Alys

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Youth Projects: Environmental Art

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We are looking to recruit a Welsh speaking artist to facilitate an exciting project at a local Welsh school. The project will involve a mixed class of year 8 children from Ysgol Y Preseli, Crymych with aim to regenerate the school’s community garden, following a series of co-creation workshops led by SPAN Arts team members. The aim of the project is to use recycled materials to revamp the community garden through a series of workshops, whilst improving the physical and emotional health of pupils. The recycled theme was a strong element of importance to pupils during the co-creation workshops, along with improving emotional and physical health, collaboration and having a voice as a young person growing up in West Wales. We would like to see elements of these themes incorporated into the project. This is an exceptional opportunity for pupils to work with a professional artist to explore a range of art techniques and skills, in a positive, creative, and holistic way whilst working with their environment and voicing what is important to them. If you are interested in facilitating this project, please, we invite you to submit your creative response to info@span-arts-dev.co.uk in whatever format works best for you, […]

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Love Stories to Nature

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We invite artists and creative practitioners to send us their ideas for new work as part of our Love Stories to Nature commissions. All ideas need to respond in some way to the prompt of The Environment. What do we mean by Environment? We embrace this word in its widest possible context: It could be inspired by or in response to our natural and built physical environment be that urban or rural, mountains or coast, fields, or forests. It could be macro or micro, from the global context to microbiology It could be the climate emergency we are all facing, from a global challenge to personal everyday actions It could be our relationship to the environment, its importance, impact or value on a personal, community or societal scale. It could be any or none of these things, we ask you to define what it means in relation to your idea. Artwork by Emma Baker What we are looking for? Ideas that: Come from the heart Are inspiring, innovative, and creative Are ambitious, provocative, and engaging Are Pembrokeshire/West Wales focused but nationally and/or globally relevant Embrace the wide meaning of The Environment, from our natural and build spaces and landscapes to

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Chwedlau’r Normal Newydd / Tales from the New Normal: Finding Me in a Sea of Change

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Verbatim theatre is made from real people’s stories. Playwright Ceri Ashe has been working with people of all ages and backgrounds from across West Wales to gather stories about the highs, the lows, and truths of what life in this new normal means to them. This tapestry of true stories from young students, hardworking mothers, pensioners and grandparents to list a few, will be brought to life this winter via our ground-breaking, livestreamed Theatr Soffa project. From first hugs and first loves to buzzcuts and dancing like no one’s watching, this poignant, raw, and heartfelt verbatim show will take you on an emotional journey, and encourage you to reflect on what this new normal means to you. Book your free ticket here Theatr Soffa is an online community theatre company presenting live-streamed community performances through zoom in both English and Welsh. It was initially conceived as a creative way to connect rurally isolated and housebound individuals across Pembrokeshire through the arts and technology. To date, we have presented several additional livestreamed productions, including Under Milk Wood, Dan Y Wenallt, Dracula, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Nadolig Plentyn yng Nghymru, and Lady Windermere’s Fan. During the Autumn, Pembrokeshire-born actor, playwright, and
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Côr Pawb mass community choir is back!

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In 2015, SPAN created Côr Pawb (Everyone’s Choir), a 70-100 strong mass community choir featuring singers ranging in age from six to ninety-six from across the county and beyond.   We are thrilled to announce that Côr Pawb will be back with a spectacular performance to draw the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival to a close on Sunday the 5th of March 2023 at The Queen’s Hall. The mass choir will meet for a series of rehearsals in Clynderwen Community Hall led by experienced choir leaders Molara Awen (One Voice and Cân Sing), Maya Waldman (Sweet Harmony and Lleisiau Preseli Voices), and Tomos Hopkins (Côr Dysgwyr Sir Benfro). Rehearsal dates: 19th November, 7th January, 29th January, 18th February. Sessions will take place from 11am – 4pm. Rehearsals are free to attend, but donations are welcome. Founded upon the principles of community strength and resilience, Côr Pawb welcomes all voices, regardless of singing ability, to come together for an uplifting celebration of song. You don't have to be a member of a choir or have sung before to join in. Everyone is welcome - experienced singers and newbies alike! We invite anyone interested in getting involved to the initial rehearsal on
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ArtsBoost

