Merthyr Express column

23 Oct 08
Book Available Now
The new Merthyr Tydfil short stories and poetry book is here. The official launch and Open Mike Night will take place tonight (Thursday 23rd October) at the Imperial Hotel, with the official publication date tomorrow (24th October). The book, which features 26 authors, including Des Barry, Mike Jenkins, Anthony Bunko, Phil Carradice, Jenny Henn, Mike Williams and many more, will be available through various outlets including Merthyr Libraries and The Welsh Books Council website http://www.gwales.com/. For further information please contact Gus Payne at the column details.

Halloween Workshop
From 28th October until 31st October Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery will be running Spookz, a Halloween themed drop-in workshop at 10.30am -12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm. Spookz is free of charge. For more information call Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery on 01685 723112 or email museum@merthyr.gov.uk

Welsh Authors
South Wales Literature presents an evening of readings & discussions with Carol Ann Duffy and Merthyr’s Mike Jenkins on Friday 24th October, at Abertridwr Library, Aberfawr Road, CF83 4EJ at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be available, all welcome. For further information contact: 02920 830790

New Art Mag
Wales’ newest art magazine is now available. WelshArtNow features art that has a Welsh connection. The aim of the magazine is to increase awareness and understanding of Welsh art and get more people talking about it. WAN will feature a diverse range of art, you might not like some of it or even recognize it as being art, but by engaging with the magazine you may feel more confident to express and form an opinion one way or the other. WAN will also serve as a platform for new art. Artists will be challenged to produce new art specific to a magazine format. A readable art magazine delivered with a bit of kick; intended for all and engaging with the here and now. Issue 1 focuses on drawing with a four page article about Merthyr artist Michael G Payne, plus contributions from Brian Jones, Heike Roms, Katheryn Dodd, Zaeger Jones and Neale Howells among others. WAN would like to hear from anyone interested in contributing ideas/art/writing/science/or other for future issues. Issue 2 is going green and will be talking about art/ecology/green issues. Send a brief email description to - editor@welshartnow.co.uk. For further information visit www.welshartnow.co.uk or contact WAN, 61 Preston Avenue, Newport, NP20 4JD.

Merthyr Artist
An item on the work of Michael G Payne will be featured on S4C's Arts Programme Y Sioe Gelf, which is scheduled for broadcast at 9.30pm, next Wednesday, 29th October. The item will also be available for a week online at www.s4c.co.uk/clic. Go to A-Z programmes to find Y Sioe Gelf. (English subtitles available online and on TV via the red button or teletext).