Creative International

The post Horizons appeared first on This Project.

Date:                     Friday, 31st May 2013

Time:                     From 6pm (closes 9pm)

Location:              North Wales School of Art & Design, Regent Street

This is a major event on the arts calendar in Wrexham and features the best work by the regions most talented art students.  The work will be on display to the public from 3rd to 11th June, but this is your opportunity to get a first glimpse.

The show at Glyndŵr University’s North Wales School of Art and Design on Regent Street in Wrexham will reflect the broad range of skills and interests of the students.  It will be packed with paintings, videos, installations, graphic design and sculptures as well as photography and examples of printmaking.

This is a great opportunity to see some exceptional artwork, gain an insight into the process behind the creations and meet the artists behind them.  The show represents the culmination of three year’s work for each of the students, and as these skilled graduates will be entering the job market this summer it’s a perfect opportunity to find out how you’re business or organisation could benefit from this emerging talent.

I look forward to seeing you all on the night.

Kind regards

Dave

The post THIS presents Fusion @ Glyndwr Degree Show appeared first on This Project.

Where is the event taking place?
A) Queen’s Square, Wrexham
B) Kings Square, Wrexham
C) Wenceslas Square, Prague

To enter text the word LIGHTS plus A, B or C to 82055

Texts cost £1.00 + 1 std text msg per entry. You will get a text back confirming if you have the right or wrong answer – and you can enter several times to increase your chances of winning.

WREXHAM CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THIS YEAR IT COULD BE YOU!

One LUCKY person could win the opportunity to help switch on the Wrexham Christmas lights in Queen’s Square on Thursday, November 22. Do you think you could push the button?

The fun will start at 5:30pm, with scores of musical and performance acts taking place on the stage throughout the evening – building up to the big lights switch on at 7pm! Looking skywards, as the town centre lights up will also reveal a fantastic firework display in the skies above Wrexham.

This year sees Calon FM compering the evening, with a host of guest performances including Wrexham’s own Heal The Last Stand and a special appearance by the Mayor Of Wrexham who will also address the crowds! More details of the acts will be online shortly.

A pop-up festive market will surround Queen’s Square with unique gifts and tasty food for sale. Wrexham Lager will also be in attendance supplying their world famous drink!

There will be 2,000 FREE glow sticks to give out to help light up the crowd – so get there early to get yours!

Once the lights are blazing and fireworks are exploding, the crowd in Queens Square will be invited to join in a big sing along of traditional Christmas carols, to really put the town in a festive mood!

Thursday 22nd also marks the start of late night shopping in the town, so its an ideal evening to head out hunting for some Christmas gifts!

This is a FREE EVENT open to all members of the public!

Entry Terms & Information:
The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Wednesday 21st November. The winner will be contacted at 5pm on the 21st. If we are not able to contact the first drawn correct answer inside a reasonable timeframe we will re-draw until it is possible.
Service operated by Rampant Dragon Limited. Customer helpline: 01978 288288
Entrants MUST have bill payer’s permission. 18+ only.
Free postal entries can be sent to “Wrexham Christmas Lights, The Foundry, Yorke St, Wrexham, LL13 8LW”.
Start date 30/10/2012. End date 21/11/2012 at 5pm
Votes after the closing date will not be counted but may still be charged.

Supported by Wrexham.com | THIS project | WCBC | Lateral Arc

The post WIN THE CHANCE TO TURN ON THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! appeared first on This Project.

As the last of the setting sunlight streamed in through stained glass windows, Wrexham singer-songwriter James MacGregor opened the line-up with a soulful Ryan-Adams influenced acoustic set. He was followed by another
singer-songwriter Meilir, his second time performing at the St. Giles Sessions. The ancient venue, fading light and Meilir’s unique voice made for a truly atmospheric performance.
Next on the bill was Shy and the Fight, a six-piece who played an energetic set, very clearly enjoyed by the audience and band alike. Their excellent musicianship and vocal harmonies resounded throughout the church, delighting a now full congregation of listeners. Next, it was time for the evening’s headliners, Golden Fable,
to take the stage beneath St. Giles’ ornate 16th century roof and apocalyptic ‘Doom Painting’.
Surrounded by gilded angels and eagles, clad in gold outfits and glistening gold-leaf make-up, it was hard to imagine a setting more perfect for this band. Enchanting the audience with their captivating stage presence and
electronic-infused melodic folk, Golden Fable’s set was a true ‘I was there’ moment. From their single ‘Always
Golden’ to a perhaps improbable but nonetheless beautiful cover of the Manics’ ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, the end of their performance provoked heartfelt applause from the pews: an audience clearly moved by Golden Fable’s powerful yet delicate sound.
With some brilliant DJ sets between performances from Gallops and BBC Wales’ Adam Walton, church volunteers serving wine and Wrexham hipsters instagramming every moment, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended, and a triumph of the ongoing collaboration between The Foundry, Focus Wales and St. Giles’ Church.
Leaving the gig was an experience in itself. From such an amazing venue filled with beautiful sounds and then back out into the middle of a standard Wrexham night out in full swing was quite a contrast. Those who attended the gig dissolved away through the rowdy crowds and into the night, safe in the knowledge that they’d witnessed a special moment, and part of the vibrant cultural scene bubbling away beneath Wrexham’s sometimes bleak exterior.
-Deian Timms

