News | Newyddion

It’s hard to believe that Gwanwyn 2015 officially ends this weekend. There are a few events still to go, but we wanted to thank all the artists, musicians, writers, dancers, poets, actors, crafters, knitters, singers, photographers, organisers, volunteers, participants, workshoppers and audiences across Wales who combined to make this year’s festival one of the best and most memorable yet! Three cheers for all of you!

Don’t forget to share any photos with us on Facebook. The ones we’ve seen so far are really amazing and it’s nice see our organisers sharing experiences with each other.

We’re already hard at work on 2016’s festival, so keep an eye out for news and announcements. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter or follow this link to sign up for our mailing list to keep abreast of funding deadlines and special projects.

Lovely interview with Peggy Seeger today in Wales Online about her forthcoming performance this Saturday at Attitude Festival in Merthyr.

Wales’s only annual national arts festival for over 50s is back for its ninth year on May 1 and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

This year’s Gwanwyn festival features a chance for older people to learn about parkour and graffiti, a ‘Pimp my ukulele’ project, music with knitting needles, and much more.

Emma Robinson, Gwanwyn’s Coordinator says:

“This year we’re proud to be working with Men in Sheds on a project to build and customise ukuleles and also with the Attitude Festival in Merthyr Tydfil on 9 May.

“On 14 May, we’ve got a performance by the ‘Forget-me-Not Chorus’ at Caerphilly Castle, led by the mezzo soprano and 2012 Inspirational Woman of the Year – Kate Woolveridge.

“There’ll be a performance by Cain – Galeri Caernarfon’s dance performance group for over 60s on 15 May.

“We’ve also got a packed day of free workshops for over 50s at the Wales Millennium Centre on 16 May, which will give over 50s the chance to try their hand at graffiti, parkour, singing and much more!

“And let’s not forget our amazing ‘music with knitting needles’ performance by Jobina Tinnemans at the Wales Millennium Centre, also on that weekend.”

Age Cymru is looking for 16 artist practitioners (four for each of the following art forms – Performing Arts, Visual Art, Music and Words) as part of a new project, cARTrefu, which will deliver arts based residencies to care homes across Wales.

For more information head to Age Cymru’s website http://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/about-us/work-for-us/

Gwanwyn Festival of Arts and Creativity for older people is organised by Age Cymru and supported by Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales

Community Grant Scheme now open (more…)

MAD DOG CASTING IS LOOKING FOR EXTRAS!

THEY PROVIDE BACKGROUND ARTISTS FOR BIG HOLLYWOOD FEATURE FILMS AS WELL AS ALL KINDS OF TV SHOWS AND COMMERCIALS such as Sherlock and Casualty

They are currently seeking older people to join their books, especially those aged 60+ (more…)

The Gwanwyn team would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. 

We are looking forward to developing the exciting plans for the festival in 2014 and cant wait to start working on the creative ideas.  There is still plenty of time to apply for a Community Grant for organisations who would like take part in the festival.  For more informatioin on the scheme please visit the Download page on this website. 

Nadolig Llawen

Gwanwyn xx

A huge thanks go to Bev and members of the Sax for Fun group for providing fantastic musical entertainment for all Age Cymru runners, and others, during the 1/2 marathon on 6th October

Age Cymru runners and supporters have all said how much the music lifted their spirits and tired legs. 

Sax for Fun received a community grant for Gwanwyn 2013.  The group run weekly workshops for people who are interested in learning to play the sax and offer regular performance opportunities.  For more information please visit http://www.saxforfun.co.uk/about/4576822535 

Thanks again Sax for Fun and well done to all the runners.

Age Cymru has appointed Emma Robinson as their new Arts and Creativity Development Officer.  Emma will run Gwanwyn, the Wales-wide arts festival and arts programme for over 50s.

She will be curating and developing the charity’s Gwanwyn festival for over 50s which runs each May and a year-round arts programme.

The former touring officer with Hijinx Theatre has also previously worked with Brotfabrik arts centre in Berlin, Comic Relief and Cardiff Council. (more…)

Gwanwyn, in partnership with the Older People’s Commissioner, invited schools and youth groups to organise intergenerational projects that enabled young people to exchange stories with their parents and grandparents on what a Saturday night out means (or meant) to them.    (more…)

Staff at University Hospital Llandough caring for older people with mental health problems have been getting hands on help from local artists, following support from Age Cymru’s Gwanwyn Festival. 
 
