Our COVID statement

As a consequence of the Covid-19 Virus pandemic, the SPAN building in Narberth and our LIVE events programme remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future.

SPAN however remain very active and busy online, and our small but perfectly formed team continue to work hard from home providing you with ongoing access to the arts online.

We are very proud to have been able to continue to provide a full and diverse programme of arts events and activities exclusively online since March 2020. And we are doing everything we can to return to live events and activities in a legal, safe and appropriate manner that considers staff, volunteers, audiences and artists alike when restrictions are lifted.

We really hope to see you in person at one of our events soon, but in the meantime we hope that you will continue to take part online through one of our many creative projects.

Please visit our website www.span-arts.org.uk and social media pages to keep up to date or call us on our usual number 01834 869323.

Keep well and much love from SPAN.

What we’re doing

SPAN has been able to continue to run online events throughout the COVID pandemic.

Our mission is to create Arts as social change in rural Wales and to use the arts to improve the lives for people living in Pembrokeshire. For several years, we have been experimenting with digital tools to deliver our activities and reach more people across a very rural county. Here are a couple of examples:

• Theatr Soffa: Our new online community theatre company presenting live-streamed community performances through zoom in both English and Welsh. With five productions and two lockdowns under our belt, we are working on our next production.
• Make, watch & do – From recordings of live streamed performances, to online creative workshops and films about our projects; Check out our video channels, and explore creative activities that you can try at home.
• Online gigs: Live streamed and recorded performances presented by SPAN.
• Cân Sing – Our fortnightly Singing Group has continued throughout the pandemic.

When will we reopen?

Our online events and projects continue at present, whilst some outdoors events are being considered for the Spring/Summer months.

SPAN has established a COVID Team made up of staff, volunteers and board members who are preparing Risk Assessments and new policies and procedures to keep everyone safe.

Our paramount concern is the safety of our participants, volunteers, staff and artists and we are keenly aware that many of our supporters are in more vulnerable groups.

We are incredibly grateful to our funders who have provided funds to help us to COVID proof our SPAN building and design and purchase COVID signage and PPE for our Staff and Volunteers for when we return to LIVE events and activities.

Many thanks to Arts Council of Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and PAVS Covid Support for their support.

How we’re working

The SPAN building in Narberth is closed at present. Like so many, we are working from home and online.

Although our offices are closed, our office phone number is still working and routed to our mobile phones at home. If you would like to talk to us or ask us a question please don’t hesitate to email info@span-arts.org.uk or call us on 01834 869 323.

As a non-venue based arts organisation, we are considering the impact on our ways of working as we present events across a variety of venues and settings throughout Pembrokeshire.

SPAN has a growing reputation for our high quality community arts and wellbeing projects, as well as one-off events that bring the community together to share in creative experiences that help people feel better. We are committed to continuing to offer access to the uplifting experiences of the arts for all at this difficult time.

You can help!

There are various ways you can support SPAN through the pandemic.

• Donate to our funds. If you’ve explored and enjoyed our online activities, or are looking forward to experiencing our live activities in the future, then please help keep us going! This is a difficult time for all arts organisations, as well as individual artists and performers. Please help us to continue to exist.
• Volunteer – our team of Volunteers are hard at work helping to organise online creative activities and preparing for live events when restrictions are lifted. Join our team, meet new people and develop new skills.
• Take part in our online projects such as Theatr Soffa and Cân Sing.
• Make Friends – SPAN runs a Friendship Scheme which provides a vital income stream for the charity. For just £20 per year, SPAN Friends help to safeguard the organisation and bring the arts to Pembrokeshire.