With funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Gwendreath Arts Lab developed a Community Arts Project in collaboration with the trustees of Kidwelly Industrial Museum entitled ‘Drawing on the Past’. This art project comprised of three Sketchbook Walks in the Kidwelly area, which was freely available to all capabilities and ages, and concentrated on the Industrial Heritage of the Kidwelly area. These Sketchbook Walks took place in:
- The Castle Walk to Kidwelly Castle
- Kidwelly Quay
- Kidwelly Industrial Museum (including a tour)
The participant-submitted sketches from these events were collated and developed into a design for a Mural Painting event at the Kidwelly Industrial Museum.
The Mural was painted on the Reception Block of the Museum by members of the public and supported and guided by the four artists from the Gwendraeth Arts Lab: Roz Moreton, Lucy Donald, Siân Barlow and Lindsey Witcombe. In addition, there was a ‘Kidwelly Black Cat Trail’ that had been specifically created for the younger ‘artists’.
All this planning and hard work culminated in a participant collective art show, which was held in a single-story factory building on the museum site. This exhibition of art was a representation of the magnificent work that had been produced over the previous two sketchbook walks in Kidwelly and at the Industrial Museum.
Gwendreath Arts Lab – statement:
We collaborate with Others to develop and manage arts events, workshops and community projects.
We were involved in: Open experimentation – mark-making, diverse arts media; connecting to one-another, our environment and heritage.
Our projects include:
- Sketchbook walks in Kidwelly, Burry Port and the Gwendraeth Valley.
- On-line drawing sessions (via Zoom) through lockdown.
- Heritage sketchbook walks in Kidwelly, and a community mural at the Kidwelly Industrial Museum.
- Community print-making workshops.
Our aim is to be wholly inclusive. Engage with community groups and individuals from all backgrounds and abilities. All levels of creativity are truly valued; everyone is welcome from complete novice to professional artist.
What participants have said about the Gwendraeth Arts Lab:
“It is good to be reminded of what creativity, community and a collective artistic effort can achieve, in terms of sustenance for souls, confidence building in the future, and personal development”.
“It’s so truly creative, it’s life -affirming and joyful to use colour, texture, and marks for conveying not just things as they are, but to convey pleasure, fun, and an uplifting mood”.
The ‘Drawing on the Past’ project was supported by the Big Lottery Fund, The Kidwelly Industrial Museum and on the Mural Painting Day by Caffi Iechyd Da, who provided a community picnic for the event also a FREE Bus from Kidwelly Town centre courtesy of Burns Pet Food.
30th July 2017
28th August 2017