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Artist-led sessions aimed at supporting 13-17 year olds awaiting NHS treatment for mental ill-health SPAN Arts is a partner organisation with Hywel Dda University Health Board (UHB) improving mental health and reducing feelings of distress in children and young people known to Specialist Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (SCAMHS) and UHB. ArtsBoost is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and The Baring Foundation. Now in its third year SPAN has been working with a team of artists to deliver creative multi artform sessions that give the young people the choice of what they want to do and how they want to express themselves. The arts are proven to help with health and wellbeing, SPAN Arts in Pembrokeshire, Small World Theatre in Ceredigion and People Speak Up in Carmarthenshire are the creative partners commissioned to deliver these arts-based activities. To be eligible to take part in future sessions, you must be known to SCAMHS and either waiting for, or accessing support from your local primary mental health team. For more details about ArtsBoost, please contact Kathryn Lambert, Kathryn.Lambert@wales.nhs.uk, Hywel Dda UHB, Arts in Health Coordinator or Bethan Morgan, info@span-arts-dev.co.uk, SPAN Arts Community Producer. This project was funded by the

completed project

Winter Volunteer Workshops

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We are delighted to present a programme of FREE creative workshops taking place at the Span Arts building and online across the next month! See below for the full schedule: CREATIVE WRITING with DEB WINTER  24 February 11:30am – 1:30pm (Online)  All welcome to this lively Creative Writing workshop run by Deb Winter, a prize-winning writer & storyteller. All you need to bring is your imagination (& something to write with). You’ll surprise yourself as the words leap out of you onto the page!  CLOG DANCING and SPOONS SESSION with JESS WARD & HOLLY ROBINSON  1 March 11:00am – 1:00pm (Span Arts building)  Come along and celebrate St David’s day with some Welsh toe-tapping and spoon rattling rhythms! A relaxed and informal Welsh Clog Dance workshop led by experienced dance caller Jess Ward and accompanied by folk fiddler Holly Robinson playing traditional Welsh tunes. Clogs provided!  WELSH TASTER with LEARN WELSH PEMBROKESHIRE  5 March 10:00am – 12:00pm (Online)  Come and see what learning Cymraeg is all about! Suitable for complete beginners who have not studied Welsh before, this fun and informal session will be led by one of Learn Welsh Pembrokeshire’s friendly tutors.  CREATIVE WRITING with KERRY STEED  9 March 11:30am – 1:30pm (Online) 

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SPAN Arts x Menter Iaith Sir Benfro present The John S. Davies Ensemble

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In partnership with Menter Iaith Sir Benfro, Span Arts are absolutely delighted to present The John S. Davies Ensemble at our popular annual Advent Concert at 3pm on Sunday the 27th of November at Pisga Chapel, Llandissilio, SA66 7TF.   We are proud to welcome the renowned John S. Davies and his ensemble to the atmospheric candle-lit setting of Pisga Chapel. The talented group of professional singers, cathedral choristers, and music students selected by John S. Davies himself will treat audiences to a breathtaking and joyous hour of bilingual choral music to welcome the start of Advent. Formed in 1978, the John S. Davies Singers perform regularly at St David’s Cathedral, and have taken their major classics and wonderful new works, all of which are mostly unaccompanied by instruments, from London to Rome, and have performed at several festivals in Wales. John is a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he was a student. As Founder and Artistic Director of the Fishguard International Music Festival (1970 - 2006) he was awarded the MBE in 1997, and has received various other awards for his work in music in Wales. Doors open at 2.30pm. The concert will
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A new codesigned programme is launching at SPAN Arts

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We are proud to announce the launch of a series of new codesigned projects that place community voices at centre stage. Following 6 months of creative conversations, these projects mark the start of an exciting chapter for SPAN as we embark upon a new cocreation process in collaboration with the community.   Chwedlau'r Normal Newydd / Tales from the New Normal: With support from the Arts Council of Wales and Comic Relief, we are working with Actor and playwright Ceri Ashe (Bipolar Me, Lockdown Tales: Making Bread and Babies) and Producer and Director Anna Sherratt (Rholiwch am Wellhad / Roll for Remission) to create Chwedlau'r Normal Newydd / Tales from the New Normal: a community-led, bilingual, online theatre piece that looks at the realities of life in a post-lockdown world. Performances will be live streamed online in December.   Unlimited Partner Awards commission: Alongside National Theatre Wales and the National Dance Company of Wales, we are proud to join the Unlimited partner commission for the first time. Unlimited commission extraordinary work by disabled artists that is rebellious, radical, adventurous, inspiring, and playful. We are seeking to work with a socially engaged disabled artist to create new work that has local
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Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival returns in 2023!

