Free and Participative Activity at Wales Millennium · PDF file ·...

2010/2011 Annual ReviewFree and Participative Activity at Wales Millennium Centre

Contents1. Foreword from Mark Taylor,

Chief Executive, Wales Millennium Centre2. Resident Organisations3. Facts & Figures4. Sponsors and Supporters5. Meet the team

Activity Overview Educational Programmes

6. Project 217. Tours & Talks8. School Competitions9. Learning Weeks10. Curtain Raiser11. Roald Dahl Revolting Rhymes Project12. Lingo Ni13. Commonwealth Cultural Day14. Breakin’ Stereotypes15. Show Linked Workshops

Lifelong Programmes

16. Bang!17. John Lewis staff performance18. Family Days19. Talks20. Glanfa Stage21. Visual Arts22. Chinese New Year23. Breakin’ the Bay24. The Big Draw25. Public Workshops26. Pre-School Music27. Mini Make & Do28. Open Weekend29. Half Term Workshops30. European Day of Languages31. Demo32. Dance Days and Tea Dances33. Commuter Classes34. Criw Cymru35. Dathlu Calan Mai36. Blysh37. Unity Festival38. Gwanwyn Festival39. Black History Month

Virtual Engagement

40. Wondermart41. Learning Packs

Emerging Artists / Professional Development

42. Incubator Project43. Christmas Fair44. Weston Studio School Projects45. Young Company46. Teacher Training48. Internships

Education Networking49. Continued Professional Development50. Associate Companies

From the outset, when Wales Millennium Centre opened in 2004, one of our principal objectives has always been to be a place for people of all ages, backgrounds and experience to learn about and participate in the arts; a place where there are no barriers to participation.

Our eight resident companies - Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, National Dance Company Wales, Literature Wales, Ty Cerdd, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Hijinx Theatre and Touch Trust – also share our vision. Our combined activities for learning and participation probably make it one of the most ambitious and far reaching programmes of its kind in the UK.

In this booklet we highlight some project case studies which give you an overview of the breadth of activities we undertook in 2010 aimed at all ages, from 0 -100. Some of these were collaborations with our resident companies, demonstrating how Wales Millennium Centre is greater than the sum of its parts. The most striking thing is the geographic reach of this activity, especially amongst schoolchildren and young people across Wales, from north to south, west to east.

The Centre is a true furnace of creativity. Last year alone over 16,000 people took part in Learning and Participation projects, and more than 12,500 school children were engaged in arts activity, including performances and workshops. A little known fact is that 55,000 children from all parts of Wales have also stayed at the Urdd City Sleepover within the Centre since opening.

Wales already punches well above its weight in the performing arts field, and we want to ensure that the momentum is maintained by nurturing the talent of the future, through our Emerging Artists programme, as well as Incubator and Inc’ling. Nearly 3,000 young artists performed on the Centre’s Glanfa Stage in 2010: We want to make sure that this will always be an aspirational platform for all of Wales’ emerging talent.

For the future we also intend to expand our outreach activity, using digital technology as well as developing more collaborative projects with our resident companies, supporting the strategic priorities of the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Government for Arts and Young People. We are keen to hear from you – so if you have any ideas at all please feed them in to the team, all identified in this publication.

Mark Taylor, Chief Executive

Foreword

029 2063 6464

Wales Millennium Centre is home to:

Literature WalesThe National Company for developing literature in Wales

National Dance Company WalesA contemporary icon for Wales

Hijinx TheatreTheatre on your doorstep

Touch TrustThe Art of Movement for Health and Happiness

Ty CerddThe music of Wales to the world

Urdd Gobaith CymruWales’ leading youth organisation

Welsh National OperaA world-class opera company, recognised both in the UK and internationally for its artistic excellence

BBC National Orchestra of WalesExciting, compelling, inspiring

Resident OrganisationsWith eight resident companies Wales Millennium Centre is a true furnace of creativity, providing a focus for the cultural aspirations of our nation. The Centre also aims to attract the best of the world to Wales as well as presenting the best of Wales to the world.

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2010/11

• Morethan16,000peopletookpartinlearningandparticipationactivity

• Weenabled14newproductions

• 40schoolsworkshopstookplaceeitherattheCentreoroutatschools.

