About us
SPAN is a vibrant community arts charity based in Narberth, with a 30 year history of bringing the arts to rural Pembrokeshire.
SPAN is driven by the core belief that the arts have the power to improve people’s lives and acts as an agent for Arts as Social Change in West Wales.
We are ambitious for the arts in Pembrokeshire to inspire & connect rural people, places and communities creatively.
SPAN is committed to ensuring that all of our activities are inclusive, relevant and accessible to everyone.
Events
A high quality and diverse programme of music, theatre, voice, dance and carnival events held at variety of venues and settings across Pembrokeshire.
A couple of highlights include:
- Live music at the Queens Hall with acts such as The Baghdaddies, Electric Swing Circus, Dabbla and more.
- Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival
- River of Lights Lantern Parade
Projects
A vibrant and diverse programme of high quality arts and wellbeing projects that break new ground in the field of arts, health and social change
Recent highlights include:
- SPAN Digidol – A 2 year experiment looking at how we can reach more people in the arts with more creative use of technology
- Remote Choir – A singing project developed in response to the increase in chronic and severe loneliness experienced by older people in Pembrokeshire
- Cor Pawb – An mass intergenerational community choir with singers aged from 6 to 106.
Volunteering
We provide opportunities for a wide range of people to gain skills, experience and take part in the community. This can be a vital lifeline for many isolated and/or vulnerable individuals living in rural areas.
“Accessibility and inclusion are buzz-words which are very rarely implemented. I was welcomed, there was no criticism and it was a great example of how teaching could be.” Lin Hill, Volunteer at Asylum Seekers Project.
“Span Arts is incredibly approachable and inclusive and have taught me a lot about working as part of a team, and how to support others and prioritise”
Meet the Team
Staff
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Bethan Touhig-Gamble: She/HerDirectorWith a background in community regeneration and community arts, Bethan joins Span Arts from almost a decade as Head of Development for NoFit State Circus. -
Vicki Skeats: She/HerFinance DirectorVicki has worked in the financial sector her entire life, but her passion has always been theatre. She was thrilled to join Span in 2019, bringing her skills to assist this vibrant and exciting community arts organisation.
Pronouns: She/Her -
Belinda Bean: She/HerVolunteer and Community OfficerBelinda has recently joined Span as Volunteer and Community Officer and brings with her over twenty years' experience as a freelance photographer, artist, and lecturer in photography and post-production. -
Di Ford: She/HerDigital Marketing and Design AssistantDi is a designer and illustrator specialising in set and costume design, puppetry and illustrating children’s picture books. Di’s core beliefs revolve around applying creativity into daily life. She embeds this into her work at SPAN as well as the communities, schools, and people she collaborates with. Her most recent projects have involved working for National Theatre Wales and Arts Council Wales Lead Creative School Scheme.
Pronouns: She/Her -
Bethan Morgan: She/HerCommunity ProducerBethan has been a performer, writer, theatre-maker, director and producer for over 30 years. Most recently, she was the Sherman 5 Manager at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, where she hails from and is committed to addressing barriers that prevent community members from engaging with the Arts. Pronouns: She/Her -
Samara van Rijswijk: She/Her/They/ThemDigital Marketing and Design AssistantSamara van Rijswijk, a illustrator from West Wales, brings art to life with her creations. Graduating from Jobswell School of Arts, she embarked on a journey in illustration. From documentary-style book illustrations to theatre billboards in New York, She spent 3 years in portraiture, capturing the essence of her subjects with her unique artistic flair. Collaborating with businesses, she lends her creativeness to shape brand identities and design websites for other businesses. With a passion for photography art direction, she has also collaborated with London photographers in art directing, crafting captivating visuals for magazines. Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them -
Molara: She/HerWe Move Project OfficerMolara is an inspirational singer, songwriter, teacher and performer, whose maternal grandfather was a founder member of the George Formby society, and whose father’s cousin was Fela Kuti. After a degree in drama and French literature, Molara went on to become an original member of dub dance pioneers Zion Train. She subsequently sang and recorded with a wide range of bands and artists which include Mad Professor, Femi Kuti, The Ruts DC and Baka Beyond. She is a musicologist and founded One Voice Choir in 2005 to celebrate her love of international singing techniques, and was one of the founders of The Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival in 2008. She is a trustee of the Natural Voice Network. She has delivered educational provision of music and the arts to people aged 0 to 106, of differing abilities and backgrounds since 1992, and has worked for Span Arts, National Theatre of Wales, Arts Council of Wales and Ruskin Mill Trust. She is a passionate advocate of human rights and has wo -