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Save the date! NAVF is back this Spring. We are incredibly excited to announce that the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival will be back in full swing from the 3rd – 5th of March 2023. Look forward to a festival weekend packed with live music, an incredible singing feast, as well as engaging and uplifting workshops led by a cappella masters. Book your full festival ticket here or via the box office on 01834 869323. Individual singing feast, concert, and workshop tickets will be available to book soon via the SPAN website. See below for the full festival schedule. Click here for more information about the artists involved. Stay tuned for more updates across our social media channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council, in collaboration with The Queen’s Hall and Bethesda Chapel, Narberth. Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival 2022 NAVF 2023 Festival Schedule Friday 3rd March   NAVF Singing Feast Date: Friday 3rd March 2023 Time: Doors open 6pm. Event begins 7pm Location: The Queen's Hall, Narberth Saturday 4th March   NAVF Morning Workshops and Sharing Date: Saturday 4th March 2023 Time: Doors open for registration 9.30am. Workshops begins
current project

SPAN Cyrraedd

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An online artistic programme to reduce isolation and loneliness, alleviate fear, stress and boredom, and build community networks in Pembrokeshire.
This programme had its roots in Span Digidol, enabling us to respond quickly to the COVID crisis.

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Cân Sing: Singing for the soul

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Cân Sing is a bi-monthly singing group for all abilities which celebrates the uplifting benefits of singing.    The group has been meeting for many years, with new additions along the way. It's perfect if you are looking to sing regularly in a pressure free environment, or whether you fancy dropping in for a sing every so often. The pace of the teaching is easily accessible to all, with no time restraints. We are delighted to announce that sessions have returned to Narberth, and will take place at Bethesda Baptist Church, Narberth, at the regular time of 7.15 pm - 9.15 pm Vocal practitioner Molara will guide the group through an exploratory celebration of singing, focusing on strengthening the voice, overcoming some of the physical and emotional barriers to singing openly and freely, and above all, singing for enjoyment. The repertoire is varied with songs from Georgia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Hawaii with a few shanties and some pop thrown in for good measure. The project has provided vital support and connection and helped to improve people’s wellbeing at this most difficult time. Singers have found the experience “Stimulating, connecting and heart-warming” with “with just the right mix of warm up,
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SPAN are partnering with Unlimited UK’s International Partner Awards for Disabled Artists.

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SPAN Arts are a proud partner in Unlimited’s UK & International Partner Awards for Disabled Artists. Unlimited is partnering with 12 UK organisations to offer 17 awards to disabled artists. These awards will offer a grand total of £628,000 to commission artists on a national and international level. Unlimited’s mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. This work will change and challenge the world. As the world’s largest commissioner of disabled artists, we’ve been dedicated to this work since 2013. This year, we’re focusing on artworks that engage communities in meaningful ways, challenge audience perceptions, and enhance visibility for disabled artists. We’re looking for projects that are designed to be seen, offering dynamic and interactive experiences to broad audiences. Working in partnership with organisations across the cultural sector is key to our long-term mission of not existing. Together we aim to support disabled artists in creating new work that captivates, inspires, and fosters deeper understanding and appreciation. In partnership with British Council, we’re offering five International Awards of up to £50,000 for artists to form collaborations across the world. Partners based in England are Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and

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Launching this Autumn: Pererin Wyf / Is oilithreach mé / I am a pilgrim

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Pererin Wyf / Is oilithreach mé / I am a pilgrim: sounding the way back through story and song is a participatory arts project seeking to connect with the Welsh and Irish diaspora with particular reference to Pembrokeshire and Wexford and a new cross-border pilgrimage connecting these places. The project takes its title and inspiration from an 18th century hymn by the prolific Welsh writer William Williams Pantycelyn. The song widely known in Wales and beyond through the Welsh diaspora will be familiar to a great many other people around the globe as it is mostly sung to the tune of Amazing Grace. This project will invite people wherever they are in the world to sing this song, a version of this song or any song of special significance to them and the themes of this project and to pin that recording to our online map. Project participants will also have the chance to offer their personal reflections and connections to North Pembrokeshire and Wexford whether current resident, the home place of their forebears, or place of significance for other reasons. Click here to view the project page.   The project Pererin Wyf will begin in September 2022 with a series of free
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SPAN Arts Announced as Partners in Unlimited Awards

