News Column

3rd Feb 10

Photography Competition
All photographers across the borough are invited to send in their pictures, on the theme of Merthyr Tydfil Borough Landscapes, to be part of a Photography Competition, contributing to an exhibition in The Canolfan Gymraeg, Pontmorlais on 14th – 19th March. Due to space limitations only those selected by the judges as being the very best images submitted, responding to the theme, will be able to be shown. Entries are also limited to three good quality “jpeg” digital images per person, between 3MB and 10MB in size on CD, DVD or floppy disc. Exhibited images will be printed out on a standard A4 paper size, but the actual image dimensions are open. The deadline for the competition entry is Monday 21st February 2011. The competition is free entry. Entries should be enclosed in an envelope marked “Photography Competition, Arts Development” and sent or handed into the Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN. Please remember to include your contact details. Further info from Gus Payne on 01685 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk

Open Mic Night
Poet and author Phil Knight will be visiting The Imperial Hotel, Pontmorlais next Thursday night, as the invited guest at the monthly Open Mic Night. Local author Mike Jenkins and other contributors will also be present, filling the night with poetry and verse. Born in Neath in 1965, Phil Knight graduated from the Polytechnic of Wales in 1988. He has been active on the far Left from early teens and joined the Anti–Nazi League and the Socialist Workers’ Party in 1993. His poetry comments on a wide range of social and political issues. He believes a knowledge of the past helps in understanding the present. Phil’s poems have been published in The Pen, Linkway, Wire, City Writings, Y Faner Goch, Target, ECTO-1, Quantum Leap, Solizzi and others together with his own publications including “Images of Past and Present - a collection of Poems”, published by Aramby Publishing. Open Mic Nights are free entry, supported by MTCBC Arts Development and Academi. For further information, please contact: 01685 725382 or arts@merthyr.gov.uk.

Land of Song

H4A, Head For Arts, the eastern Heads of the Valleys community arts project run regular sessions in community venues throughout the eastern Heads of the Valleys region. Sessions in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney valleys include: Rhymney Community Choir, who meet on a weekly basis in St David’s Community Centre, Rhymney from January 2011 onwards. The choir is led by Ian Saunders. Reach the Heights - Singing Group meet in Pen-y-Dre Youth Club, Gurnos on Tuesday evenings from 4:30pm until 6:30pm on a weekly basis, led by Ian Saunders, and Reach the Heights – 3Gs choir, led by Gwyn Jones meet on a weekly basis. Harp classes, take place at the Canolfan Gymraeg, Pontmorlais delivered by Elin y Delyn. For further information on H4A activities, please visit www.head4arts.org.uk or contact info@head4arts.org.uk / 01495 357816.

Treharris: Have Your Say!
Next Monday 7th February at 5.00pm - 7.00pm, in the Taff Bargoed Communities First Office, 8 Perrot Street, Treharris, there will be a Community Consultation session where local people can make their voices heard. The participation of local people would be appreciated in the design of a gateway to link Treharris Town Centre and Parc Taf Bargoed. The Gateway theme is Mining Heritage. Anyone with old mining photos and memorabilia is encouraged to bring it along. There will also be refreshments provided. For further information, please contact Taff Bargoed Communities First on 01685 725495.