Meeting/Cyfarfod 07/10/09

MERTHYR TYDFIL ARTS CULTURE & MEDIA FORUM FFORWM Y CELFYDDYDAU, DIWYLLIANT A’R CYFRYNGAU

Steering Group / Grŵp Llywio
4.00pm, Wednesday, 7th October 2009
4.00yh, Dydd Mercher, 7fed o Hydref 2009 VAMT

Present: Gus Payne – Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (GP), Alison Harris – VAMT (AH), Lis McLean (LM), Michelle Powell (MP), Carla Reynolds – Art and Enterprise (CR), Ken Long - Communities First (KL), Andrew Rowlands – Credit Union (AR) & Kate Strudwick - H4A (KS).

1. Welcome

Apologies received from; Anne-Marie Carpenter, Lee Davies – 3Gs, Sally McIntyre - Communities First, Lesley Hodgson - Glamorgan Gates, David Jones - Yo! Maz.

2. Minutes from last meeting

All agreed last minutes as correct.
Creative Communities: LM asked if this is still a possibility. GP and MP reported that nobody had heard anything from the lead in RCT since before last meeting. The issues around match funding appear to make CC as a cross boarder initiative unlikeley. GP to ask Chris Long what the position is on a possible Merthyr Tydfil application to the Outcomes fund.

3. ACMF Chair

Agreed AH to assume Chair duties (GP to take minutes)

4. ACMF main meeting format and date.
Date: 15th April 2010, 6 – 8pm
Possible venues: Myfanwy Theatre, Afon Taff School
Action: GP to make enquiries

The event is designed to promote partnership work and highlight the good work done over the year. Partners to forward information in an article format to GP for compiling.
Action: Members to forward a short article (A4 and maybe a picture) on relevant successes since April 09 to GP.
It was also suggested to put a programme together of ongoing activities (workshops etc)

Performances were agreed to be predominantly from local groups. Suggestions: Merthyr’s Got Talent and W Factor finalists, Credit Union film (drama based), WNO local projects.
Also including new groups we may not be familiar with: Bontnewydd Entertainers.
Action: GP to contact Rachel Roberts in Bedlinog. Re: Bontnewydd Entertainers.
There may also be a little section to highlight the Open Mike Nights at the Imp

Talks: The evening could also include information on funding opportunities.
Action: Members to share suggestions, GP to contact Night Out
H4A to present some information. Maybe something around thier work for the National Eisteddfod.

LM suggested Phyl Griffiths as a compare. All agreed Phyl would be a good choice as he has a good relaxed temprament and would be able to present bilingually
If Night Out do give a presentation it would be good to have the mix of those who use NO and those who may use NO in the future
Could also include stands from various groups (H4A, Global Village etc.)

5. Updates

• KL advised the group that there is no longer a Communities First Arts Trust Fund but there is still a broader Communities First Trust fund, which groups can apply to for arts projects.
• LM: The Ganolfan are putting together a heritage and culture film covering four RDP areas in Merthyr Tydfil.
• H4A have been helping some groups with project management, which seems to be a good way of increasing sustainability as the funds and manpower are already in place but H4A lead on the project management side of things, allowing a particular group to gain confidence and experience of project management along the way.
• KS: the H4A Fflach/Flash project is very busy, putting together a regional eisteddfod community play, to be performed at next year’s National Eisteddfod site in Ebbw Vale, the day before the Nat. Eist. The bilingual project will include four exhibitions/performances. The project has been using beatbox workshops recently and has been active in Merthyr Tydfil at Sandbrooke House, Glamorgan Gates, Dowlais Engine House, using people’s stories and ideas. The Merthyr Tydfil performance will be on 28th November at 2.30pm in Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.
• H4A and YoMaz have been sucessful in their Reach The Heights application. YoMaz can now work much more coherantly along side H4A across the eastern Heads Of the Valleys, working with 14 – 19 NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
• H4A are also re-running their Carnival Arts Training programme, which offers to provide a proffessional artist to work with teachers and community leaders etc. so that they can then pass on the skill to their groups.
  Action: KS to forward an electroniv version of the handout for email circulation.
• H4A staff have all begun learnig (or brushing up on their) Welsh language skills.
• GP: The writing squads have just had an anthology of their work printed, to be published on 28th October, with BBC Wales’ Roy Noble Show featuring two young writers reading their work from the book on air for National Poetry Day and Cwmni Da showing keen interest in making a short feature to be shown on S4C’s arts programme, Sioe Gelf.
• LM: The Canolfan’s young drama group, with Einir Sion (Fflach/Flash) have been doing Radio DJ workshops at S4C. The project includes a drama group performance to be shown at schools; Santes Tudful, Rhydygrug and Rhydywaun. It was very well received in the first school. The other two still to come.
• LM: Youth Gig at the Canolfan: 1st November
• MP: the next Lantern procession in the town centre looks set to be even bigger and better than last year. Meet at Lucy Fountain 6pm, 2nd December, for family fun, choirs, live bands (Celtic Pride, Betti Galws, Daughters) and more.
• LM: The Soar project now has all funding in place for the structural work but need to focus on the next task of securing revenue funding, possibly as a social enterprise. Some funding in place for a Heritage officer, who would use the arts.

8. AOB
AR: Credit Union are making a film, which could include animation, to be available on DVD. They have applied to the Communities First Trust Fund and the Big Lottery and have secured some resources via Glamorgan Gates.
The film will be to promote financial inclusion, with tips on financial management and combating bad debt.
They are looking for stories which could be annonymous (if need be).

9. Next Steering Group meeting: 10th December 2009