Students from the Cardiff School of Art and Design were asked to submit concepts for a piece of art to help change the hospital environment for older people.

(more…)

Would you like to review a Gwanwyn supported script A Lifetime on Tiptoes?

A Lifetime on Tiptoes is a play about the Partition of British India 1947.  Director, Dominic Rai, who has strong links with Age Cymru’s Gwanwyn festival, has worked with writer and poet Mazhar Tirmazi to produce a script about the human cost of the Partition of British India. (more…)

A NEW dance company for over 60s will be making its debut performance at the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh.

Cain Performance Company is Galeri Caernarfon’s dance company for older people.

It will be performing ‘Anwel’ (Invisible) – a piece about older people feeling invisible in society, at 11.00am on Monday 5 August in Theatr y Maes. (more…)

TWO Anglesey writing groups have joined up to write a book of short stories and poems that have been inspired by the island.

The ‘Write On’ and ‘Copper Writers’ groups have published ‘Môntage – Writings from a Welsh Island’ which is a collection of works about Anglesey by its residents. (more…)

Llandudno will be hosting a unique event this weekend that celebrates older and younger people’s experiences of Saturday nights.
‘What does a teenage Saturday Night out mean to you?’ is taking place at the Mostyn gallery on Saturday 29 June.
It’s all part of the Commissioner’s Choice project by the Gwanwyn arts festival for over 50s from Age Cymru and the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales.
Claire Bottomley from Age Cymru says:
“Saturday night is a teenage rite of passage that provides a rich seam of stories that we can probably all relate to and enjoy together.
“Getting younger and older people to share their experiencesthrough projects such as the Commissioner’s Choiceis a great way to build bridges between the generations.
“It helps to bring everyone closer by giving us a different perspective on familiar situations as wellas teaching us that even though the world changes, we’re not as different from each other as we may once have thought.”
A film made by local 15-25 year-olds – the Circuit/Cylch, about older people’s memories of Saturday nights will have its public premier at the event.
There’ll also be a soundscape installation and sensory memory boxes made by the Mostyn Ninjas – a group of 11-13-year-olds from the area, on show.
Sarah Rochira, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, comments:
“Travelling extensively across Wales as Commissioner, I have seen for myself just how much older people and younger people have in common so I was delighted to support this project through the Commissioner’s Choice award.
“Projects like this are an important way to challenge the stereotypes often faced by older people and younger people alike, which can often lead to negative treatment and discrimination.
“But more than that, projects like this and the other Commissioner’s Choice projects are a great way to bring the generations together in an innovative and enjoyable way.”
Members of the public can experience the film and soundscape installation and sensory memory boxes at Mostyn on Saturday 29 June.
There will also be jive dancing, an indoor garden tea party, games and photography exhibition from 2pm onwards.
Mostyn is located at 12 Vaughan Street, Llandudno LL30 1AB.

Title: Textile Art Workshops
Date: 8, 15, 22, 29 May & 5 June
Location: Ysbyty Eryri, Caernarfon
Time: Afternoon sessions
Cost: Free

Description:
Artist Wendy Rogers will deliver a series of 5 textile art sessions for patients and carers at Ysbyty Eryri. Wendy will be using wool and fabric to create artworks inspired by trees and fruit. These sessions are open only to hospital in-patients and/or outpatients via the Speech & Language Therapy Team.

Tel: 01286 679721
Email: gwawrr@gwynedd.gov.uk

Title: 3rd Age Dance
Date: Wed afternoons – ongoing
Location: Arwel Y Mor,Community Centre,Porthcawl,Bridgend.
Time: 1-3pm
Cost: free

Description:
A free dance class for those aged 50+.The class is suitable for all ability levels and uses dance as a method of supporting emotional and physical wellbeing.
The class has a specific focus Parkinsons but all are welcome.

