Lantern Parade
The Lantern parade aims to bring the people of Haverfordwest and Pembrokeshire together, igniting the vibrant spirit of the local area. This will be a collective creation, shaped by the community’s ideas, energy, and artistic flair.
Creative Connections
Being a carer is a demanding and selfless role that often leaves little time for self-care and personal growth. However, recognizing the importance of nurturing one’s creative spirit and building a supportive community, the Creative Connections programme is here to offer a unique opportunity for carers to explore new skills, forge meaningful connections, and take a moment for themselves. The Creative Connections Programme Free Weekly Creative Sessions: Starting from January and continuing through March 2024, these eight weekly sessions promise a rejuvenating experience for carers. Whether you care for a family member, a friend, or work professionally as a carer, these sessions are designed with you in mind. Music with Holly Robinson – Thurs Feb 1st & Thurs Feb 8th – 10am – 12.30pm Come and join experienced music therapist Holly Robinson for workshop sessions exploring music for wellbeing. Sessions will include activities such as listening to music, playing instruments, and creating playlists. No need to have had any previous experience, but great if you do. Textiles with Menna Buss – Thurs Feb 22nd & Thurs Feb 29th – 10am – 12.30pm Try out different techniques and discover creative possibilities with textiles in this relaxed and supportive environment. All levels
Creative Connections Artist Call-Out
Are you an experienced creative workshop facilitator? Are you experienced in working with carers, young carers, or both? SPAN Arts is looking for arts workshop facilitators working in different mediums, from music to printmaking, movement to photography, to run sessions as part of our Creative Connections programme running creative sessions for carers in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, across February and March 2024. Please send a cover letter up to 1 side of A4 (400 words) describing your experience of this type of work along with a copy of your CV to info@span-arts-dev.co.uk by 5pm Friday 8th December. Alternatively, you can send a 5-minute audio or video recording that covers the same information if that is more accessible. All applicants will need to have up to date DBS checks. We aim to contact all applicants of decisions by Monday 18th December. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at the above email address or on 01834 869323 with any questions.
Call Out For A Songwriter/Musician
SPAN is looking for a Songwriter/Musician, with experience of developing music with young people to create a modern music track/song. You will be working with a group of 11-18 year olds at Letterston Youth Club, Letterston Memorial Hall, Nr. Fishguard. Taking place over 4 consecutive Wednesday evenings in Jan/Feb 2024. There will be paid time for editing and a fifth Wednesday session to share the song and a video that the young people make to document the process. Fee: £1,500 (£200 per session plus £500 prep/editing time) A current DBS certificate will be required for this role. Travel expenses available. Please send us your CV and an expression of interest in written (up to 1 page) or digitally recorded form (up to 5 minutes), considering how your relevant experience would be best utilised in this project. Send your applications to info@span-arts-dev.co.uk Closing date for applications: 17th November 2023 We will acknowledge all applications. Following the closing date, applicants will be shortlisted for eligibility by SPAN and the final decision will be made by the Young People.
Becoming Nature by Lou Luddington
Call out now closed We are actively seeking a small number of nature lovers from a broad spectrum of the Pembrokeshire community to participate in Becoming Nature – a SPAN Arts Love Stories to Nature arts commission by local photographer and writer Lou Luddington. Becoming Nature explores the power and meaning of our connection to the natural world, using photography, poetry and prose, to profile nine local Pembrokeshire nature lovers in a cherished place in nature. From surfers, swimmers and freedivers to naturalists, artists and gardeners, we are looking to include participants from a wide range of environments and pursuits. The aim is to capture how being in these places opens our hearts and provides a deep sense of well being that is vital to our health- nine Love Stories to Nature to share with the world. Participants will be photographed and interviewed by Lou in a favourite local natural environment, a cherished place that provides solace, peace or joy. The location of your favourite place need not be disclosed in the final sharing. Participation is voluntary for one half day during October or November. You will need transport to your chosen location but travel expenses can be covered by
Cân Sing: Singing for the Soul
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. Vocal practitioner Molara guides 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, chat and song.” Date: Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, except Bank Holidays, with a break over August Time: 7pm – 9pm Location: The SPAN Arts building, Town Moor, Narberth, SA67 7AG
Date Nature – The New Dating App
Do you love nature? Are you bored of dating humans? Stay tuned for an artistic experiment where you get to DATE NATURE! THIS CALL OUT IS NOW CLOSED Join artist Emily Laurens for a one-day workshop exploring our relationship with nature through nature connection games, clowning and mindfulness. AND be part of a (mock)umentary film exploring a new and exciting dating app – DATE NATURE! You will need to be a Pembrokeshire resident You will need to be free for two days (dates TBC around your availability) in August/September You need to be happy to appear in a film which will be shared widely including online You can contribute in Welsh and/or English You will be a VIP at the film premier later in the year! AND you will receive £100 expenses payment to cover food and travel for the days you are with us To apply send us a photo of yourself, and tell us a bit about yourself, we want to know who you are, what’s your favourite bit of nature in Pembrokeshire and why you love it so much. OR you can send us a short audio or video file (shared via a sharing site like