• Almost90lifelongactivitiestookplacebothattheCentre,aroundWalesandonline

• Some66workshopslinkedtoDonaldGordonTheatreandWestonStudioperformancestookplaceatthe Centre and around Wales.

• TheCentreheld5projectsworkingdirectlywiththelocalcommunityinCardiff

• TheCentreheld450freeperformancesontheGlanfaStagewhichwereattendedby40,000people

Almost 8000 school children from 203 different schools attended performances in the Centre’s theatres.

The map shows the location of each of the schools.

Additionally nearly 6000 children came for a tour, a talk, or a specific schools workshop.

Some 80 teachers from across West Wales, Cardiff and the Valleys participated in teacher training days at the Centre.

We undertook more than 60 activities outside the Centre involving 1980 participants.

Some 280 young people have participated in our Criw Cymru project. Community events have been held in Caernarfon, Brecon, Swansea, Newquay and Hereford amongst others, as well as the 2010 National Urdd Eisteddfod in Llanerchaeron.

Prosiect 21 progressed into its second year with Cefyn Burgess leading workshops in Communities First areas in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, Merthyr Tydfil, Ystradgynlais and Barmouth.

More than 1000 people participated in Rock Learning Week and a further 1200 attended performances.

Facts & Figures

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Meet the team Louise Miles-Crust Artistic Programme Manager

Louise has responsibility for the Artistic Programming of the Arts and Audience Development department. This includes programming in the Donald Gordon Theatre, with a particular emphasis on the artistic side; the secondary strand of programming in the Weston Studio; Glanfa Stage and other non-performance areas; learning and participation; visual arts and the development of projects that contribute to the Centre’s ambition to work with international, UK and Welsh artists in the production of new work. Louise leads on the Square Mile project, associate companies, the creation of new work, Gwanwyn Festival, the Open Weekend and the Unity Festival.

[email protected] / 029 2063 4631

Sarah Pellow Learning & Participation Manager

Sarah is responsible for delivering the Learning and Participation strategy; developing educational programmes and lifelong learning opportunities; developing virtual programmes and professional development opportunities.


Jane Collins / Aaron Parsons Learning& Participation Officer

Jane and Aaron are responsible for the delivery of a range of learning and participation initiatives for all ages from 0-100 plus. This includes designing activities to complement the Donald Gordon Theatre programme, working with the Centre’s resident companies to co-ordinate joint projects, encouraging new audiences and developing existing audiences to free and ticketed events.

[email protected] / 029 2063 4674 [email protected] / 029 2063 4674

Gareth Lloyd Roberts Producer

Gareth has responsibility for supporting the cultural and audience development ambitions of Wales Millennium Centre. Gareth’s role includes programming the artistic schedule across the Centre’s platforms, project management of large events and the development of projects that contribute to the Centre’s ambitions to work with international, UK and Welsh artists in the production of new work.


Rob Ashelford Associate Producer

Rob is responsible for programming the Glanfa Stage, Talks and Exhibitions, as well as producing the annual Breakin’ the Bay festival and other one-off projects and events.


Simon Coates Associate Producer

Simon looks after selected performances in the Weston Studio and on the Glanfa Stage, and projects such as family days, Incubator, insight events, the Christmas Fayre and Black History Month.


Sponsors and SupportersWales Millennium Centre would like to thank the following organisations and individuals for their support:

Founding Patron Sir Donald GordonThe Chairman’s CircleSir David Davies Dame Vivien Duffield DBE Diane & Henry Engelhardt Sir David Prosser The Lord and Lady Rowe-Beddoe The Turner Family1 AnonymousSpecial SupportPeter & Babs Thomas David Seligman OBE & Philippa SeligmanPromise Platinum MembersMr David & Mrs Diana Andrews Dr Carol Bell Mary & David Beynon Andrea & John Bryant Sir Michael Checkland Mr Hugh Child & Ms Gwenda Griffith Sir Alan Cox CBE & Lady Rosamund Cox Mr Peter & Mrs Janet Davies Mr Christian Du Cann Mr P Ellis & Mrs V Wood Sigi & Wynford Evans CBE Roger & Julie Gambarini Dr Grahame Guilford J Gwillim-David Russell Harris Q.C. & Mrs Nicola Harris Gerald & Edith Holtham Mr Ray Hulland & Miss Nicola Hulland