You can watch the complete set  by clicking Here

The post St Giles Sessions, Golden Fable Album Launch review appeared first on This Project.

At this year’s Wrexham Arts Festival, Yale College’s Memorial Gallery in conjunction with the Regional Print Centre will be celebrating all things print throughout May the Memorial Gallery will be showcasing a selection of artwork from their Paul Peter Piech archive. Rare prints will be displayed alongside Piech’s original printing blocks and limited edition books. The artworks were donated by Piech’s daughter to the college in 2006 following his death. This gift was linked to the educational role the Memorial Gallery has as a visual learning resource that directly influences those studying at the college and the wider community.

Piech’s work is dominated by humanitarian, social and political issues which include power, racism, equality, war and national identity. These topics are still very relevant today. Piech used the printed poster to project his opinions and values to a wider audience by highlighting issues that directly affected the community around him, which is arguably something we should all do.

Piech spent the last ten years of his life in Wales and greatly influenced the Welsh art scene with his trade mark use of quotes, text and hard hitting imagery. He embraced the social issues surrounding him and this also impacted on his artwork as he produced posters that reflected Welsh traditions, language and political concerns.

Piech used art as a way of documenting and questioning the society he lived in. In a similar way the visual arts in Wrexham continue to spark a debate and hopefully this will lead to some interesting discussions.

On a more practical level the Regional Print Centre is offering a variety of creative printmaking opportunities for those who are new to printmaking as well as professional development for more experienced printmakers and artists. Thanks to support from Yale College and the Arts Council of Wales, the Centre is running an on-going series of open access sessions in which anyone with practical printmaking skills can become a member and use the facilities. Further details can be found on the Centre’s recently launched bilingual website www.regionalprintcentre.co.uk. 2012 also marks the tenth Birthday of the centre and there will be an exciting range of projects planned for the rest of the year. Please get in touch or see the website for more details.

By Jim Creed Regional Print Centre & Memorial Gallery Coordinator

The post Visual Arts – May appeared first on This Project.

There is an emergent visual arts scene in Wrexham. I have recently been appointed Arts Manager for Wrexham County Borough Council.I’m also an artist and I exhibited at Oriel Wrexham in 2007: a wall filled with black and white drawings. As a place on the edge, Wrexham has an interesting dynamic, on the one hand we are Welsh, but we are also culturally diverse and have the potential to reach a wide audience just across the border. It is my hope that we can build on the strengths of Welsh artists, artists based in Wales, the art student population at Glyndwr and Yale, the Regional Print Centre, the recent visit of Migration’s Store live art event, Focus Wales, NEW Dance, Theatr Stiwt, our rich cultural heritage and the cross pollination between the art and music scenes in the town to develop a more coherent cultural offer which serves and enriches the residents but also brings visitors into the town. THIS Project is the start of that journey.

The post Arts – May appeared first on This Project.

If you would have told me what has happened in Wrexham over the last twelve months was going to happen a year ago I would not have believed you. Local bands shimmering in the pitch perfect acoustics of Saint Giles church, The Charlatans playing Central Station’s ROPE night, Y Niwl playing the Seven Stars, our very own Gallops playing Japan, and all this bookended by the monumental FOCUS Wales Festival that ran over four days and brought bands from all over the world.

The last twelve months have been a rollercoaster ride for the town’s local music scene. Last month’s FOCUS Wales Festival created a vanguard of events spurred on by a host of local promoters with the type of dogged determination that will make anything work. Combine this with the legacy left by the Eisteddfod and the Wrexham year of culture and you have a guaranteed recipe for success.