Celeste Ingrams: They/ThemDevelopment OfficerCeleste is an artist and facilitator with a particular interest in how arts benefit health and wellbeing. They have a history of working across creative programming, artist support and artist-led projects. They have also worked across various local and national health sector projects which champion lived experiences, disability activism and challenge inequality within healthcare services. Their art practice uses the mediums of drawing, performance, writing and video and they are dedicated to collaborative working and supporting the arts to be sustainable and connect people and places. They are delighted to be working with SPAN Arts and getting to know the communities in Pembrokeshire. This role is supported by A&B Cymru's Creative Internships Programme, which places graduates into arts organisations as trainee fundraisers. Pronouns: They/Them
Creative Collaborators
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Lou LuddingtonLou Luddington is a photographer and writer, Their work is very much inspired by the natural marine biology, as an observer and scientist knowing the life and stories of the species and environment, they're surrounded by helps them create visually compelling art work. They have been writing and providing photos for columns and featured in magazines for many years, also publishing their first book in 2019 , Wonderous British Marine Life: A Handbook For Coastal Explorers. -
Emily LaurensEmily Laurens is a multi-disciplinary socially engaged artist based in Wales. Central to her practice is collaboration and work with communities. Most of her work is about the relationship between ecological crisis and social justice and uses metaphor to better understand the world and how radical imagination can be used to envision new futures. Emily works at the intersections between mediums: using visual theatre, live art, comedy and clown as a performer/writer/director; puppetry, the body and costume as a designer/maker/film-maker; and as a community artist working with a range of artistic disciplines. Emily is an exemplary facilitator and her work is rooted in intuitive and creative research methods and a non-extractive ethos. Emily co-directs Feral Theatre and is co-founder of Remembrance Day for Lost Species. She works part time as Play Officer for the National Trust at Dinefwr and is studying on a three year Masters programme in Art Psychotherapy at the University of Sout -
MolaraMolara is an inspirational singer, songwriter, teacher and performer, whose maternal grandfather was a founder member of the George Formby society, and whose father's cousin was Fela Kuti. After a degree in drama and French literature, Molara went on to become an original member of dub dance pioneers Zion Train. She subsequently sang and recorded with a wide range of bands and artists which include Mad Professor, Femi Kuti, The Ruts DC and Baka Beyond.
She is a musicologist and founded One Voice Choir in 2005 to celebrate her love of international singing techniques, and was one of the founders of The Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival in 2008. She is a trustee of the Natural Voice Network. -
Rowan O’NeillRowan O’Neill is a freelance artist and performance maker from Felinwynt with over fifteen years’ experience of working collaboratively with communities on creative projects in West Wales. -
Anna SherrattAnna is a writer, producer, director, sound designer and facilitator based in Aberystwyth. She has been working remotely with SPAN since 2020 when she took on the role of programmer for their first ever entirely digital programme as part of the Arts Council funded "Arts at a Distance" project, and has since continued to collaborate on various projects including the innovative "Theatr Soffa" project as a community director. Click here for more information about Theatr Soffa. -
Gemma Green-HopeGemma Green-Hope is a Welsh animator, director and artist. She has 10 years of animation experience and has worked on a variety of projects both local and international. Clients include Penguin Books, Tate, The School of Life, Sony Music and ITV. Alongside this she develops her own short films and has a keen interest in documentary, the potential of animation to tell real stories and a passion for community engagement. Gemma’s films have been shown at numerous festivals including London Short Film Festival and featured on the National Geographic Short Film Showcase. gemmagreenhope.com -
Nia LewisArts and Health Coordinator Nia Lewis is a passionate advocate for the benefit of arts participation, at whatever level. She is an experienced project manager, facilitator and textile maker and designer. Nia has worked with Span Arts on a range of projects over the last 5 years. -
Hannah RoundingHannah Rounding works part time as a support worker and part time artist/illustrator. She illustrates children’s picture books and facilitates creative art sessions including a stop-motion animation club and outdoor nature-art sessions to help deepen people’s connection with nature and improve their sense of wellbeing In her spare time, Hannah wanders the coastal paths, plunges into the cold sea and lovingly tends to her garden and veg plot. -
Jacob WhittakerWelsh-born artist and filmmaker Jacob Whittaker has worked as a creative technologist with SPAN to help design and deliver Theatre Soffa productions. He has extensive experience in working with various artists, groups and organisations to deliver creative video and documentary work with different kinds of participation. -
Ceri AsheCeri is an actor, writer and founder of Popty Ping Productions theatre company. Ceri has worked with SPAN since 2020 when she was commissioned to create 'Lockdown Tales: Making Bread & Babies' and 'Bara & Babanod.' -
Billy Maxwell TaylorAs a movement practitioner, Billy Maxwell Taylor strives to inspire stillness and sensation in a world always on the move. This takes the form of performance work, sensory curation, commissions, and creating movement experiences with The Motion Pack. -
Sam WaltonSam Walton is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Bristol. His main forms of expression are through filmmaking and music composition and production. His work is rooted within storytelling and documentary styles. His sense of identity lies within Pembrokeshire, growing up just outside of Haverfordwest.
