Author name: spanarts

News

Under Milk Wood

Thank you for booking your Theatr Soffa seat for Span Arts production of Under Milk Wood in Lock Down! This rehearsed reading will go live at 8pm on 20th June 2020. The production features a community cast – a full cast list will be published here after the performance. The performance lasts c. 60 minutes and is rated PG.  There will be no interval so get your refreshments ready! As a ticket holder we ask you politely not to share this link or to record the performance as it is broadcast. This is a live theatre event performed remotely. To view the production in full screen click on Under Milk Wood in the top left corner. We hope you enjoy the show! https://youtu.be/jt1opanxF9I In the event of any technical difficulties.  Please be patient and the stream will resume as soon as possible. If you have enjoyed this performance and would like to watch similar productions in the future please consider donating by clicking the link below: Donate here!  

News

Thank you to Span Arts Volunteers

As part of National Volunteer Week, Span Arts would like to say a huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers, many of whom have been isolating alone for the last 10 weeks. Whilst on lockdown our volunteers have enjoyed getting together weekly for a new online Volunteer Skill Share programme. They have been sharing an incredibly array of skills from gardening to poetry, mindfulness to Welsh. What a talented bunch you are! SPAN Volunteer Nicola told us “Getting together digitally has been such a boost to my wellbeing and really made the shutdown more bearable. Being engaged with others sharing skills in an online environment was a 1st for me and helped me feel connected to others and less isolated and worried.” If you are feeling lonely, bored or frustrated or just want to be part of something friendly and creative then why don’t you try one of our Skill Shares. Simply email Siobhan@span-arts.org.uk to find out more. Create and Connect Film As part of National Volunteer’s Week, we would like to highlight our amazing volunteers and their contribution to Pembrokeshire’s communities. This film captures just a few of the many Span volunteers as they talk about why they volunteer and what they hope

News

Theatr Soffa presents Under Milk Wood in Lock down!

This May, to coincide with International Dylan Thomas Day, Span Arts Pembrokeshire’s much loved community arts organisation is embarking on an exciting new digital venture.  Calling on the many talents of their volunteers and the wider community we are working towards an online performance of Under Milk Wood through online video conferencing with the ambition to live stream to YouTube for digital theatre-goers to enjoy. The venture has come about through Span’s Digidol project which has been piloting ways in which digital technology can be used creatively to help with issues such as social well being and rural isolation.  The project could not be more timely given the continuing restrictions on our daily lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic as we continue to be advised to #StayAtHome. Whilst we may not be able to visit our favourite seaside places or go about our normal daily business we can still dream.  The play idea was born when the span team held their first video conference team meeting having closed their offices at in Narberth to continue working from home.  How would it be to perform a play in these conditions?  Under Milk Wood seemed the ideal choice to try it out. 

News

Theatr Soffa yn cyflwyno Dan y Wenallt Dan Glo!

Ym mis Mai, i gyd-fynd â Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Dylan Thomas, mae Celfyddydau Span mewn cydweithrediad a Menter Iaith Sir Benfro a Cered- Menter iaith Ceredigion yn cychwyn ar fenter ddigidol newydd gyffrous. Gan alw ar dalentau niferus cymunedau Gogledd Sir Benfro a De Sir Ceredigion maent wedi dechrau gweithio tuag at berfformiad ar-lein o Dan y Wenallt sef “Dan y Wenallt Dan Glo” trwy feddalwedd fideo-gynadledda ar-lein. Mae’r fenter wedi datblygu trwy brosiect Digidol Span sydd wedi bod yn treialu ffyrdd y gellir defnyddio technoleg ddigidol yn greadigol i helpu gyda materion fel lles cymdeithasol ac arwahanrwydd gwledig.  Ni allai’r prosiect fod yn fwy amserol o ystyried y cyfyngiadau parhaus ar ein bywydau oherwydd pandemig Covid-19 wrth i ni barhau i gael ein cynghori i #ArhosaGartref  Er efallai na fyddwn yn gallu mynd o gwmpas ein busnes beunyddiol arferol, gallwn ddal i freuddwydio.  Ac wrth feddwl am ba ddrama i drio perfformio o dan yr amgylchiadau yma roedd Dan y Wenallt yn ymddangos fel dewis da i roi cynnig arno gyda chyswllt amlwg gyda Sir Benfro a Cheredigion. Mae Dan y Wenallt, addasiad T James Jones o waith adnabyddus Dylan Thomas, wedi’i leoli yn nhref glan môr ffuglennol Llareggub –