Fast forward back to May and it’s already clear that no one has any intention of taking their foot off the gas. May is a month packed with music treats. Forgetting Last Friday kick things off on Saturday after the FA cup final with a gig a Saith Seren, expect original material and plenty of covers of the likes of Stereophonics and Kings of Leon in-between. On Bank holiday Sunday, the guys from the Zodiac Club return to Fat Cat’s rooftop terrace to play a blissed out set of Motown, classic R&B and Northern Soul. For those with children the Oak Tree Festival returns to the celebrated pub on Ruabon Road. With an outside stage and semi legendary bouncy castle, the Oak Tree has something to make people of all ages happy.

The homage to Krautrock and all things electric that is Klub Kosmische returns with a blistering line up on Wednesday 9th May. Hotly tipped duo Golden Fable mix electronica, traditional instruments and almost spiritual vocals and open the event. FOCUS Favourites, WE//ARE//ANIMAL return and Scottish noise masters Errors top the night off. Friday 11th May sees Mother Of Six returning to the Commercial pub for a blistering evening of doom rock after a post FOCUS spell on the naughty step. They are joined by alt-rockers Real 7 and My Best Attempt.

May 19th sees The Reads return to Wrexham for a special gig at Saith Seren. The Reads specialise in expansive, spaced out, electronic, folk rock. Their debut album, ‘Stories From The Border’ features arrangements by Joe Duddell (Elbow, James) and was produced by Jim Spencer (The Charlatans, Jonny Marr, New Order). Playlisted on BBC Radio, XFM, and Amazing Radio; it has received much critical acclaim; ‘Really, really good’ – Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2; ‘Just a wonderful album, every track….’ – Clint Boon, XFM‘; some of the most crafted music I have heard in a long time…phenomenally good’ – Adam Walton, BBC Radio Wales.

Central Station’s ROPE night binds the fabrics of sound and vision for not one but four gigs this month. The first on Monday May 7th sees Boyfriend supported by Drive Blind, Tuesday Hangover and Furrows. After a massive hiatus one of the most innovative bands of the 90s return to the live arena. Death In Vegas play Central Station on Wednesday May 16th. Having worked with Primal Scream, Oasis, Dot Allison (the list goes on), this is something of a coup for Central. Support comes from Victorian Hardware and Jed Is Dead. Wednesday 23rd May sees Auzzie rockers DZ Deathrays headline an Alt. Rock showcase that also includes Doppelganger, I Am Austin and The Fag Machine. ROPE finally wrap it up for May with headliners Islet on Thursday 24th, who are joined by DRKMTTR who combine noise, video and guitars to contemplate the subject of dark matter. Believe me, one of the most innovative performances you will ever see. Fresh from a performance at the Camden Crawl, Wrexham pop surf punk quintet Mowbird complete the line up as main support.

And finally onto the last stretch of May. On the Friday 25th, Saith Seren, champions of the Welsh Language genre, bring Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog to the venue. Reminiscent of a Welsh Crazy horse, the band blend blues and traditional folk and Americana and sing this all in their native tongue. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog have enjoyed national success with airplay on Radio 6 music and more

The last twelve months have been a whirlwind affair for Gallops. From playing Austin, Texas’ SXSW Festival to recently performing in Tokyo as well as playing gigs all over the UK in between. The instrumentalist math rockers return to the Lager Club on Saturday May 26th to play their debut album in full. Fusing everything from Krautrock to Hip Hop this is one showcase not to be missed. Joining them on the bill will be Obelisks. Expect a full supporting cast to be announced over the coming weeks. Tickets £4.00 from Alun’s Records, People’s Market, Wrexham.

So what is THIS? What’s it all about? THIS is a monthly guide that brings you all the arts and music highlights in your area. All THIS is happening now! Get involved and bear witness to the cultural transformation that is happening in your town. Be there!

By Bob Spectrum

The post Music – May appeared first on This Project.

Over the coming months, the theatres of north east Wales are offering up a wide array of temptations. Here are just a smidgin of the highlights that are in store during May. From the thought provoking, to the blood curdling, via the purely entertaining, the diversity of productions that you can catch of an evening (or afternoon, in some cases) should attract all but the most die-hard of philistines. Even better, the theatre does not just require you to be a passive observer; they actually want you to get involved. Be it strutting your stuff on-stage, coming up with a killer set design, arranging the lighting or simply pulling the rope that opens the curtains, theatres are always on the lookout for new members.

That said, the job of audience member has a lot going for it at this time of year. Grove Park Theatre in Wrexham is titillating us with Liz Lochhead’s adaptation of Dracula (May 24th-June 2nd). Dracula is probably THE gothic vampire story and GPT’s take on the bloodthirsty exploits of the long undead Count promises to tingle spines throughout its run.

