Free training for creative young people (18-30) who would like to be part of providing voluntary workshops in their chosen field.

If you are interested in creative arts – e.g. music, performance, visual arts, digital arts, crafts or something else altogether – we would like to support you to share your skills with others and to become part of the next generation of leaders of creative activities! This might be through delivering regular sessions and/ or behind the scenes helping to manage and organise workshops – whatever you prefer!

This relaxed training day will give you the skills to take on the roles the make things happen in voluntary arts, performance and cultural groups.

Among other things, you will learn:

· How to cut through the jargon and find out what running a group is really all about
· How to make a group work … and not fall at the first hurdle
· How to assign roles based on what‘s needed
· How to keep communication flowing
· How to find a space and keep it
· How to get yourselves known
· How to know the rules so you can work out how to do things differently
· How to get the confidence you need to make it happen!

There is no charge for these workshops and lunch will be provided.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

The trainers for the workshops are from Dynamix and plan to make the day fun, interactive and accessible to all.

So book your place now – we’d love to see you there!!

To book a place, click on one of the links below!

30th March – Swansea

1st April – Cwmbran

9th April – Wrexham

All workshops will run from 10.30 to 3.30pm

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New acts announced include Britain’s best loved and most important punk performance poet, JOHN COOPER CLARKE.

Alongside comedians GARY DELANEY (Mock The Week / Radio 4) and Red Dwarf’s NORMAN LOVETT.

Also announced:
ALL WE ARE – an exciting 3 piece from Liverpool providing psychedelic soul & RnB. They recently signed to Domino affiliate Double 6 and are supporting Warpaint on tour in 2014.
KEYS: They’ve had a string of critically acclaimed releases, garnering praise and support from Radio 1, 2 and 6Music.
KIZZY CRAWFORD: You may recognise her as the singer of Calon Lan from BBC 6 Nations adverts, Kizzy has developed an increasing sophistication to her song writing and performance, this is complimented by her soaring voice that boasts both range and charisma.
YR ODS: Pop/Alternative band originally from the Bangor/Llanberis/Llanfairpwll/Star areas of North Wales who will make you cry (of happiness). Plus HOUDINI DAX, CAMERA, HMS Morris + MORE.

FOCUS Wales 2014 takes place on the 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th April across various venues in Wrexham, North Wales.
Weekend Tickets are £30.00 available at www.focuswales.com/tickets

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21 September is World Peace Day. The occasion has been marked in Wrexham for a number of years, with humble beginnings, and has grown year on year.

In 2012, individuals and groups across Wrexham came together to celebrate three days for peace, with a schools day hosted by St. Christopher’s School on 20 Sept. and involving ten local primary and senior schools, followed by a multi-faith service, two days of live music, info. stalls, shared food and activities on the Library field (Llwyn Isaf) and evening gigs on 21 and 22 Sept.

This year there is a programme of events for peace over three days organised by various groups.

All events are FREE.

(1) Thu 19 Sep, 7pm at Trinity Church, King Street.

An evening with former SAS soldier Ben Griffin: “SAS Soldier to Veteran for Peace”

Hear Ben Griffin talk about his experiences in the SAS that led him to refuse to return to Iraq, leave the military and go on to establish the first UK chapter of Veterans for Peace.

Organised by Wrexham Christian Peace Group

(2) Fri 20 September, 10am – 2.15pm at St. Christopher’s School.

Schools Peace Day

With talks, workshop sessions and activities on a peace theme for primary and secondary age children. Following a peace assembly, sessions will cover topics such as conflict resolution, militarism and childhood, conscientious objectors, war resisters, food serving peace, poetry for peace, singing for peace, art, craft and gift economy. The children will make a ‘Hands Up for Peace’ rainbow collage of their decorated hand shapes.

Organised by Wrexham Peace Day Group in conjunction with St. Christopher’s School

(3) Sat 21 September, midday in Queens Square.