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We are thrilled to share that SPAN Arts have been announced as partners in Unlimited's UK & International Partner Awards for Disabled Artists. Unlimited is an arts commissioning body that supports, funds and promotes new work by disabled artists for UK and international audiences. Since 2013, they have supported over 460 artists with over £4.9 million reaching audiences of over 5 million making it the largest supporter of disabled artists world-wide. In April 2022, Unlimited became an independent organisation with a mission to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. In its first year of becoming an independent organisation, Unlimited are doing things differently to dismantle barriers disabled artists face and to support systemic and sustainable change. SPAN Arts is one of 17 UK organisations partnering with Unlimited to offer 20 awards to disabled artists. These awards will offer a grand total of £584,000 to commission artists on a national and international level. The awards will give disabled artists the chance to develop and present work across the country and/or internationally across rural and city locations, with a partner organisation for digital or in person, collective or individual experiences. The total commission pot sees generous funding
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Span Arts present Outdoor Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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Span Arts is delighted to announce that The Festival Players Theatre Company returns to the enchanting setting of Lampeter House, to celebrate another year of outdoor Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the tale of four young lovers who find themselves wrapped in the dream-like arms of an enchanted forest where sprites lurk and fairies rule. While a feuding Fairy King and Queen are at war, their paths are crossed by Bottom, Quince and their friends presenting a play within a play. Chief mischief-maker Puck is on-hand to ensure that the course of true love is anything but smooth, and games of fantasy, love and dreams ensue in Shakespeare’s most beguiling comedy. The Festival Players, patronized by Dame Judi Dench, have amassed 60 years’ combined experience of professional touring theatre, and are set to bring mirth and mayhem to their performances of Shakespeare’s most colourful comedy this summer. Now on their 36th Annual tour, the spirited Gloucestershire-based group bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream to over 50 venues from abbeys to amphitheatres across the UK and beyond. Presenting Shakespeare at Lampeter House takes the classic work outside of the traditional theatre infrastructure and opens up this beautiful and unusual venue to the
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Span Arts x BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time

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Span Arts welcomed BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time to Narberth for the very first time on Tuesday the 28th of June 2022. Gardener’s Question Time has become a Radio 4 institution since its inception in 1947, and attracts 2 million listeners every week. Audience members had the chance to submit their questions to a celebrated panel of gardening experts during the recording of two episodes. Gardeners’ Question Time chair Kathy Clugston was joined by queen of pests and diseases Pippa Greenwood, house plant specialist and greenhouse grower Anne Swithinbank, and garden designer and long-time GQT expert Chris Beardshaw, fresh from another Chelsea gold medal. “The panel NEVER see the questions before the recording. Their encyclopaedic, seemingly effortless answers are completely spontaneous and reveal their huge experience and depth of gardening knowledge. Being on the GQT panel is not for the faint hearted!” BBC Radio 4. Previous panel members have been guests of a diverse range of gardening clubs and other organisations, broadcasting from within both Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street, and even atop Mount Snowdon! “After the pandemic cancelled our first attempt back in 2020, SPAN Arts is truly delighted to be able to bring BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners

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The BIG Plant Sale

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The 4th May 2024 will mark SPAN Arts’ 29th BIG Plant Sale in Narberth. The BIG Plant Stall is not only an important date in the gardening calendar, but it is also hugely important for SPAN as a charity; all profits from the stall will aid us in providing performances and arts experiences for people across the county. More details on this years’ event coming soon. Previous BIG Plant Sales have welcomed over 1,300 visitors flocking to see the impressive range of flowers, herbs and vegetable plants, as well as plenty of food and music for good measure. The event is held near the SPAN Arts building, Town Moor, Moorfield Road, Narberth, SA67 7AG. We have a number of pitches available for local businesses to book here, or speak with a member of our staff on 01834 869323. or email VCO@span-arts-dev.co.uk This event is kindly sponsored by PPLPRS. Get Involved Each year, we are very kindly supported by a small army of volunteers who grow plants from seed and cuttings for donation to the sale. If you would like to donate any plants to the sale in aid of Span Arts, please contact us on 01834 869323 or email info@span-arts-dev.co.uk.

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SPAN Arts Ltd, Town Moor, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 7AG
info@span-arts.org.uk
+44 (0) 1834 869323

Charity no: 1088723 
Company no: 04150772

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