completed project, News

The Kindness Project – Show it, Share it

The digital act of kindness could come in many forms,  and people were invited to think of something they could make that brings them happiness. Here are the results… A unique opportunity for children and/or young people in Pembrokeshire to be part of  a digital creative community reaching out to people of all ages who are socially isolating, both in the community and in residential settings. The digital act of kindness could come in many forms,  and people were invited to think of something they could make that brings them happiness. Here are the results… A unique opportunity for children and/or young people in Pembrokeshire to be part of  a digital creative community reaching out to people of all ages who are socially isolating, both in the community and in residential settings.

News

Span Volunteers are busy online…Get involved!

We may be self isolating but Span’s volunteers remain a vital and active part of the team at Span Arts.   With regular on line volunteer meetings, we are organising volunteer led events that we hope to roll out to audiences soon via Span’s You Tube channel. Span volunteers have also put together a Skill Share programme to ensure we all remain connected, engaged and busy! Span’s work to connect rural communities through art and wellbeing has never been more important as so many of us are alone in our homes. If you would like to join the Span volunteering team – now is a great time.  For more information on being  a Span volunteer, email Siobhan@span-arts.org.uk Stay well and stay in touch!

News

Clwb Digi A-maze-ing Easter Digital Egg Hunt goes live!

Span’s Digital intern Geraint Pickard Skeats presents his online A-Maze-ing Easter Game! Geraint has been working with the Digidol project as a volunteer since last May.  Geraint is studying Information Technology at Pembrokeshire Sixth Form college and just loves to code.  Lucky for us at Span’s Clwb Digi his latest project was to design and create a computer game. We were hoping to meet this Saturday 11th April to hold a digital Easter egg hunt.  We’re pleased to be able to take the egg hunt online with Geraint’s brand new game! We hope you enjoy this bit of Easter fun.  Who’ll be at the top of the leader board by the end of the Easter holidays? Game Instructions: Use arrow keys to move around. When your Rabbit lands on an Egg you will be asked a question. Use the up and down arrows to select the right answer then hit Enter. Get the right answer to get the Egg. Collect all the eggs, then exit the Maze for your chance to appear on the leader board! Click here to start the game! Please note game to be played on PC or laptop.  We haven’t done the tablet/smartphone module yet! Many thanks

News

Clwb Digi Cares

Clwb Digi Cares is a new intergenerational concept which seeks to connect children and young people with isolated older people through Artist and Musician led online creative technology activities to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, develop new skills and alleviate boredom and frustration.  The project aims to introduce older people to new technologies in an atmosphere of playfulness and experimentation through creative and uplifting experiences that will have tangible outcomes for both target beneficiaries.  Are you aged between 8-12 or over 60, and live in Pembrokeshire?  Do you like art, music, singing and/or technology?  Then get in touch with our new Clwb Digi Project Manager pip@span-arts.org.uk to find out more!  Clwb Digi Cares is funded by West Wales Is Kind Fund from the West Wales Care Partnership and is part of a new Kindness Campaign for Pembrokeshire. Keep in touch to find out more. 

completed project, News

SPAN Digidol

SPAN Digidol was a 2 year Leader and ACW funded project designed to open up culture across the whole of Pembrokeshire through developing a new way of delivering cultural services via digital technology to rural communities. The project reached over 2000 live audiences and over 27,000 digital audiences from right across the county and beyond with representation from all ages. Through an innovative programme of 10 pilot projects SPAN Digidol engaged some of the most vulnerable , or traditionally/stereotypically less digitally confident/competent people through projects such as Map Digi Penfro, Memortal, Cân Sing online, Theatr Soffa, e-ticketing, Pisga Chapel Advent Concert audiences. The project also provided SPAN with the capacity to rapidly adapt to the COVID crisis and be able to contribute to the community response in Pembrokeshire by providing an online programme for the 3 months of Lockdown serving the community with online arts experience to alleviate boredom, stress and loneliness and to improve people’s wellbeing. People reported an increase in health & wellbeing as result in engaging in projects and demonstrated that participation in arts activities is a strong motivating factor for people to develop their digital skills. SPAN Digidol successfully supported the digital inclusion agenda in Pembrokeshire

