Merthyr Express column

26th Nov 09
Town Centre Santa and Crafts
Santa, his elves and most importantly his two favourite reindeers will be at Merthyr Tydfil town centre’s Café Quarter Square (off Court Street, at the bottom of the main High Street) from 10am until 4.30pm this Saturday, 28th November. Each child will receive a gift, (while stock lasts), and there will be the opportunity to have your photo taken with Santa (photo’s will be sent out after the event). Tickets cost £3 and are only available on the day. Children should remember to bring along their Christmas list so that Santa knows what they want for Christmas. In addition to Santa there will be a local craft market where you will have the opportunity to purchase locally made arts and crafts that will make wonderful Christmas gifts for all the family.

Cyfarthfa Crafts
Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery will also be hosting a Christmas Craft Fair this Saturday, 28th November 2009. Why not come along to this free event and find the perfect present at the Christmas Craft Fair, which will be running from 10.30am until 3.00pm. For more information please call 01685 723112.


Music and Light
Next Wednesday, 2nd December 2009 Merthyr Tydfil town centre will be playing host to a free entertainment evening: Nos Wen / White Night, an evening of music, light and celebration starting at 5pm outside the Civic Centre with tin whistles players Chwibanoglau Pontmorlais, then a modern twist on traditional Christmas music with the band Daughters from Merthyr’s Rock Church. Then carols and a procession of light with Welsh Pipers leading to the town centre where there will be more carol singing with schools and family. The Welsh Pipers will then continue to lead the procession to the Lucy Thomas Fountain at the bottom of the town centre where there will be more music from the tin whistles and carol singing, ending the procedings with a bang courtesy of three Merthyr Tydfil bands; The Epaulettes, Radio Cymru favorites Y Betti Galws and Merthyr’s favourite hard rockers Celtic Pride. To finish the night The Crown Inn will also be hosting a night of live folk music.

Poems and Pints
Poems and pints with Sheenagh Pugh and others at an Open Mike Night in The Imperial Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil next Thursday, 3rd December 2009, at 7.30pm. Poet, translator, novelist and critic Sheenagh Pugh has published more than ten collections of verse and verse translations, as well as two novels. She won a number of prestigious prizes, including the Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem in 1998, the Welsh Arts Council’s Poem for Today Competition in 1987 and the Cardiff International Poetry Competition in both 1988 and 1994. Open Mike Nights are free entry events supported by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Academi. For further information please contact: (01685) 725382 or email arts@merthyr.gov.uk.

Funky Youth Choir
Scene and Heard is a funky new youth choir for the upper Rhymney valley at the Pontlottyn Boys and Girls Club. £1 a session, contact Ann Lang on 01865 844039 for further information.

Welsh Quiz Night
Cymdeithas Gymraeg Soar present a Quiz Night - Open to all Welsh speakers and higher level learners on Tuesday 1st December at 7.30pm at The Ganolfan Gymraeg Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8UB. Entry is £2, with light refreshments also available. For further information contact 01685 722176.

Rembrandt Painting
A special loan of Rembrandt van Rijn’s (1606-1669) Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet from Penrhyn Castle will be on show at National Museum, Cardiff alongside original etchings and Netherlandish portraits from National Museum Wales’s own collection. Museum visitors will be given the opportunity to enjoy the Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet (1607-1685) for free until 21st March 2010, when it will return to Penrhyn Castle near Bangor – its home since the 1860s. The portrait of the wealthy Amsterdam lady, painted in 1657 is an example of Rembrandt’s outstanding talent for painting characters, not just faces. It demonstrates his ability to combine fine detail, blurred impressions and dramatic effects of light and shade. During the 1650s, Rembrandt was the most celebrated artist in Amsterdam. Today, he’s recognised as one of the most important figures in the history of art and his work continues to inspire artists across the globe.