Author name: Di Ford

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Criw Celf

Criw Celf Primary  is an Arts Council of Wales funded project for children who have shown a talent or special interest in art. Young people from Pembrokeshire, aged 9-11 applied to become part of this exciting creative project with SPAN. https://youtu.be/GCK-ZmkRz6k Now in it’s third year, the programme has featured in-person, outdoor sessions with local artists. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy five master classes led by professional artists, exploring a range of art techniques and skills. It is an amazing opportunity for the children to be part of an exciting creative project where they made new friends with similar interests and learnt new skills. Over a series of sessions the children stepped out into nature, focused on their surroundings, took what they discovered and turned it into a poem. They practiced new drawing and mark making techniques, as well as creating exciting textures with a variety of materials. Using their poems and textured materials they created their own fantastical 3D worlds within a box. At the end of the project, family and friends of these talented young artists gather for a very special private exhibition at the SPAN Arts building, Narberth. The exhibition also opened to the local community, who enjoyed the colourful displays that featured a wide array of techniques by […]

completed project

Haverfordwest Lantern Parade

Between 2015 – 2019, SPAN co-presented an annual River of Lights Lantern Parade in Haverfordwest. Initially, founded by spacetocreate, and presented in partnership with SPAN as part of The Lab; an arts and regeneration project for Haverfordwest, The River of Lights lantern parade grew into a spectacular and much loved event presented by SPAN in partnership with others. Haverfordwest has enjoyed 4 spectacular lantern parades since 2015 which have brought thousands of people together to share in a memorable, uplifting, much loved, family friendly event. This extraordinary participatory arts event quickly became a popular annual event on the Pembrokeshire calendar where artists and the community were brought together to create a memorable parade shaped by a new theme or story each year . River of Lights Lantern Parade was conceived to inspire a sense of community pride and belonging in Haverfordwest, through a large scale event that celebrated the river, the county town, the creativity of its people and its connections with the coastal communities that it serves. As part of each Lantern parade, drop in Lantern making workshops were held in a variety of settings in Haverfordwest and across the county, where hundreds of people together with artists and

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We are not alone

In October 2019 SPAN Digidol's Clwb Digi travelled to Broad Haven Primary School to work with pupils from years 5 and 6 on a short animation for screening at Haverfordwest Lantern Parade: Over the Moon. The theme of the event was space, the night sky and the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. The animation was shown on a pedal powered cinema screen provided by Electric Pedals who combine ideas of sustainability, energy awareness and health & exercise with community events. Thanks to Sarah Hope and Gemma Green-Hope for help with the animation.
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Memortal/Cofio

Memortal/Cofio was a SPAN led collaborative research and development project and part of SPAN Digidol - a series of pilot projects to test how digital technology could be used creatively to increase connectivity and reduce loneliness and isolation. Memortal involved working with people who were dying, those who want to prepare for their death, older people who are isolated, those at risk of dying alone, and relatives of people who have died. The aim of the project was to design a digital tool/app for helping people create their own memorials, celebrating their life or that of a loved-one. Working with animation artist Gemma Green Hope and app developer Owen Davis, and through consultation with communities, participants and stakeholders, the project aimed to generate content and ideas for the structure of an accessible and easy-to-use app. Individual participants were Louis Embra, Suzanne Radley-Smith, Neil Jordan, Rozanne Hawksley, Charleen Agostini and Hunter Graham. SPAN also worked with Solva Care and Brynberian Compassionate Cafe. The project was funded by PAVS Caring Communities Grant and through Span Digidol, funded by Arts Council Wales and LEADER programme administered by Planed.
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Côr Pawb – Lean on Me

A virtual choir featuring a few of the members and of Côr Pawb, who took part during Autumn 2020. We hope that one day, this choir of over a hundred people aged 0-100 will be able to sing together again as they have previously in events that brought voices of all ages together.
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Driftwood Monsters

If you are heading to the beach then why not pick up some driftwood and make some driftwood monsters with designer and maker Di Ford. This is a fun and easy activity for all the family to enjoy all you need is the following: Driftwood Paint and paint brushes A black marker pen Your imagination! Watch the how to video tutorial below and please share with us your creations via: Instagram – @spanartsnarberth Facebook – @spanarts Email – info@span-arts.org.uk We have already had some great little monsters, we look forward to seeing yours!  
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Eco Printing

Learn how to screen print using all natural materials with illustrator Kate Kekwick. You’ll produce a two-colour print using paper stencils and natural print pastes. Here’s a list of print workshop materials. Various items on the list can be exchanged for household objects which are hopefully readily available, but if not there’s always e-bay!
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Noson Gartrefol Nadoligaidd SPAN Cosy Christmas Night in!

