4.00pm, Wednesday, 1st October 2008
4.00yh, Dydd Mercher, 1af o Hydref 2008
Civic Centre
Canolfan DdinesigPresent:Gus Payne (GP) MTCBC Arts Development, Alan Lane (AL) Merthyr Tydfil Art Society, Dinah Pye (DP) Active Music Service, Lisa Derrik (LiD) Glamorgan Gates, Stuart Bartz (SB) Blue Scar Art Website, Ken Long (KL) Communities First, Chris Long (CL) MTCBC Economic Dev & Arts, Tourism, Kevin Jakeway (KJ) Creative Communities, Alison Harris (AH) VAMT, Lee Davies (LeD) 3Gs,
Apologies:Lisbeth McLean Canolfan a Menter Iaith Merthyr Tudful , Karen Dusgate Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association, Lisa Davies Zoom, Sue Williams Ynysowen Youth and Community Project, Liz Wright Merthyr Tydfil Art Society, Kate Strudwick H4A, Michelle Powell Town and Park Communities First, Anne-Marie Carpenter (Chair), Val Williams Chance Encounters, Lesley Hodgeson Glamorgan Gates, David Jones Yo! Maz, Helen Vincent Valleys Dance.
1. Welcome In Anne-Marie’s absence AH acted as chair and welcomed the group with a round of introductions.
2. Minutes from last meetingAll agreed last minutes as correct, apart form DP who’s apologies were not originally recorded. And JKs name was misspelt.
CL advised the group that The Old Town Hall is included and assessed in the Draft Arts Centre Feasibility Study.
A short discussion continued with some concern that Merthyr is still far from certain to receive this development, with Ebbw Vale also in strong contention to receive the funding for a Heads of The Valleys Regional Arts Centre. General consensus was that both Merthyr and Ebbw Vale have differing strengths but expectation was that the Old Town Hall would possibly not be assessed as the preferred option, as it is probably not big enough to accommodate the recommended scheme. Rather than putting too much emphasis on “possible” findings, CL suggested asking Alun Bond of Artservice to present his findings to the group at the next meeting
Invite Alun Bond to next meeting
3. Terms of Reference
GP had sent the ToR via email with the last minutes to all members and read out the additional point 2x at the meeting. DP proposed that the amendment should be accepted. There was no show of disapproval at the meeting or in response to the e-mail version, therefore the updated version is now agreed.
GP to add the amendment to the public online version
4. Creative Communities
CC will cover 6 local authorities across the valleys.
£3.5m project, plus other funds drawn down from other funds when up and running.
14 Development Officers.
Community Radio developed strategically across the region
KJ Updated the group:
Following discussions with WEFO some targets in the bid have changed. Most notably less “organisations helped” but more “jobs created”, though in practice, through the nature of the sector more organisations will be helped than is stated in the bid to be able to reach the “jobs created” target.
Progress has been made on the £250,000 match funding needed for CC from Communities First
“Culture” has been added as the 7th theme to the demonstrations project of the “Outcomes Fund”, following recommendations from Leighton Andrews. This theme will have links to the other 6.
Some match may be available from the Gwanwyn (over 50s) Festival in May
Approval expected by the end of October / beginning of November.
The project should begin next year, with people in post by January or February, with an initial three year programme.
KL explained that he is aware of other possible bids from Merthyr for the “Outcomes” strand.
KJ clarified that he has spoken to Communities First and even though only one bid into the pot would be accepted from each authority, because CC cover 6 authorities this rule would not apply and would not be seen as a Merthyr bid.
AH Asked for ACMF to be kept up to date and suggested an ACMF subgroup to help direct projects.
5. Public Art Strategy
GP reminded the group that Safle (the new company, merged from Public Art Wales and CBAT) have been commissioned to produce a Heads of the Valleys Public Art Strategy. The finished version has been delayed due to staff turn around at Safle and the chief officer responsible changing. The finished document should be complete soon.
As part of HoVs support for the emerging strategy the region a proposal has been submitted for £500,000 to spend on public art by March 2009. This breaks down for Merthyr into the following strands:
£25k - Community Empowerment Public Art Project, designed to introduce community members into the nature of public art, building up their appreciation and understanding. The project will work with a group from the community to help chose and deliver a public art work along the Trevithick Trail as it passes through the Town Centre
£25k - A Memorial Public Art Project to enhance the transport interchange (train station’s bus stop and taxi rank area)
£20k – Designer Crafts Public Art Project, working with crafts people who don’t usually work on a public art scale. E.G. Applied artists, Jewellery makers, furniture makers, broadening the audience for such artists work.
These initiatives are being rolled out across the region, together with the HoV PA Strategy and a HoV PA Map which covers the whole area.
AL Suggested closer links to York and the Steam Engine Museum. Possibly looking into the possibility of organising the recreated version of Trevithick’s Engine, from Swansea upto York to raise awareness of the Trevithick Trail and other associated locations.
DP Reminded the group that Cornwall was another link via Trevithick.
KJ Pointed out that there would be a Cultural Tourism strand to CC which may be able to contribute to a future project.