On a more upbeat note, Tiptop Productions will be running the classic 1970s bedroom farce “Funny Peculiar” (May 10th-19th) by Mike Stott. Dazzlingly scripted sexual politics from what seems like a long distant time, this is not for the squeamish or easily offended (in some part due to one character appearing sans clothes at one point.)However, if you count nudity and very near-the-knuckle humour as legitimate forms of artistic expression, this one is for you.

Back to blood and gore, with Wrexham Musical Theatre Society’s production of “Curtain Up On Murder” by Bettine Mankletow (Apr 26th-28th/May 3rd-5th). Almost post-modern, as the plot revolves around a troupe of amateur dramatists who find the corpses piling up when they are mysteriously locked inside their rehearsal room. A nice little thriller to keep the audience on their toes as the guessing game begins. Then, in June, there’s a chance to see John Godbers musical comedy about life in a decrepit secondary school, “Thick as a Brick”.

So, in May alone there is a gory vampire thriller, a potty-mouthed exploration of sex and the absence of it, and an intricately plotted murder mystery to whet your whistle. On a much more complex note, the ‘Waking Exploits’ production of “Pornography” at the William Aston Hall, Wrexham on 30th April certainly deserves a mention. This is in a much darker vein than everything else mentioned so far as it deals with the lives of several characters who are about to get caught up in the 7/7 bombings in London. Whilst undoubtedly a deeply harrowing subject, this could be considered to be a must see performance, as a genuinely powerful piece of thought provoking theatre.

With many of the theatre societies mentioned looking for new people to join them and become part of the stories that they tell, this Spring seems the perfect time to start finding out exactly how entertaining a night at the theatre can be.

By Jonathan Eames

The post Theatre – May appeared first on This Project.

Due to the amazing response on Facebook over the last 24 hours we thought it would be a great idea to let you know a bit more about what we’re up to. We’ve been developing the project since late last year, and really launched ourselves into the work at the beginning of April.We’re bringing together artists, arts organisations, creative individuals, and bodies that support the arts and culture in Wrexham, to promote what we all get up to, discuss issues relevant to us all, and act as a focal point for us to showcase our work.

• A Quarterly Arts review magazine, entitled THIS
• A new monthly pocket guide, which you may have already seen – that
• A new website featuring articles, listings and a directory of artists, performers, bands, organisations, collectives etc.
• A new mobile phone application reflecting the content available online
• A campaign to ‘dress the town’ with banners, installations in empty shops and street art to reflect and highlight the towns cultural mix.
• A series of events – beginning with Reimagine Wrexham, where we’ll be inviting artists from all disciplines to contribute to a live exhibition. Details to follow shortly!

All of the new elements will be designed with the help of local artists and will stand as a work of art in their own right. Each quarter we’ll be commissioning a new artist or collective to provide a new design and theme for the publications, street art, online media, and events.

We need YOU! This is a collaborative project and we need your help and input. Give us information on your events that are planned for next year – check out the form attached – but also send us your press releases, photos and essential information on anything that makes your art, organisation, performance unique. Spread the word! If you know of any organisation, artist, performer, or cultural event let them know about THIS Project. Let’s get the word out there.

We’ll be in touch with all the groups and individuals who were involved in the Year of Culture last year, but if you or others you know would like to be included in the events guides let them know.

‘Like’ us on Facebook (and encourage others to!) to express your interest in THIS Project and we’ll make sure they get to hear all the latest news, and how to get involved.

Thanks, and we look forward to working with you.

The post THIS Is What We Have Planned appeared first on This Project.

From the bright glowing embers of Wrexham’s Year of Culture 2011 comes THIS Project. THIS will gather together the rich veins of art and culture that flow through the county of Wrexham into one beating heart. We’ll be featuring cultural news and events with profiles of local groups and artists.

THIS is a collaboration between Rampant Dragon, Wrexham County Borough Council, Glyndwr University, Yale College, artists, arts & culture organisations and YOU!

If you’re an artist or performer, part of an arts group or collective, or just interested to find out what’s going on in Wrexham then visit our website to find out more.

Whether you’re working professionally in the arts every day; or are an amateur who likes to act, sketch or take photographs; or you are someone that enjoys reading a good book and watching films every now and again, art & culture are part of our everyday lives, part of how we define ourselves as being together with, and distinct from, other people in the world.

Wrexham has a wealth of artistic talent, stretching from film-makers and theatre companies, to musicians and street artists, and it’s time that we started shouting about it!

THIS Project, combining a magazine, website and a soon to be appearing smartphone app, will promote the arts across the county and surrounding region, to those that live here and those that visit.

To find out the latest on what’s happening join us on facebook.com/thisproject or twitter @thishq

The post What is THIS? appeared first on This Project.