Watch our festive retrospective where we took a look back and celebrate all of SPAN’s activities during 2020.  Hosted by Anna Sharatt and a few of our fantastic volunteers  there was a mix of music, films, online theatre, quizzes and an online raffle. Viewers wore their sparkliest outfit to see out the year with us in style! 

completed project

Map Digi Penfro

Map Digi Penfro is an online deep map created by SPAN on which you can record information that is important to you about the places you live in and pass through. Text, data, photographs, drawings, audio recordings and even short films can be placed on the map capturing perspectives, memories, conditions, stories, data,  etc about that site. See the map The project was developed throughout 2019 as part of Span Digidol, our 2 year digital art project starting with an intensive weekend at Garn Fawr in July 2019 followed by workshops in Narberth, Broad Haven and Newport. On each day, a group of school children and/or local residents went on a walk in their locality and recorded material on the map about local history, nature, geology, and their own memories and impressions. The result is a fascinating multi-faceted view of the place. And it was fun to do! The map remains online and can still be added to.  It is very easy to use and there are instructions on the site. How to get involved If you are stuck at home looking for something to do why not have a look at the map?  There is much of interest to see and hear.  Equally you may have

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Arts & Health Pembrokeshire Network

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.

completed project

The Cheerful Project

A 3 year Big Lottery Funded Project to reduce isolation and loneliness through the arts and creative social activities. SPAN received £218k from Big Lottery Cheerful to reduce social, rural and economic isolation through engaging people in the arts. It was a huge success reaching over 7,000 people (including 2,102 named individuals), with 12,282 separate engagements over the last 3 years. We put on 373 activities (including workshops, outreach sessions, community events and workshop sessions in people’s homes) totalling 42,987 participant hours, generated 572 volunteer opportunities totalling 2002 volunteer hours and created a body or work and partnerships that have left a lasting legacy on SPAN and helped us to shape a new vision for Arts as Social Change in Pembrokeshire. “The program put together by SPAN has helped me by giving me a reason to keep my life as normal as possible, a reason to get out of bed get dressed and have a shave!” “I felt shut away but the project has given me a whole new lease of life”  

completed project

Shared Worlds

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.

completed project

Caring Choirs

Caring Choirs is a programme of singing workshops in care settings in Pembrokeshire targeted at older people and people living with dementia that have been running when funding allows since 2015. The project capitalises on the restorative power of singing to deliver positive physical and mental health benefits. This singing workshop programme has proven to be hugely successful and a powerful tool in improving wellbeing. “Having the singing in the lounge has been like a ray of sunshine on a grey day.”  

Cor Pawb
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Raise Your Voice Pembrokeshire

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.

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Theatr Soffa

You can now watch the fantastic performance of: Tales from the New Normal:  Finding Me in a Sea of Change.  Below are two screenings, both with Welsh subtitles and the second with a BSL interpreter. https://vimeo.com/829007447 If you would like to view the footage with English subtitles. Click the ‘CC’ button  nect to the volume button in the bottom right corner. Please note that this play is suitable for ages 14+ and contains the following trigger warnings: discussion of death, discussion of COVID-19 measures and vaccinations, discussion of caring responsibilities and long-term health conditions, discussion of mental health, discussion of cancer, swearing. The world has changed (again) but we’re all expected to act like it’s the same… Over the Autumn of 2022, SPAN embarked upon exciting process of working with a small group of people from all walks of life to discuss what the “after times” of the pandemic have meant for us and our mental health – the struggles, joys, revelations, and challenges. Actor and playwright Ceri Ashe (Bipolar Me, Lockdown Tales: Making Bread and Babies) led these sessions, using storytelling and simple exercises to create a safe environment for these stories to breathe.  These stories were shared anonymously with

current project

Côr Pawb

Côr Pawb In 2015, SPAN created Côr Pawb, a mass community choir made up of singers of all ages from the local community.  Côr Pawb translates as Everyone’s Choir and aims to be a community celebration, accessible, equitable, and life-affirming. People of all ages and abilities from across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion rehearse and then come together to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. The mass choir is a statement of solidarity that shares its joy through performing at community events and concerts across the year.  Founded upon the principles of community strength and resilience, Côr Pawb welcomes all voices, regardless of singing ability, to come together for an uplifting celebration of song.  Thanks to the support of the Ashley Family Foundation and the Colwinston Trust Côr Pawb is back and working toward a programme of unique community-focused performing opportunities.   Over the last year, the mass choir has had the opportunity to sing on the main stage at the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival and in St David Cathedral and the Bishops Palace in St Davids. Over the coming months there will be a series of events that Côr Pawb will be taking part in.

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Create and Connect

https://youtu.be/A9Ncp3_RG24 In January 2019, SPAN embarked upon Create and Connect, a volunteer project funded by Enhancing Pembrokeshire. Enhancing Pembrokeshire is a fund generated by Pembrokeshire’s Second Home Tax, enabling SPAN to widen the reach of its existing volunteer outreach programme into new areas heavily affected by second home ownership. At the time of the project, 45% of SPAN’s volunteers were: living with a mental health condition aged over 65 living alone Create and Connect created more opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the arts through interesting volunteering experiences and helped people to contribute to the regeneration and enrichment of life in their communities.   “I’d just like to say that I’ve volunteered for a couple of other organisations and that the experience as a volunteer with Span has been by far the best. I feel appreciated, part of a team, and confident in the work Span is doing. Onwards!” Span Volunteer 

completed project

Remote Choir

https://youtu.be/aJuuVDR61WM A singing project for care homes and residential settings. People around Pembrokeshire were invited to participate in SPAN’s ‘Remote Choir’. Remote Choir was a singing project using technology to bring people in different residential locations together in order to improve health and wellbeing.  Over 130 people have been involved in the Remote Choir project, 10 of whom were housebound. Health conditions included dementia, autism, COPD, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, ME and depression. Image credit: Ruth Jones We were very proud when this project was used as a case study on Wales Arts Health & Wellbeing Network website and also cited in an NHS briefing paper. Image credit: Ruth Jones Through 40 1:2:1 sessions and 2 celebration events the project met its aims and was described as “life-changing”, “important”, and “positive”. People experienced measurable increases in: Wellbeing Quality of life Digital skills Community connections Feelings of worth Confidence in singing

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