Merthyr Express column

23rd Dec 10

2011 Calendar

Next year’s Merthyr Tydfil Calendar celebrates some of the creative talents of the borough, using the theme Poems and Pictures, featuring the work of some of the many Merthyr Tydfil artists and poets, including poetry by the award winning author Mike Jenkins, novelist, biographer and poet Anthony Bunko, Maggie Pryce Jones, Margaret Lloyd and Bernard Harrington, together with a host of other worthy poets. The images come courtesy of, amoung others, celebrated artists Robert Alwyn Hughes and Ron Jones, illustrating the strong bond both artists still have with the place where they spent their formative years (Dowlais and Aberfan respectivley), plus the work of many other painters, photographers and an embroiderer all of whom give us a colourful picture of Merthyr Tydfil borough over the years. The 2011 calendar is available now for £2.95 from central library.
(Image: The Swing, Aberfan by Ron Jones)

Head For Arts
Head For Arts, the eastern heads of the valleys community arts organisation are currently holding Welsh Harp classes taking place at the Canolfan Gymraeg delivered by Elin y Delyn, a Singing Group in Pen-y-Dre Youth Club through the Reach the Heights programme on Tuesday evenings from 4:30pm until 6:30pm on a weekly basis, led by Ian Saunders, and the 3Gs choir, also through the Reach the Heights programme, led by Gwyn Jones. The choir will be meeting on a weekly basis from December 2010 onwards. for more information on Head For Arts activities and events through out the eastern heads of the valleys (Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and north Caerphilly and Torfaen County Boroughs) email info@head4arts.org.uk, phone 01495 357816 or visit www.head4arts.org.uk.

Go Get StARTed
Go Get Started is an opportunity for emerging visual artists to exhibit across Wales. Submissions are invited from artists aged from 11 to 17 and 18 to 30 years old, who identify as a disabled or deaf person, or have special educational needs, or other access requirement and live in Wales. A panel of judges will choose the final pieces of work that will become a part of this exciting art project. There is no set theme and the closing date is 31st January 2011. Please send a copy or scanned image or photograph of the art work initially. For details of how to enter contact Project officer, Kate Hampton via email at kate@dacymru.com or post@dacymru.com or call her on 02920 551 040. Or search on Facebook for Go Get StARTed (for the English page or search Cychwyn Celf! if you’d prefer the Welsh version). Whose Flame is it Anyway is part of Power of the Flame, funded by Legacy Trust UK, managed by Arts Council of Wales and delivered by Disability Arts Cymru

Merthyr AloudMerthyr Aloud meets every Thursday from 1-3 pm (during term time). No experience is necessary, everyone is welcome to a warm and friendly atmosphere where songs from different musical traditions are taught by ear. For more details, please contact Natural Voice Practitioner Heather Murray on 01443 690289.