Trustees
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Catherine Davies: She/HerChair of TrusteesTrustee of SPAN since 2014 when retired as Chief Executive of Hafan Cymru, national Welsh charity supporting people experiencing domestic abuse, after 35 years of working in the field of homelessness and domestic abuse. Extensive experience of management at a senior level, both of people and resources, and good skills in strategic management, networking, raising funding, dealing with local and national government and financial management. Director of Fron Farm Retreat, Chairperson of Carmarthen Youth Project and Chairperson of a community benefit society who hope to buy local pub and run a community hub.
Pronouns: She/Her -
Stuart D. Berry: He/HimStuart currently works for Pembrokeshire-based community development charity, PLANED, where he leads a team who work with communities across Pembrokeshire on a number of culture, heritage and tourism projects. -
Déa Neile-Hopton: She/HerDéa is a Artist, Basket Weaver, and circus skills teacher, with a background in arts, dance, and physical practice. As a Neurodivergent Black British individual (autistic and ADHD) with Neurodivergent children, she brings a wealth of life experience and insight to support SPAN in continuing to develop and be more inclusive to minority elements of our community. She sees SPAN as a vital artistic hub in a very rural area and uses her unique perspective on life as a neurodivergent individual to enhance creative possibilities for people like her. People who, in other organizations, may not have the opportunity or ability to speak about what they need from the arts in their community. Pronouns: She/Her -
Carys Mol: She/HerCarys Mol is a Creative Producer and one of the first WellBeing Facilitators working in the TV & film industry in Wales. Her production practice is interdisciplinary, working across theatre, outdoor arts, music, visual arts and community-based projects in Wales (Hijinx Theatre, Articulture). She has particular experience in supporting artists with access needs, co-designing frameworks that help people to create in the ways that work best for them. Carys works in Welsh and English and is currently an Arts Council of Wales Associate (2023-25). Pronouns: She/Her -
Jonathan Chitty: He/HimJonathan is an experienced Finance Executive and currently Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at the Port of Milford Haven. With over 25 years experience of accountancy and finance Jonathan also has wide ranging knowledge of general management such as strategic decision making, negotiation, project management, resource planning and corporate finance. Jonathan lives in South Pembrokeshire with his young family and is passionate about improving outcomes for local communities and securing Pembrokeshire as a vibrant, inclusive and fun home for future generations. Pronouns: He/Him -
Rhidian Evans: He/HimRhidian is the Chief Officer at Menter Iaith Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire Welsh Language Initiative) and has worked for the organisation for 20 years. During the years both Menter Iaith and Span Arts have collaborated on various projects and as a Board member Rhidian looks forward to strengthening and developing the partnership and assisting with a further Welsh language programme. Pronouns: He/Him -
Sue Lewis: She/HerSue Lewis has enjoyed a 30-year career in journalism and is now focused on community issues. She was involved in the £12m campaign to restore Cardigan Castle and is currently working on a project to rebuild a community hall in Aberporth. A mother of five, she is a community councillor, school governor, plus chair of Clynfyw Care Farm in Abercych. She is passionate about the arts, heritage and local politics.
Pronouns: She/Her
Equality
SPAN Arts are actively and publicly anti-racist, anti-ableist, anti-homophobic, and anti-transphobic.
