News
Arty Crafty Party
Head for Arts is planning the Arty Crafty Party - a craft skill sharing event at Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall on Saturday 31st March from 11am – 3pm.
This is a free intergenerational event where community craft groups can demonstrate and share what they do, display their work, sell goods, inspire and learn from other groups.
It is a craft fair with a difference! We are particularly interested in:
- Showing how items can made from reused and recycled materials, or refashioned using craft skills.
- Re-connecting people with simple craft techniques that were once commonplace (eg. knitting, woodcarving, weaving, sewing, feltmaking, patchwork etc.)
In these “credit crunch” days more and more people are turning their hand to craft-based talents to create hand-made gifts, homeware, jewellery, clothes - some even developing their own “social enterprises” fashioning marketable items from discarded materials. We would be delighted to offer exhibition space to your group and hope that you will want to join us for this regional community event.
ArtWorks Wales
ArtWorks: Developing Practice in Participatory Settings is a new initiative which supports the continuing professional development of artists working in participatory settings.
For more information on this project, click on the ArtWorks tab on the menu
Power of the Flame
The Head for Arts van was out on the road on the 22nd September, as the team headed to the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff to take part in the Power of the Flame launch.
The Power of the Flame consists of five arts based projects across Wales that are designed to celebrate the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Led by the Arts Council of Wales, the Power of the Flame is funded by Legacy Trust UK. Head for Arts is involved in delivering one of eight Cauldrons & Furnaces projects taking part in CADW sites across the country as part of this programme.
At the launch, Head for Arts was accompanied by a talented group of year 5 and 6 pupils from Blaenavon V.C Primary School who represented the Cauldrons and Furnaces project based in Blaenavon by playing two short pieces on the industrial gamelan.
The pupil’s gave an outstanding performance in a high-profile setting and attracted a lot of attention, including interest from the national media, with many of the children being able to spot themselves on the TV later that day!
The launch was attended by the Mayor of Torfaen, who thoroughly enjoyed the pupils’ performance, as shown in the picture above.
Valleys Voices
Head for Arts’ Community Singing Groups have been showcasing their musical talent in a series of performances over the summer.
First up, was a lunchtime concert by the Bargoed Valleys Voices group in the Cartref Centre, Bargoed on Tuesday 5th June. This group of talented ladies, led by Musical Director Tim Riley, entertained local residents with their varied programme which included an Abba medley and songs from well-known West End Musicals.
On 23rd July, the Young People with Alzheimer’s Choir joined forces with community choirs from the Rhymney area to perform at the LURV Festival at Rhymney Comprehensive School. These energetic choirs, led by Ian Saunders and Heather Murray even managed to get audience members to sing-along to their upbeat repertoire.
We are always looking to recruit new members to join our community choirs at their fun, weekly sessions. No previous singing experience is necessary!
If you would like to find out more, please contact us at Head for Arts (Please note, the groups will start meeting again after the summer in early September – keep an eye on the website for details)
