Friday 1st October 2010
Creativity in Hard Times
Supported by Arts Council of Wales and Cardiff School of Art & Design
9.00am – 4.00pm, Pierhead Building Cardiff Bay
In recent decades the link between artistic endeavour and the creative industries have become recognised as central to the economic as well as cultural health of the country. As Wales braces itself for another period of austerity and financial stringency in the second decade of the 21st Century, how should policy makers respond? How can sector organisations such as the Arts Council of Wales help in turning a period of adversity to our advantage?
In the 1930s the visual arts took on a new lease of life and there was also the ‘first flowering’ of Welsh writing in English, through the work of such authors as Rhys Davies, Jack Jones, Idris Davies, Gwyn Thomas and, of course, the poets Vernon Watkins and Dylan Thomas. The 1980s, another period of hardship in Welsh economic life, witnessed a further burst of creativity, this time associated with television, the launch of S4C, the production of a number of landmark television series on Welsh history, and the emergence of influential Welsh rock bands such as the Stereophonics and the Manic Street Preachers.
Can we anticipate a comparable artistic response to hard times in the 2010s to the one that occurred in the 1930s and 1980s? This conference marks the launch of the 2010 Cardiff Design Festival.
Key note speaker: Peter Lord: Wales’s leading art historian, Cardiff Design Fortnight Launch, Senedd, 4.00pm – 6.00pm
Conference tickets are:
£52 for IWA members
£65 for non-members
£85 for a conference place and 1 years IWA membership, which includes unlimited digital access to all IWA publications
For a full conference programme please visit our website for more information
Tickets can either be booked on our secure website
or alternatively if you prefer to contact us directly please email or telephone 029 2066 0820
The Aesthetica Creative Works Competition is now open for entries!
Aesthetica Magazine is inviting all artists, writers and poets to submit their work into the Aesthetica Creative Works Competition 2010. Now in its third year, the Creative Works Competition is dedicated to celebrating and championing creative talent across three disciplines, identifying new artists and writers and bringing them to international attention.
• The Competition has three categories, Artwork, Poetry and Fiction.
• Winners and finalists are published in the Aesthetica Creative Works Annual.
• Winners of each category receive £500 prize money plus other prizes.
• Entry to the Creative Works Competition is £10
• The entry fee allows the submission of 2 images, 2 poems or 2 short stories.
• The deadline for submissions is the 31st August 2010.
• More guidelines on how to submit can be found online at www.aestheticamagazine.com
Bryony Byrne
Participation is at the heart of Art At.
For visitors it is an opportunity to explore their creative side and take away not necessarily an object but certainly an inspiration. The project was set up in response to discussion initially among artists who were excited by the proposal to show a high standard of work and to benefit by working together to maximize the success of the project. The immediate response of the owner of Rhos-y-gilwen to this entirely new event for West Wales was extremely encouraging. The need is there for a wider cross section of our community to integrate and enjoy the arts and environmental issues.
The first ART AT Rhosygilwen, in 2008, took place in brilliant sunshine which definitely enhanced the pleasure of all who came to participate in the creative workshops – skill building from using recycled materials making sunhats, collaborative paintings, found object sculptural construction, portrait painting, and many more diverse activities.
The four master-classes in Print-making, Life Drawing, Sculpture and Water-based painting lead by top professionals in their field, were well attended.
The main exhibition showing works of 42 artists from all over Wales, was shown in the main house and the Oak Hall and astounded people with its high standard and presentation of work.
People came to enjoy the whole event were also to be surprised and delighted by impromptu music and performance within the hall and around the grounds, and while wandering they would come across a family of life-sized figures standing in the shade of the trees; huge figures created from willow; large ceramic hollow “pebbles” for plants to grow in, displayed on the decking; quirky heads and busts that made everyone smile; beautiful hand made furniture made from recycled wood and slate and much, much more.
All in all, the week-end had an air of enchantment about it, and there were many voices saying, “lets make this into a yearly event!”
Artists will be exhibiting work, running demonstrations and workshops.
There will be some performance art and pieces created that are site
specific.
The contributors will be drawn mainly from Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and
Carmarthenshire but it will also include some “names” known nationally and
internationally.
There will be a selected of 2D and 3D art in the main hall.
In the marquee there will be a range of art and craft stalls chosen for
their quality.
There will be short workshops and demonstrations where visitors can work with
artists.
Also day long master classes.
Video and film: there will be screenings of a selection of entries from this year’s Manchester Film Fesival.
Poetry
Childrens activities
Catering provided by Rhosygilwen
Entry £3, children free.
Art At Map
Please see website at http://www.artat.org.uk
Have you made Wales a Better Place?
ARTS, MEDIA AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Closing date: Friday, 23 April 2010
Sponsored by Active Music Services
To recognise an outstanding contribution by an individual to the enhancement of Wales’s reputation in the arts, media or creative industries. This category will embrace all art forms, including design and architecture, whether publicly funded or commercial or recognise an outstanding contribution by an individual to the enhancement of Wales’s reputation through the medium of print, radio, television or online.
If you would like further information or wish to nominate someone, please visit the Inspire Wales Awards 2010 website www.iwa.org.uk