Tel: 01639 813428
Email: pat@tandance.org

Mask Theatre comes to Caernarfon
Vamos Theatre, the Worcestershire-based full mask theatre company, tours nationally and internationally, taking its unique style of innovative and engaging theatre to small and large communities alike: theatre that brims with visual inventiveness, original music, puppetry, dexterity, and hilarity. Vamos Theatre is dedicated to devised work, physical and fantastical adaptations of human stories, often rooted in real life histories and events. Vamos is passionate about theatre and its role in people’s lives, in performance and participation. Local to international, Vamos Theatre engages and inspires intergenerational audiences and participants with its playful and fearless full mask theatre.
Galeri, Caernarvon will celebrate this year’s Gwyl Gwanwyn Festival with a Vamos Theatre workshop. A performance of Finding Joy as part of the TONIC session will follow the workshop.
Artists from Vamos theatre will lead a mask workshop in the theatre in Galeri. Here’s an opportunity for young teenagers to bring a grandparent, a neighbour or friend (over 60 years old) to enjoy and participate in the workshop woth them. The workshop will explore some of the themes in the production Finding Joy in a playful and interactive way, giving the participants an opportunity to develop skills and confidence through communicating without language and using masks
‘Finding joy’ .Vamos will be leading an intergenerational mask workshop 11.30-12.30 May 30, followed by a performance in the theatre as part of our TONIC strand at 2.30 pm. There will also be an evening performance of ‘Finding Joy’ at 7pm 29th of May

“One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel alright” – Bob Marley
Bristol Reggae Orchestra is one of the UK’s most unique, inspiring and uplifting community projects – and they are coming to the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff to give a rousing finale to the 2013 Gwanwyn Festival. Set up in early 2010, its debut sold out St George’s in Bristol, a renowned classical music venue, and turned it into a seething dance hall. Since then, performances at local festivals, in the St Paul’s community and around the southwest have confirmed the Reggae Orchestra as one to watch.
It is a collective of 40 local musicians of all ages, drawing influences from reggae, ska, jazz and classical music, and include in our ranks professional musicians, students, hobbyists and session players, as well as those who have rarely played in public before. They feature a selection of singers who can draw on many years of experience.
They play a compelling repertoire drawn from bravely crafted originals, many from talented composers in St Paul’s and the wider Bristol area, as well as reggae and ska classics from the likes of Bob Marley and Lord Tanamo. Listen out for their particular blend of toe-tapping, crowd-pleasing world music with verve, commanding solos and an infectious beat. This will be happening on the Glanfa stage at the Wales Millennium Centre at 1:00pm on Saturday 25th May. Free admission
If your experience of Reggae is all from records you need to hear this. You will also get the chance to see the world premiere of a new piece of music specially commissioned by the Gwanwyn festival featuring Dylan Fowler (Guitar) and Adam Doughty on the Kora (An African harp).

Title: Sing & Smile with Goldies Cymru
Date: 20th May
Location: Rhondda Heritage Park, nr Pontypridd
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am
Cost: Free event although we request a £1 donation

Description:
Goldies is for everyone, and is quite simply about making friends and having fun through music. Goldies Cymru is a charity organisation who run sessions at Rhondda Heritage Park on the third Monday of each month. The sessions are free of charge – no booking just turn up – all we request is a £1 donation from each person to fund sessions in other areas

Tel: 01443 682036
Email: info@rhonddaheritagepark.com

Title: Glass Fusing Workshop.
Date: May 18th.
Location: Ferryside Village Hall.
Time: 10am – 4pm.
Cost: Free.

Description:
A chance to learn glass fusing techniques, aimed at people over 50 with know experience of glass fusing. This will be part of Ferryside Feelgood Festival.More information on the Ferryside Village Forum website.

Tel: 01267 267 707.
Email: jamesanddianagreer@btinternet.com

Next Thursday’s film (16th May) in the Open Cinema/Gwanwyn festival is Hope Springs (6pm) at the Cultural and Media Centre, Bute Street, Cardiff Bay. Next Thursday is also Open Cinema Cardiff’s first birthday, so there’s a good chance of there being cake on the night.

ARE YOU RETIRED?
New Channel 4 Series wants to hear from retired workers about their past jobs, careers & skills.

From Catering to Gardening, DIY to Hairdressing, it doesn’t matter what you did for a living.

If you’re retired and want to be a part of an exciting new project we want to hear from you!