Service for Peace, for those of all faiths and none

Opened and closed by Wrexham Community Choir

Supported by Tangnefedd

(4) Sat 21 September, 12.30pm until early evening on the Library Field (Llwyn Isaf)

World Peace Day Event

Live music throughout the afternoon with the launch of Heal the Last Stand’s new single on Everybody Wants Peace Records: “The Gathering”. Other performers to include The Scene, Terminal, Tiny Wooden Angels, Keith Astbury and Americo Lima (Portugal) and others. Artists are welcome to turn up on the day and sing a song for peace, read a poem etc.

Bring veggie food to share for a Peace Picnic with the Yum Yum Project. Bring items you no longer have use for (and find some new ones) on the Give and Take/New2You/Freeconomy Wrexham sharing stall. Join in meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and have a holistic therapy with the Yum Yum Project and friends. Find out about issues of peace and justice around the world at our information tables.

Organised by the Wrexham Peace Day Group, including Heal the Last Stand, Brendan Griffiths, the Yum Yum Project, Wrexham Peace & Justice Forum, Wrexham Diocese Faith, Justice and Peace Network and others.

(5) Sat 21 September, from midday, Bellevue Park

Peace Music and BBQ: Goodbye Summer

Featuring Tiny Wooden Angels, Vesper, Left at the East Gate, Saltwater Injection, Orient Machine and Mother of Six.

Organised by Poland-Wales Cultural Society “Cymraeds”

(6) Sat 21 September, from 9pm until late, The Commercial Pub, College Street

After show party with The Fag Machine, Mise En Scene (Canada), and Too Many JDs.

Hopefully you’ll remember Mise En Scene’s eruptive performance at Focus Wales 2013. The Canadian two-piece have returned to Wrexham and will be joined by the The Fag Machine, Secateurs and Too Many JDs.

Organised by Brendan Griffiths.

Thoughts from some of those involved in organising Peace Day events in Wrexham:

Brendan Griffiths, music promoter and member of the Peace Day Group, who has organised the live music for the World Peace Day events on the Library Field and in the Commercial:

“World Peace Day is important for me as it allows people from all walks of life come together and think about a subject that is universally important: peace.”

Maria Pizzoni, member of the group organising the Service for Peace and the Peace Day Group:

“The events and people wanting to be involved in organising them have grown over the past few years, which probably shows what people feel about peace in our world. We’ve opened up the service this year to include something for people of no faith who want their hopes expressed too. People are tired of war and conflict and this peace day gives us the opportunity to look forward in hope.”

Katie Saxby, member of the Peace Day Group and involved in planning Peace Days:

“I feel it is wonderful that we come together in Wrexham for Peace Day each year, as a gathering together of individuals and groups that do choose peace, a celebration of all who are working towards peace…in our everyday lives and in the rest of the world, with an invitation for everyone to join us.”

Genny Bove, member of Wrexham Peace & Justice Forum and the Peace Day Group, who has been involved in organising the Schools Peace Day and World Peace Day on the Library Field as well as talks and workshops in Wrexham schools during the summer term:

“In a time of endless war driven by a desire for control of scarce resources and the relentless pursuit of profit without regard for human life, wildlife or the planet, hope for a more peaceful future lies with ordinary people engaging with questions of peace and justice both locally and globally. World Peace Day in Wrexham is a local response to the global celebration of peace and global call for an end to war. It’s very encouraging that there are so many events marking the day in Wrexham this year.”

For more information, contact

peacedaywrexham@yahoo.co.uk

Call 0845 330 4505 or text 07938 619825

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The “Unlocking Speech and Language Arts Speaks” project aims to deliver a whole range of creative courses and workshops from across the Arts for people who are in need of Afasic’s support.

Afasic require local artists to facilitate workshops and are now asking ALL artists interested in working on the project to submit a proposal – please click the following link for more information:
http://www.afasiccymru.org.uk/calling-all-artists/

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engage Cymru is seeking applications from emerging, early or mid-career visual artists or makers  who have a commitment to gallery education and would like to develop their practice to work with ‘hard to reach’ or vulnerable young people. 

