Scrapbook Winter 2024
Gwynedd Community Arts
Welcome
With surveys suggesting that arts and crafts give greater life satisfaction than work, the arts are at the forefront of health and wellbeing right now . Research is showing that creative activities could be an important tool in improving public health, and the importance of taking part in creative activities is very clear.
With our young people trying to deal with growing up in an overwhelming world of information overload, many elderly people struggling with loneliness, and people in our communities experiencing feelings of anxiety and stress, we continue to strive to create access to the arts and arts activities for all.
We are working hard to reach as many parts of Gwynedd as we can to develop, teach and share the arts. From creative workshops for all ages, grants for artists and community groups, health and wellbeing projects, taking art into hospitals, collaborating with local groups and organisations to bring the arts into communities in Gwynedd and sharing information and strengthening creative networks, there’s lots happening and lots to be positive about.
In keeping with the national work by the Welsh Government and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Gwynedd Council is working to become an age-friendly local authority by 2025, and we aim to make sure the arts are part of this initiative. Our scrapbook showcases some of the projects and activities that have been taking place in Gwynedd over the last few months. We hope you enjoy reading about them, and if you would like to learn more you can go to the Creative Gwynedd website, Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) accounts for upto-date news, opportunities and information about the arts in Gwynedd. If you want a chat or help with a creative project please get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd
Clwb Camera Beaumaris
Porthaethwy
We started our second year of exhibitions at Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd in June with a show from Menai Bridge and Beaumaris Camera Club. The club are a friendly and informal group of photographers with a wide range of experience who have a broad array of photographic interests. Their programme includes talks by visiting speakers, competitions and members evenings allowing discussion and interchange of ideas.
If you are an artist or a community group and have an interest in exhibiting at Oriel Ysbyty Gwynedd please email corrinazarach@gwynedd.llyw.cymru to express your interest.
GISDA
In September we were delighted to install an exhibition of work by young people in Gwynedd supported by GISDA, a charity that empowers vulnerable young people aged 1625 in North Wales to overcome homelessness and build brighter futures. This project, 'Art in nature' is from a collaborative project with ICAN GISDA which has been funded by Betsi Cadwalader Health Board. The Art in Nature project invited young people facing mental health challenges to express themselves through art.
Big thanks to Malan and Lynwen for running the project, working with the young people and curating the exhibition.
Seed Funding for the Arts
This year Gwynedd Community Arts Unit were delighted to be able to offer a number of Seed Funding grants to creative practitioners across Gwynedd to pilot new and creative ways of working.
These grants aim to support creative practitioners and arts organisations, based in Gwynedd, to try a new project or event.
The projects have been varied and interesting, including self-practise and community engagement, with participants of all ages and from different parts of the community. The standard of projects has been incredibly high, and the work being produced is fantastic.
Artists that have been beneficiaries of this funding include Manon Gwynant, Mr Kobo (Nader Kohbodi), Rebecca Hardy Griffiths and Caroline Schofield. The full list of Artists can be seen on the Creative Gwynedd website in the News section. This project has been supported by the UK Government.
FA'MA is a project run by drama company Fran Wen that aims to bring the voices of young people to life. It gives young people in rural communities in North West Wales the opportunity to collaborate with professional artists to create their own perspective of where they live.
Previously Fa'ma has worked with young people in Nefyn and Bala, and this year landed in Bethesda for an adventure full of the unexpected experiencing the village through the eyes of young people.
This project is a collaboration between Fran Wen, Gwynedd Community Arts, Gwynedd Youth Service and Partneriaeth Ogwen
Criw Celf Bach
The new series of Criw Celf Bach art sessions was off to flying start this Autumn in Neuadd Aberdyfi, Plas Glyn y Weddw and Storiel.
Criw Celf Bach has been successfully running in Gwynedd since 2007, and these monthly classes give children between the ages of 7 and 11 the opportunity to take part in high quality art sessions with professional artists.