If you’re interested and want more info please email theagency@plumpictures.co.uk or call 0207 184 7794

Please note that emailing or calling in doesn’t commit you to taking part in the series

Title: Art demonstration and workshop
Date: 1st May 2013 & 11th May 2013
Location: Undy church and Community Hall
Time: 6pm & 10am
Cost: £3 demo &  £5 workshop

Description:
A demonstration of mixed media techniques with texture followed by a workshop on Saturday

Tel: 01633 880467 /  01633 882331

Email: avrilhunt1@abstrayleaves1.plus.com

Title: Family History Day
Date: 11th May
Location: Rhondda Heritage Park, nr Pontypridd
Time: 11am – 3pm
Cost: Free

Description:
Whether you are interested in local history, or researching your family tree – this is just the place to start.

Tel: 01443 682036
Email: info@rhonddaheritagepark.com

Title: Drama Workshop and Play
Date: 5th May 2013
Location: Dinorben Arms Hotel Amlwch
Time: 7:00pm
Cost: Please email for ticket price

Description:

The drama group is called Loose cannons and will be staging a play about the First World war.

Tel: 01407 831862

Email: agewellamlwch@btconnect.com

Clwyd Theatr Cymru offers a taste of the Celtic festival 2013 to the gwanwyn festival

This year’s Celtic Festival has an even bigger programme of new work from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall including theatre, film, dance, art and comedy.
In the Emlyn Williams Theatre, innovative young Scottish company ThickSkin bring their heart-stopping new show The Static fresh from rave reviews at the Edinburgh festival; Happenstance from Northern Ireland plunge us into the grime, black humour and romance of the Belfast shipyards in The Boat Factory and Clwyd Theatr Cymru present leading Welsh playwright Tim Price’s Olivier nominated Salt, Root and Roe, directed by Kate Wasserberg.
The Studio 2 programme includes the world premiere of new Welsh playwright Matthew Bulgo’s play Last Christmas, the enchanting children’s show The Firebird by Scottish company Purves Puppets, and Picnic Plays – a series of lunchtime readings of new work where you are invited to bring your sandwiches (or treat yourself to one of our picnic baskets), stretch on a blanket and enjoy hearing new plays read for the very first time by actors from our CTC company.

If you are over 50 yrs Clwyd Theatr Cymru are offering a taste of the Celtic Festival 2013 to participants of the Gwanwyn Festival which includes a ticket to:

A Play
A Film
A Picnic Play (including lunch)
of your choice from the Celtic Festival 2013 programme.

Please contact Nicola Ireland to book your tickets on 01352 701559 or nicola.ireland@clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk

ACGC COMMUNITY DANCE PROGRAMME
BACK FOR A NEW TERM!

‘NO LARGE COSTS, NO GRADES, NO COMPETITION,NO PRESSURE, JUST FUN,
ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES TO LEARN FROM
PROFESSIONAL DANCE ARTIST IN YOUR COMMUNITY’
See attachments for further information on Community Dance classes held in:
Fishguard
Milford Haven
Haverfordwest
Crymych
Narberth
Whitland
St Clears
Carmarthen
Llanelli
Ammanford
IMPORTANT CHANGES to Ammanford, Carmarthen & Narberth community dance classes please see attachments.

Angharad James
Dance Development Coordinator
Arts Care Gofal Celf
01267 245 645

REGGAE
ORCHESTRA
feat. GARY CROSBY
Sue Hart and Martin Caddick
(Baka Beyond)
with Long Sho (Tibetan singers)
Mass and Jams (Gambian drums)
The Station
Silver Lane
Bristol
Saturday 20 April
8pm (doors 7.30pm)
£12 /£10 adv

The Rachel Carson Poetry, Essay, Photo, Song and Dance Contest
Sponsored by: U.S. EPA, Generations United, the Dance Exchange, National Center for Creative Aging, the Legacy Project and the Rachel Carson Council, Inc.
Rachel Carson was an American biologist who cared deeply about the natural world. In the Sense of Wonder Ms. Carson wrote “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
To honor this environmental pioneer, the U.S. EPA and its partners are sponsoring the 7th Annual Rachel Carson Intergenerational Contest.
Water that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes.” We want you to share this love of nature with a child or an elder.
When we teach our eyes and ears and senses to focus on the wonders of nature, we open ourselves to the wonders around us.
Submissions due Monday, June 10, 2013.