Artists as Learners is a new professional development programme for visual artists and makers living and working in Wales, which will pilot in the autumn term 2013. It has been developed as a direct response to recent engage Cymru programmes, such as Reach the Heights www.engage.org/reachtheheights, which highlighted a shortage of visual artists and makers with the skills and experience required to work with hard to reach or vulnerable young people in a gallery setting.

The programme aims to build capacity of artists with the necessary skills, approach and experience to work with ‘hard to reach’ young people, and to engage them in gallery education projects or learning through the visual arts or crafts.

Participants will be mentored by an experienced lead artist and the programme will run in partnership with Oriel Mostyn, Ceredigion Museum & Gallery, Glynn Vivian Museum & Gallery and Denbighshire Arts Service / Rhyl Library & Art Gallery. Each venue will host two ‘artist-learners’ for a total of eight places on the pilot course.

Each course is anticipated to run for 6 days in September, October or November – dates to be confirmed. Previous experience working with young people is not required, but we are looking for artists and makers who have a genuine interest in developing their practice in this direction.

Participants will gain:

• skills, experience and confidence to devise & lead projects with young people
• the opportunity to be mentored by / learn directly from an artist experienced in working with hard to reach young people
• a wider knowledge and understanding of gallery learning programmes
• access to a range of engage and Unitas learning resources
• the opportunity to build their professional network with colleagues working in the visual arts, museums and local authorities

DRAFT PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME FEE

The course fee is £175 non-engage members / £150 engage members. For details on joining engage go to www.engage.org/membership.  Funding (which can also support subsistence and travel) may be available through Arts Council of Wales small training grants programme.

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible for this programme you need to meet the following criteria:

Essential

• Be an emerging, early- or mid-career visual artist or maker
• Be living and working in Wales
• NOT be a current student (whether on a full- or part-time course)

• Have a commitment to socially-engaged artistic practice

• Have a demonstrable interest in developing your practice to work with hard to reach young people
• Be available to participate on at least two consecutive weeks in September or October 2013 (programme dates to be confirmed)
• Possess a current enhanced CRB disclosure, or be willing to undergo the process to obtain one

Desirable

• Have some experience of delivering or supporting learning programmes in a gallery

• Have some experience planning and delivering learning or visual arts projects with young people ages 14-25
• Have some understanding of the factors which may cause young people to be socially disadvantaged
• Have some awareness of Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government policies / strategies relating to young people

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete the application form and send with your CV and the names of two references to Angela Rogers, engage Cymru Coordinator, cymru@engage.org.

Applications must be received by noon on Tuesday 23rd July 2013.

If you would like to discuss the course before making your application, please contact Angela Rogers, engage Cymru Development Coordinator at cymru@engage.org or telephone 01834 870121.

We will let you know by Monday 29^th July if you have a place on the course

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..Anyway, Creative International is fast approaching and we’re pretty excited.
For a month Wrexham will play host to artists, musicians and creatives from far and wide as well as showcasing some great local talent. There’s going to be alot to enjoy but there will also be a lot to involve yourself with.


We recently mentioned some volunteer opportunities (As did Focus Wales and CI) so you can lend your time to a good cause and share your skills with some good folk but you can also share your art with the public.


We are going to be opening a pop-up shop to coincide with Creative International and we’re looking to add to the wealth of talent by encouraging you to share your work with us. On a basic level there is an opportunity to be included in our exhibition, we’d love that, but the scope is much larger. If you have any ideas for ways you could use the space, we’d like to hear them too. Don’t be a stranger, drop us a line – mikej@thisproject.co.uk

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There are various volunteering opportunities for the arts month from helping Yarnbomb Wrexham town centre to invigilating exhibitions.

What:

Opportunities for volunteering at a creative art month / be part of Creative International by exhibiting / help document the event

Who:

Volunteers / artists / bloggers / social media users / students / graduates

How:

Contact Siân O’Connell at sian@thisproject.co.uk or telephone 01978 354222,
also search ‘Creative International’ on Facebook or follow @Creativeintnl on Twitter

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