The children have the chance to use a variety of materials and techniques and are already producing lots of exciting artworks! We hope these classes will nurture an interest and enthusiasm in art in young people across Gwynedd.
We love seeing the wonderful artworks created in the sessions.
We’ve started a new course of Craft for Wellebing session his October. Lora Morgan leads 6 sessions where adults can try their hand at different crafts including wet felting, bag printing, rag rug and Christmas decorations.
The focus of the sessions is the social element and trying something new.
We plan to run a new course of sessions in the new year in a different locations. Keep an eye on our social media pages for more information.
Craftfor Wellbeing
New Public Art in Gwynedd
Bangor City and Bala Town Murals
As part of the Foundation Laying Program for Investment, Pride and Bustle of Gwynedd Town Centers which is funded through the UK Government's Common Prosperity fund, Gwynedd Council worked together with Bangor City Council and Bala Community Council in order to identify opportunities to installing public art in Bangor and Bala which would contribute towards the Regeneration of Bangor City and the town of Bala.
Following several consultation sessions there was an opportunity to work with Bala Co-op Shop, Bala High Street and Aneddau Day Service Centre, Annedd Ni which is located in Sackville Rd, Bangor to commission artists to design and paint murals that celebrate the unique history, culture and heritage of the City of Bangor and the town of Y Bala.
Artist Jess Balla was commissioned to design and paint the Bangor City mural and Artist Aliss Curtis to design and paint the Bala town Mural. As part of the design process there was an opportunity for several community groups, and local schools to participate in a range of workshops in order to develop the final design for the murals, with everyone enjoying being part of the process of developing the final designs.
Sgwrs a Chan has continued to run consistently at Bala, Porthmadog and Botwnnog with sessions also taking place in Porthi'r Dre, Caernarfon and Bethesda.
The collaboration with Grŵp Cynefin has continued successfully in running sessions in their extra care apartment projects.
If you would like more information about Chat a Chan or other CGWM sessions, please visit www.cgwm.org.uk
Community Arts Grants
Our quarterly community arts grants are still ongoing, offering up to £500 to voluntary and community groups in Gwynedd to run arts activities. This year projects we have supported include Gŵyl Llanuwchllyn, Llanllechid Community Council bus stop mural, and Grŵp Lle Arall art project.
Grants are offered four times a year and the next deadline is January 10th, 2025. Get in touch if you have an idea you would like to discuss, you can email us at celf@gwynedd.llyw.cymru.
Gwynedd Arts Bridging Fund
We are very pleased that a new limited fund has been released to help support projects running up until March 2025. This bridging fund will be extremely important for many arts organisations and groups and will help them to continue to offer high quality arts services including events, workshops and arts programmes in Gwynedd.
The provision and access to the arts for all parts of the community is so important for the health, wellbeing, and joy of everyone and we value it highly.
Gweithdy Celf
Gwasanaeth Ieuenctid
This Autumn Gwynedd Youth group took part in an arts and wellbeing workshop at Moel y Ci community enterprise farm. Artist Karen Williams has facilitated several of these sessions for the youth group, helping young people who may be struggling with confidence and anxiety to take part in a day designed to teach them new skills. The group have a walk in nature around Moel y Ci Farm, observing and learning about nature, and taking inspiration from natural objects for the art workshop. The workshop involves practical skills working with metal to form shapes inspired by natural objects and involves using various tools including some banging and shaping with hammers which is always fun and very therapeutic!
Climate and Nature Forum
nedd Community Arts are pleased to be ng part in Gwynedd Councils Climate and ture Staff Forum. Climate change and e issues are close to our hearts and have a strong theme in many of our projects the years. As climate issues grow ever e critical, we feel it is important to be of positive actions and discussions to see we can be part of Gwynedd Council plans his area, and to see how the arts can be involved. Information about Gwynedd Councils climate and nature plan can be found on the Gwynedd Council website under Home > Residents > Climate and nature