News

Clwb Digi – Creative Technology Sessions for Young People

Since February 2018 Span Arts have been running monthly arts and technology sessions for young people at our offices in Narberth. Clwb Digi was set up initially to cater for 8 – 12 year olds and has introduced young people to a number of different activities ranging from animation, app making, electric painting and live looping. The series kicked off with attendees taking part in the Span Arts animation competition to create an ident for Span Digidol.  The winning animations appear in this short film: The sessions have been held from 10am to 1pm on Saturday mornings. Participant feedback from recent sessions has stated: “It was fun and challenging to do.” “Very entertaining and easy to follow.” “Got to do what you wanted to do in the activity.” Clwb Digi was developed through Span Arts’ Digidol project funded by LEADER and the Arts Council of Wales which was set up to explore new ways in which digital technology can be used creatively to increase connectivity and reduce loneliness and social isolation. Clwb Digi is one of ten pilot projects that Span Digidol has been testing since the project began in May 2018 and has been exceptionally well received – 100% of

News

Keep Connected

We are working hard behind the scenes to develop a diverse and uplifting programme of online events and activities in celebration of our Span Digidol/Digital project. But whilst we are at it, we thought you might like to see some other interesting creative things to do online so we have started a blog. Keep visiting as we will keep adding to it Google Arts & Culture: Featuring content from over 2000 leading museums and archives – a feast for the eyes!   National Theatre: Live streaming every Thursday evening   Open Culture: Download free colouring books from 113 Museums   SkillShare: Learn a variety of skills including photography, illustration, animation, writing and more!   Time: 10 Virtual Book Clubs and how to create your own   The Royal Opera House   Drawn Together UK – An online community drawing project. Why not take part and add to the map of the UK with a drawing from your window? All you have to do is draw your picture in pen or pencil and use the hashtag #DrawnTogetherUK   United We Stream – Fancy yourself a kitchen disco? Here you can live stream DJ’s and gigs.     MoMA – Artist Louise Lawler has made 12

News

Span Arts to remain active online.

The Span Arts building will be temporarily closed from Tuesday 17th March until further notice due to the Government’s announcement of emergency measures being put in place on Tuesday night.    Span Arts has had to take the difficult decision to cancel or postpone our forthcoming programme of events and also cancel all community activities held in the building to protect our audience, volunteers and staff.  The Span Arts team however, are keen to tell us that although they have had to shut their doors, they will remain active on projects and online.    “Our team is working hard setting up office at home and coming up with a range of creative new ways to keep people from being isolated at home.  It has rarely felt as important as it does now to combat isolation and loneliness and help people feel better, happy and connected in Pembrokeshire” says Kathryn Lambert, Director of Span Arts.   The new measures will devastate an already fragile sector that works hard to ensure our communities can enjoy live music and theatre and the positive impact of the arts on our health and wellbeing.    The Arts Council of Wales have told Span Arts that in these difficult and unprecedented times they recognise and empathise with the serious personal and professional impacts for artists, practitioners and organisations arising from Covid-19. “We stand firmly with the artists and arts organisations of Wales and our priority is to find practical ways of supporting

Community, News

Cân Sing – Technical Interlude

In the past week we’ve witnessed Italians singing from their balconies and have been reminded of the Italian anarchist playwright Dario Fo’s words,‘cân sing, will sing‘ (well something like that anyway!). We’re sorry we’ve had to put our singing workshops on hold but are determined to find an alternative solution to this situation and are investigating ways in which we can facilitate a virtual Cân Sing workshop online. Cat and others are grappling with the logistics of this and hope to come up with a solution in the coming week. As we all know singing is a great thing for lung health and reducing anxiety so whether together or apart we’re going to try to keep on doing it! Fingers crossed more info coming soon…

News

Map Digi Penfro – Ychwanegwch at fap ‘dwfn’ Span!