Find out more at: http://epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm

Are you a community centre, village hall or similar community organisation based in Wales?

Would you like to put on performances by professional entertainers in your local area?

Would you like to stop the headache of financial risk?

Then welcome to the Night Out Scheme – Rural Touring / Community Touring

NIGHT OUT is an Arts Council of Wales scheme that helps local volunteer promoters put professional performances in village halls and other community venues across Wales.

The website www.nightout.org.uk/ has been designed to help community organisations to benefit from the scheme, as well as bring details of the performances to the general public.

I am passing on this email from Jamie Buttrick at Consilium Research.  I do hope you will consider taking part.

We have reached the next stage of our research for Skills for Care looking at the role of arts in the delivery of social care which will see the team looking to map projects/activities using the arts in the delivery of social care through an online survey.

We now have the research web page up and running at:

http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/participation/consultations/arts_in_the_delivery_of_social_care.aspx

Everything you need to know about running your arts or crafts group

Need help with your amateur arts or crafts group? Running Your Group, the new online information service from Voluntary Arts, has the answers for you. This one-stop shop provides instant guidance on all aspects of running a voluntary arts or crafts group, whether it’s attracting new members, starting a committee or fundraising advice. The free account gives you access to over 150 briefings on topics like social media or organising events; enews packed with information about the sector; quick reference guides on a range of topics and a discussion forum to connect with your peers. The subscription levels include all this and step-by-step tutorials, live online events with access to key decision makers and a comprehensive pack to help groups plan for the future. For more information go to www.runningyourgroup.org

Re-Live are delighted to announce details of their training courses for January 2013.

We would appreciate your help in forwarding this message on to friends and colleagues who may be interested in this area of training.

RE-LIVE TRAINING JANUARY 2013

Introduction to Life Story Work (Jan 17th-18th)

Life Story Work in End of Life Care (Jan 22nd-23rd)

Experiencing Dementia (Jan 25th)

For more information and details of how to book please visit:

http://www.re-live.org.uk/training.html

With best wishes

Karin

Karin Diamond

Re-Live

karin@re-live.org.uk

www.re-live.org.uk

Please note we understand this training is not yet available in Welsh

Every year, Age Cymru is privileged to work with incredible volunteers and participants through a range of programmes from healthy ageing work to our arts festival. We want to celebrate the outstanding contributions that many people make to the lives of older people through Age Cymru.

The Age Cymru Awards will allow us to build on already established relationships and we also hope they’ll help us to gain the attention of influential organisations and individuals throughout Wales when we publish the inspirational stories of our winners.

We believe that it’s fitting to create the Age Cymru Awards because so many people deserve increased recognition for the work they have done with us. Of course ultimately, they are all winners but on this occasion we’ll recognise five individuals who have made a special contribution.

Why this year?

The Awards have been established this year, 2012, which is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations. This theme fits with many Age Cymru programmes and activities.

The Awards

The five awards are based on Age Cymru programmes, Gwanwyn, My Home Life Cymru, Active Ageing, Campaigner of the year and Local Delivery.

Presentations

The Age Cymru Awards will be presented to the winners at a glittering gala dinner at the Cardiff Hilton, on Friday 8th February 2013.

Timetable

• nominations are now open
• closing date is Monday 3rd December 2012
• judging will be complete by 15th January 2013
• winners will be notified by 22nd January 2013.

You can find out more by visiting

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/get-involved/age-cymru-awards-2012/

Wales’ popular Butetown Bay singing stars:
Patti Flynn. Humie Webbe & Jacky Webbe,
return to the Level 3 Lounge with another exciting
musical feast of Standards, Blues, Jazz and Gospel,
presented in unequivocal and pleasing style by these
talented and humorous performers in
an evening to remember.
7pm on Level 3
St David’s Hall
Bay Divas
Live on
Level 3
All tickets £13
from the box office
at St David’s Hall or
by phone on: 029 2087 8444
on line at: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
Sunday 18th
November 2012
Presented by:
Design & Print by

A quick ‘heads-up’ top let you know that the information packs for Gwanwyn festival 2013 should be available for download from this website on 16th November 2013.

We look forward to hearing from you.