We Move
We Move is a youth-led project for Black children and young people across West Wales to come together, connect, and make a positive change in the world through social action. Events and Activities We Move Surf Day Saturday 22nd July Poppet Sands A day of surf lessons and fun led by Kwame Salam. Script and storytelling with Phil Okwedy and Rose Thorn. Tuesday 22nd August The Barn, Iet Goch, SA34 0YP Join us for a day of storytelling, drama, improvisation and script writing with Phil Okwedy and Rose Thorn. 10am to 12pm 4 to 10 years old 1.30pm to 6pm 11 to 18 years old Black History 365 national launch at St. Fagans Museum Saturday 30th September St Fagans National History Museum, Michaelston Road, Cardiff CF5 6XB Join us on a trip to Black History 365 national launch at St. Fagans Museum, Cardiff (details TBC) West Wales Black History 365 launch party 2 – 9pm, Saturday 7th October Small World Theatre, Bath House Road, Cardigan SA43 1JY 2pm: Official launch of Atinuke’s book Black British History: Q&A with author and illustrator, performances by the We Move group, face painting, book signing. 4pm: Launch of Llwy Gariad Too, the next cookery
Pererin Wyf
Is Oilithreach Mé
I am a pilgrim
Sounding the way back through story and song Pererin Wyf / Is Oilithreach Mé / I am a pilgrim is a participatory arts project which sought to connect with the Welsh and Irish diaspora with particular reference to a new cross-border pilgrimage connecting Pembrokeshire and Wexford. The project took its title and inspiration from an 18th century hymn by the prolific Welsh writer William Williams Pantycelyn. The hymn has been sung to the tune of Amazing Grace since Welsh singer Iris Williams made her landmark recording in 1971. This project culminated in May 2023 with an online documentary film screening and song sharing followed by a short live streamed concert at St Davids Cathedral. Pererin Wyf – Is Oilithreach Mé – I am a Pilgrim: Documentary Film The project took its title and inspiration from an 18th century hymn by the prolific Welsh writer William Williams Pantycelyn. The hymn is most often sung to the tune of Amazing Grace. Project participants were encouraged to sing a version of the hymn or any song that has the power to call you home and to pin it to an online map. Pererin Wyf is Welsh for ‘I am a Pilgrim’. This short
Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival (NAVF)
We are incredibly excited that the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival (NAVF) will be back from the 2nd of March 2024. The festival will be packed with live music, an incredible singing feast, as well as engaging and uplifting workshops led by a cappella masters. Stay tuned for updates in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates across our social media channels: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council, The Ashley Family Foundation, Ty Cerdd, and PAVS, in collaboration with The Queen’s Hall and Bethesda Chapel, Narberth.
Youth Projects: Recycled Fashion
Working with artists, with a flair for fashion and all things sustainable, facilitating an exciting project at local youth centres in the heart of Pembrokeshire. The project involved a small group of young people from Point youth centre, Fishguard creating fashion out of natural and recyclable materials, following a series of co-creation workshops led by SPAN team members. The aim of the project was to create statement fashion that brings attention to the social prejudices young people face today, culminating in a showcase of the work created. The natural and recycled theme was a strong element of importance to the young people during the co-creation workshops, along with speaking out about what matters and feeling heard as a young person growing up in West Wales. We saw these elements and themes incorporated into the workshops.
Youth Projects: Environmental Art
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,
Love Stories to Nature
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
ArtsBoost
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
Winter Volunteer Workshops
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)
SPAN Cyrraedd
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.
SPAN are partnering with Unlimited UK’s International Partner Awards for Disabled Artists.
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
Span Arts x BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time
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
The BIG Plant Sale
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.
‘Crafting The Song of The Golden Road’: a Short Film About the Making of the Radio Ballad
https://youtu.be/X2WHcrzotqY On 26th November a celebration event was held at Llwynhirion Hall in Brynberian, North Pembrokeshire to mark the end of the Ein Cymdogaeth Werin Preseli Heartlands project which Span Arts has played an integral role in delivering over the past three years. At the celebration event a short film about the project was shown. The film documents in particular the music making sessions for the project as well as the background to the project’s inspiration and aims. In 2018 Span Arts worked with Penny Jones and Nia Lewis on the project Stitching Stories which fused textiles, digital technology and heritage to create a patchwork quilt that told stories about the Preseli area when touched. This was followed in the Spring of 2019 with the Preseli Poetry Slam which engaged poet Karen Owen to conduct a series of writing workshops in schools and people’s homes culminating in a poetry slam at Newport Memorial Hall. Finally this Summer we have worked in partnership with Rowan O’Neill and PLANED to produce the Radio Ballad The Song of the Golden Road which was launched at a listening party at Tafarn Sinc on the 6th November 2021. A radio ballad is an extended sound piece