Map digidol arlein yw Map Digi Penfro sy’n caniatáu i bobl gofnodi gwybodaeth sy’n bwysig iddyn nhw am leoliadau lle maen nhw’n byw neu’n teithio drwyddynt. Gellir cofnodi gwybodaeth ar ffurf testun neu ddelwedd gan gynnwys ffotograffau, lluniau, recordiadau sain- hyd yn oed ffilmiau byrion. Datblygwyd y prosiect dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf fel rhan o Span Digidol gan gychwyn gyda phenwythnos dwys yn archwilio Garn Fawr a’r ardal gyfagos yng Ngorffennaf 2019.  Dilynwyd y gwaith yma gyda diwrnodau gweithdy yn Arberth, Aber Llydan a Trefdraeth. Ar yr 28ain o Fawrth roeddwn yn gobeithio cynnal gweithdy yn Llanusyllt.  Oherwydd y sefyllfa gyfredol gyda’r pandemig Covid-19 ni fydd y gweithdy yma’n cael ei gynnal. Fodd bynnag mae’r map yn aros ar-lein ac mae’n dal yn bosib ychwanegu ato.  Mae’n hawdd iawn i’w ddefnyddio ac mae ‘na gyfarwyddiadau ar y safle i’w dilyn. Os ydych yn gaeth i gartref ar hyn o bryd ac yn edrych am rywbeth i wneud, beth am edrych ar y map?  Mae ‘na ddigonedd o bethau diddorol i’w clywed ac i’w gweld.  Falle fod gennych eich safleoedd o ddiddordeb eich hunain i ychwanegu.  Byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi yn fawr os byddech yn ychwanegu rhywbeth at y map. Dilynwch y linc yma

News

Help us add to the Span ‘deep’ map – Map Digi Penfro!

Map Digi Penfro is an online digital map that allows people to record information that is important to them about the places they live in and pass through.  Information can be recorded as text or image including photographs, drawings, audio recordings and even short films. The project was developed over the past year as part of Span Digidol starting with an intensive weekend at Garn Fawr in July 2019 followed by day workshops in Narberth, Broad Haven and Newport. There is much of interest to see and hear.  Equally you may have your own points of interest to add.  We’d love you to add to the map! View the map here. For more information about the project take a look at this film made after our first mapping weekend: For more information about previous workshops see our blog posts: Narberth: http://www.span-arts.org.uk/news/map-digi-penfro-2-narberth/#.XnKlryOLR0c Broad Haven and St Brides Bay: http://www.span-arts.org.uk/news/map-digi-penfro-3-broad-haven-and-st-brides-bay/#.XnKlJSOLR0c Newport: http://www.span-arts.org.uk/news/map-digi-penfro-4-newport-and-carn-ingli/#.XnKlYCOLR0c Map Digi Penfro has been developed through Span Arts’ Digidol project funded by LEADER and the Arts Council of Wales which is exploring new ways in which digital technology can be used creatively to increase connectivity and reduce loneliness and social isolation.

News

Make a date for some blooming bargains at the Span Arts BIG Plant Sale!

Saturday 2nd  May sees the return of Narberth’s The BIG Plant Sale, one of the most important dates on Pembrokeshire’s gardening calendar. The Plant Sale hosts a huge range of stalls with an impressive range of flowers, herbs and vegetable plants, as well as specialist stock including bamboos, pond plants, succulents and cacti. Along with everything a gardener dreams of, there will also be a live music stage, food stalls and a raffle. The Plant Sale has grown bigger and bigger every year, now in its 26th year, and has been described as “the start of the summer social season”. It’s a diverse and fun-packed day not only for the green fingers amongst us, but whole community. Not only is it an important date in the gardening calendar, it is also hugely important for Span Arts as it helps raises funds for the Narberth-based charity committed to providing performances and arts experiences for people from all over Pembrokeshire. Last year, over 1,300 visitors attended the event over the course of the day, and we hope to attract even more this year! If you would like a stall to sell your own products, then you are in luck! Pitches are still

News

Celebrating the Welsh Music Scene in Compelling Bilingual Style!

