council of Wales’s Planning and Development Team are now gearing up for the next big project, ‘The Arts in Wales Survey 2010’. This is an extensive survey aiming to provide up-to-date information on attendance and participation with the arts in Wales, as well as public perceptions of arts and culture in Wales.  This research follows on from the Arts in Wales 2005 survey and will provide a wealth of data which will then be analysed by art form, Local Authority and geographic region.

To read more please click on: http://www.artswales.org/viewnews.asp?id=1245

Arts Marketing Symposium

Artist's Impression of new Chapter building

Come and join us at yet another thought provoking and informative Arts Marketing Symposium on Wednesday, 25th November 2009, at the newly renovated Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff.

The symposium will host a wide range of seminars and workshops along with inspiring keynote speakers.

Online registration will open soon with details for the keynote addresses and seminars on the Arts Council of Wales website: www.artswales.org/ For further conference information, please contact Ceryl Williams, Events Officer, Arts Council of Wales: ceryl.williams@artswales.org.uk

One-day Course for Chairs and CEOs/Artistic Directors

A good working relationship between the Chair and Chief Executive is a vital ingredient for the success of cultural organisations

The Clore Leadership Programme, in partnership with the Cultural Leadership Programme, is offering a one-day course for Chairs and CEOs (or Artistic Directors) attending as a pair.  The day will look at roles and responsibilities and cover issues such as artistic risk, strategic planning and leadership in a changing environment. 

The course will take place in Cardiff at the Mercure Holland Hotel on Saturday 5 December 2009 (9.30am – 4.30pm).

For full information regarding dates, venues, fees and applications please see the website: http://www.cloreleadership.orgApplications are now open; the closing date for applications is November 6 2009

g39 Artists Group Mentoring Programme - Call for applications

Are you and your peers thinking of setting up an art project? Perhaps an exhibition, or a film screening? An off site project, or a publication?

Or maybe you would like to establish some new studio spaces or even a new artist-run space? If you are, please get in touch with the WARP's new Group Mentoring Programme which will be able to help.

WARP's Group Mentoring Programme is intended for any artistic group (two people or more) who wish to establish a cultural enterprise or business and would benefit from the guidance, advice and experience of the staff at g39 gallery in Cardiff as well as its bank of mentors from across Wales and beyond.  To find out more please contact Sean Edwards at g39 on 029 2025 5541 or email sean@g39.org