From our correspondent in...
North Wales
Alana Tyson,
our north Wales
correspondent, gives
us the low-down on
the region
The majority of people I meet in north Wales
are here by choice, because they love it; and
though it is spread over a large geographical
area, the art community is quite intimate.
When I sat down and wrote out the list of
artists, events, organisations and venues I
wanted to mention, I was really pleased to
realise that I might easily exceed my word
count.
Places, spaces and organisations
A fairly pervasive north Wales complaint is that there
is so much more going on in south Wales with its Cardiff
hub and (alleged) increased funding. I don’t feel this
grievance holds much traction now. Artists in north
Wales are organising themselves and studio groups
are a great example. In just the past few years,
Stiwdio Studio (Colwyn Bay), iard (Caernarfon), C.A.S.C
(Llandudno), Ladder Store Studios (Llandudno) and TOGYG
(Bangor) have all formed, offering studio spaces and in
some instances exhibition and project space as well.
In Wrexham, PrawN, the Programme of Resources for
Artists in Wales (North), has declared itself ‘the little
shrimpy sibling of g39’s WARP’. It aims to work as ‘a
professional development tool for artists at all stages
of their career’.
Oriel Wrexham is also set to move to larger premises
and is holding discussions about the development of
a creative hub in the town. Existing institutions are
expanding in the west with Pontio, Bangor University’s
Arts and Innovation Centre, due to open this autumn
and Bangor Museum and Art Gallery moving to the city’s
Bishop’s Palace.
The existing institutional hubs of Ruthin Craft Centre
and Mostyn provide anchors in the community with
world-class exhibtions and events. I always appreciate
the fact that they bring exciting international art to
North Wales in addition to showing Welsh artists. The
new season at Mostyn will open on 14 November 2014 and
includes a show by Cardiff-based Laura Reeves.
I feel that artist-led centres are a really vital part
of the artistic community. Big institutions often
programme years in advance, whereas smaller centres
are able to be so much more flexible and respond quickly
to the needs of the community and local artists.
Bocs Celf is a fantastic multi-purpose, artist-led
centre in Caernarfon. Dimitri Rastoropov, the Arts
Centre Coordinator, described it as ‘a cooperative,
contemporary and experimental art hub that promotes
and nurtures young and emerging artists’. Bocs has a
regular exhibition schedule featuring both local and
international artists and they really put a lot of effort
into invigorating the community.
Profiled
I moved to north Wales from Canada
over six years ago – not a place I ever
expected to live. But then, I suppose
that’s what happens when you marry a
Welshman!
To be honest, I found the first couple
of years difficult between the sudden
culture shock and not knowing anyone. I
didn’t really feel at home until I gradually
got more involved in the art community
here in nort