Georgia Ruth and Bardd, Newport Memorial Hall, 20 March Span Arts are absolutely delighted to be hosting the Launch of Welsh Music Prize winner Georgia Ruth’s new album Mai, and the global fusion trio Bardd whose members include Young People’s Laureate Wales’s Poet Martin Laws and legendary Emcee, Beatbox and Welsh/International Live Looper champion, Mr Phormula. As a true bilingual event, with songs sung in both Welsh and English this will weave together different instruments, different languages, different musical styles into one beautiful groove. This will be a fantastic event not to be missed! Georgia Ruth is a Welsh singer-songwriter, harpist and one of Wales’ most compelling voices – “dazzling… rich with sweet pain and joy” (The Independent); “one of the British folk discoveries of the year” (The Guardian). MOJO describe the album as “atmospheric spirituality …. natural world imagery, poetic lyrics and subtle soundscapes … with wafts of strings, guitars, drums, sax and violin Watch Georgia’s new single here: Bardd’s music journeys between bardic roots of Wales and freedom funk disco, underpinned by a love of dope beats, supreme lyricism and great music from all genres. Expect Beatbox, innovative Live Looping, Electric Kalimba, Folk Violin, Jazz Organ, Blues Guitar

News

The Laughing Dragon returns with more red-hot rib-tickle!

Span Arts teams up again with Theatr Gwaun and comic Clare Ferguson-Walker for a second Laughing Dragon Cabaret at 8pm on Friday 27 March. Fishguard’s Theatr Gwaun hosts this tremendous comedy triple-bill – triple the fun, triple the giggle, triple the belly laugh ache! Olaf Falafel is the Winner of Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s Funniest Joke Award – he’ll laugh you into Spring with his pun and absurdity filled humour. Female musical comic Sooz Kempner with her “quirky style and knock-out voice” (Chortle) who will have you laughing like a drain. And Ignacio Lopez’s “charismatic … waspish charm” (Chortle) will spin you around with his infamous high gag-rate. Local comic talent, MC Clare Ferguson Walker will weave the whole evening together and also host a funny raffle at the event. Buy your tickets now for this rib-shaker – a most brilliant way to shake out the winter and call in the new energy of Spring. Tickets are now available from Theatr Gwaun theatrgwwun.com 01348 873421 Ticket prices Advance  £12/£10/£10 (Full, Friend of Span, Concession) Door  £14/£12/£12

News

Map Digi Penfro #4 – Newport and Carn Ingli

Saturday 29th February, Newport Memorial Hall, SA42 0TF, 10am – 4pm The Digidol project Map Digi Penfro heads to Newport Memorial Hall on Saturday 29th February with a day exploring a pioneering landscape with significance to issues of sustainability in agriculture and energy today. Span Digidol will be joined by Annie Sears who will share her own story of coming to Newport and the pioneering life of her parents who farmed at Fachongle.  There will also be a short film screening showing some of John Seymour’s work as a broadcaster and early advocate of sustainability. In the afternoon local guide and spoon carver Steve Jenkins will lead a short walk through Cwm Clydach and the day will conclude with a visit to Fachongle. The day will also be an opportunity to share stories and knowledge about Newport with the intention of recording the information collected onto the map in order to create a ‘deep map’ of Newport, rich in voice and content. Map Digi Penfro is an online digital map that allows people to record information that is important to them about the places they live in and pass through.  Information can be recorded as text or image including photographs, drawings, audio recordings

News

NAVF 2020 – Hear it from the Workshop Leaders!

Over the festival weekend, we’ve organised a whole range of informative, fun and inspiring workshops for anyone looking to practice their vocals under the supervision of some incredible a cappella masters. The workshops will offer festival goers the opportunity to sing together with the acts and each other in a wide range of styles from Corsican, to Welsh harmony, Georgian to Looping plus many more! Ahead of the festival we spoke with some of the workshop leaders to gain a little insight into what to expect when taking part in their sessions. Caroline Bithell will be leading workshops in Corsican and Georgian, here she tells us about where her passion for singing came from along with her intentions for the workshops: “I was born and grew up in Wales so maybe it’s not surprising that singing has always been an important part of my life. I’ve always been fascinated by other places, cultures and languages, so realising that there was this thing called ethnomusicology (or musical anthropology, bringing together music and culture) was like meeting my destiny. I got to live in Corsica with my three children while working on my PhD, which was about the revival of traditional music on

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