AL also suggested opening up Trevithick’s Tunnel
LeD Suggested a possible link with young people, briefly outlining a project he is currently working on with young people and Merthyr heritage.
CL suggested that we begin to revisit the Thought Sheet process and start recording these ideas and begin the process of exploring their possibilities. This process has been useful in helping to inform and direct H4A and for the PA, Lighting and Marquee acquisitions
Agenda Thought Sheets for next meeting
6. Hong Kong Alley
GP updated the group that Town & Park Communities First are leading on a mural project, to paint artwork on the vandalised alley-way between Glamorgan Gates and Nat West Bank. At present Nat West have declined offers for the proposal (their fear seems to be based on the concept that further vandalism will continue but with a focus on anti-Nat West graffiti). Town & Park CF are proceeding with a bid to SRF, concentrating on the Glamorgan Gates side only, hoping that NW will change their mind after seeing the finished designs and a further project can look at the NW side in the future. Workshops will be carried out through young people at the Info Shop and with Glamorgan Gates. The planned artists are the Mobile Arts Project, which has a great deal of experience in the field, working with schools and community projects across south Wales for a number of years.
7. Town Centre Lantern Parade/Cymanfa Ganu
GP reported that he has been involved with a Lantern Procession idea, lead by Town and Park Communities First and Mener Iaith on Wednesday, 3rd December.
The plan is to congregate at Fountain Lower High Street to start, then carol singing with schools (Ysgol Santes Tudful, Caedraw and St Mary’s) and family with Dowlais Male Voice Choir (yet to be confirmed). Then a procession with Welsh Pipers leading to WH Smith. Carol singing with schools and family with Dowlais Male Voice Choir (yet to be confirmed). will continue with a procession with Welsh Pipers leading to Soar Chapel, where there will be a traditional Gymanfa Ganu (Singing Festival) from, where there will be carol singing & Key note speakers. Children will be learning between four and six different carols, half in English, half in Welsh.
Michelle Powell is currently liaising with the community artist around the delivery of the Lantern Making Workshops.
This idea was seen as very positive by the group, who suggested contacting Town Centre Manager, Rhian Prosser to see how this would fit into a Craft or Traditional type market. GP explained that Rhian has been consulted and is supportive but the Lantern procession doesn’t align itself to anything in the Town Centre this year at least but there could be great opportunities for the future.
AH explained that this should tap into the Town Centre Plan.
GP to discuss further possibilities with Town Centre manager.
8. Creative Industries
CL outlined the Creative Industries project, which is a project being built up across the south Wales valleys region, taking a strategic approach to developing the more commercial side of the creative and cultural industries, which while in a state of growth and increasing strength, are still far behind that of English regions. RCT are taking the lead on this development.
DP questioned whether this Creative Industries project was linked to the Creative Industries Hub at WAG?
CL explained that there was no direct link, the two just share a similar title. The discussion moved towards the need for premises and support for small creative businesses. CL explained that the Orbit Centre may be able to provide that but that the units there are very much at a premium and many of the emerging creative businesses would probably need to start elsewhere. It may be that we need to look at the work begun with Taste of Enterprise and take that to phase 2? Arts venues and the Old Town Hall were discussed as possible creative business units etc. CL suggested that this would be another good proposition to record and pursue through the Thought Sheet process.
As projects many of the suggestions made today are major tasks and would need dedicated staff time. CL suggested organising an Ideas Meeting, possibly establishing a working subgroup.
GP/AH organise a date for a subgroup meeting to pursue some of the suggestions made today.
Also Thought Sheets to be on next meeting’s Agenda.
9. Arts Connect
GP informed the group about Arts Connect, which is designed to develop a strategic approach for local authorities to arts services across the south Wales valleys and Monmouthshire. The project has consulted with a number of different partners (ACW, Menter Iaith, Yo! Maz etc) and representatives within the various local authorities, including arts offices, venue managers, practitioners etc.
10. Soar Hall
Lis wasn’t able to make today’s meeting but can update the group at the next ACM Forum.
11. H4A
GP relayed Kate Strudwick’s update: Lantern making workshops for session leaders are about to begin. The lantern-making workshops are a very inclusive and effective way of adding value to local celebrations. At their simplest they could be used to enhance existing events (local carol services, Halloween parties etc) but could also inspire community lantern parades.
The finished lanterns are very attractive but also very durable and easy enough to be made by small children.
GP to forward H4A info together with the minutes
12 AOB
3Gs Media and Arts Centre
LeD informed the group of the latest development at 3Gs, with their Media/Arts Centre, which will be situated in the basement of Bishop Hedley High School. The facilities will be available for all. The project is run by a Management Steering Group as a Community Social Enterprise.
Xmas Lights
AL informed the group that the search is on for a volunteer to switch on the Xmas lights.
13. Next meeting:
TBC (Please see top right of page for meeting dates)
Thanks to support and funding from the Heads4arts project, community volunteers and local teachers have been busy learning how to create lanterns for local community events. The evening was a great success and it is hoped that the skills learnt can be passed on to others in the community. The Young People of Trefechan also benefited from a song writing workshop with a local artist Cheryl Beer and is hoped that this will link into a proposed heads of the valleys festival in the future.
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