This unmovable core principle informs whom we partner with, whom we approach for support, whom we employ, how we work, and whom we work with.
We will use the arts, our programme, and our position, to call out inequality and challenge bias across the county.
Welsh Language
SPAN is a proud bilingual organisation with Welsh-speaking staff, board members, volunteers, artists and Welsh and Bilingual programming.
We understand the importance and place the Welsh Language has within our community and our own cultural offer.
Environment
Our aim is to reduce our carbon impact through investing in digital work and prioritising the environment in our decision-making processes.
SPAN Friends
Love SPAN? Make friends!
Become a Friend of SPAN and support the charity to keep the arts alive in Pembrokeshire.
For just £20 per year, SPAN Friends will receive ticket discounts, complimentary brochures posted to your door and special offers. But most of all you can feel good in the knowledge that you are contributing to safeguarding the organisation and helping bring culture to Pembrokeshire.
In addition, you will receive the following benefits:
- Feel good factor in making an important contribution to the arts in Pembrokeshire!
- Receive discounts on tickets for most events held by Span Arts (usually £2 discount)
- Complimentary season brochure sent directly to each Friend
- Ability to reserve tickets up to 1 week in advance
- Receive special offers and deals ahead of others
Annual SPAN Friends Prices:
Adult: £20 per year (equates to £1.66 a month)
Concession:£17.50 per year for people in receipt of state pension, state benefits and students.
SPAN Voting Members
Become a Voting Member of SPAN and have a say in its future.
SPAN is a Company Limited by Guarantee without a Share Capital. It therefore has Members who act as guarantors of the Charity.
In accordance with SPAN’s Articles of Association anyone can become a Member of SPAN providing:
- You are over 18
- Make a payment of £1
- Agree to act as guarantors of the Charity i.e. you guarantee to contribute towards any debts owed by SPAN. This amount is limited to £1.
- Your Application will be approved by SPAN’s BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- You abide by the Terms and Conditions*, which are set out below.
As a member of the charity this enables you to vote on topics raised at the annual AGM.
WHAT WILL I RECEIVE IN RETURN?
As a Member of SPAN you are entitled to:
- Attend the AGM and other general meetings.
- To vote to elect those who wish to sit on the Board of Trustees.
- Be informed on all major developments affecting SPAN business and services
- Access to SPAN’s Annual Report and End of Year Accounts.
- Opportunities to seek election to the Board of Trustees.
To apply please pay your one off payment of £1.
Purchase Voting Membership Fee
If your application is unsuccessful the £1 will be treated as a donation to SPAN.
*TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- I agree to act as guarantor of the Charity and to contribute towards any debts owed by SPAN. This amount is limited to £1.
- I agree that my name will appear on the Register of Members
- I agree to take responsibility that my information is kept up to date and accurate.
A Potted History
- 1986 Taf and Cleddau Community Arts was founded
- 1987 First Children’s Festival (with acts such as No Fit State Circus)
- Circa 1990 Secured funding from The Arts Council of Wales for the first time
- 1998 Changed our name to South Pembrokeshire Arts Network
- 2001 Became a company limited by guarantee known as SPAN
- 2004 Span Development Project – A 3 year project taking arts into the villages
- 2006 Purchased the SPAN building on Town Moor Narberth, with funds from Community Facilities Programme
- 2008 Founded Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival
- 2014 SPAN’s mission ‘Arts for Everyone/Celfyddydau i bawb’ was launched.
- 2015 Secured 3 year Big Lottery Funding for The Cheerful Project
- 2015 First River of Lights Lantern Parade in Haverfordwest in partnership with spacetocreate
- 2018 Secured wide range of project funds to deliver on a number of key social change agendas, working across the county of Pembrokeshire.
- 2019 New vision for Arts as Social Change in Rural Wales adopted
- 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic – Operated exclusively online.
- 2021 Adapted the SPAN program to the post-covid world, moving towards projects exploring the relationship between arts, health, and wellbeing.
- 2022 Welcomed new director Bethan Touhig-Gamble, began hosting live events once more, and embraced a new cocreation for SPAN projects, in collaboration with the community
Contact us
| Phone: | 01834 869323 |
| Instagram: | @spanartsnarberth |
| Facebook: | facebook/spanarts |
| info@span-arts.org.uk | |
| Address: | Span Arts Town Moor Moorfield Rd Narberth Pembrokeshire SA67 7AG |