Dyfrig & Heather John Mr & Mrs Granville & Sheila John Robert & Philippa John Mr & Mrs William R Jones Mr Hopkin Joseph Dr Harryono & Mrs Susan Judodihardjo Dr Phillip Lane Dr & Mrs Richard Logan Mr Robert & Mrs Samantha Maskrey Dr Darren Owakee Mr Ian Parfitt Mathew & Lucy Prichard Mr & Mrs Colin & Patricia Rowland Julienne Damaris Rowlands Miss Jackie Thomas 3 Anonymous Promise Gold MembersCheryl Beach John Clissett Paul Cornelius Davies Luke & Rachel Fletcher Jonathan Gough Mr Bart & Mrs Patricia Haines Mr Richard Hoyle Anna Ingledew Jane Jenkins Dafydd Bowen Lewis Mrs Eirlys Pritchard-Jones Paul Rothwell Miss Kerys Sheppard Ronald G Skuse Brian & Gay Tarr

Amanda Spielman Andy Thomas Mr Dyfrig Thomas The Turner Family Mr Huw Williams 8 Anonymous Trusts Angus Allnatt Charitable Foundation Arts Council of Wales Greggs Foundation Gwynedd Council Welsh Church Fund Ironmongers’ Company Jenour Foundation Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation Simon Gibson Charitable Trust Swansea Welsh Church Act Fund The Boshier-Hinton Foundation The Concertina Charitable Trust The David Solomons Charitable Trust The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust The Eranda Foundation The G C Gibson Charitable Settlement The Joanies Trust The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust The Paravicini Dyer Charitable Trust The Thistle Trust The Thomas Howell’s Education Fund for North Wales Welsh Livery Guild

Leading Corporate Members

Principal Corporate Members

Trusts

Founding Partners

Special Support

Partners

UNITY THEATRE TRUST

Supporting Corporate Members

99 Years of Quality Printing

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After creating the Siwrnai sculpture with Ann Catrin Evans in 2009 which now hangs in Glanfa. Project 21 continued in 2010, working with the same pupils (now aged six/seven) in seven schools across Wales. Welsh textile artist Cefyn Burgess led workshops in each school to produce a Welsh tapestry inspired by the children’s local area. Every child designed and made a postcard-sized individual tapestry using Welsh materials and different sewing and embellishing machines.

Cefyn sewed each tapestry onto a Welsh blanket to create an overall piece of art that was unveiled at school assemblies, hung in the Centre for six weeks then returned to each school where they will be permanently housed.

This project was supported by Gwynedd Welsh Church Fund and Thomas Howell’s Education Fund for North Wales.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 184

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Bangor, Barmouth, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merthyr Tydfil, Ystradgynlais, Swansea & Cardiff

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 2 days in-school workshops plus assembly (annual project)

TARGET GROUP Primary Schools in Communities First areas

PROJECT LEAD Jane Collins Cefyn Burgess

Project 21 Educational Programmes

The Centre has committed to offer an arts project to the same children each year until they reach the age of 21.

“ Through Project 21 so far, children who may not shine academically have stood out and more importantly have noticed their own success… this work develops their confidence and flare. Project 21 has given pupils at Glancegin, Bangor a second great artistic opportunity and they were absolutely thrilled to be involved. A special place has been selected in the school for the quilt to be displayed and it will be another example of our pride in our locality and in the talent of our youngsters.”

Bethan Morris-Jones, Head Teacher

Tour & Talks visits remain popular with visitors and audiences at the Centre and are useful in aiding studies for NVQ and University courses in particular. Annual repeat bookings are common with education groups.

The Centre conducts a number of backstage tours of the Centre combined with a talk on any area at the Centre from a specialist member of staff. Talks are tailored to meet each individual group’s needs and to address particular questions and objectives within fields such as marketing, events, ICT and sustainability.

We have provided talks for hundreds of Welsh Baccalaureate students across Wales, including Cardiff High School, Ysgol Gyfun Penweddig and Ysgol Bro Gwaun. These talks raise awareness of the Centre’s contribution to Welsh culture and our status as a top venue for international visiting companies.

Guided Tours are sponsored by Capita Symonds.


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA South and mid Wales, Birmingham, Plymouth

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 26 group visits

TARGET GROUP Open to all

PROJECT LEAD Aaron Parsons

Tour & TalksEducational Programmes

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Plans are underway to programme a competition linked to each Learning Week, making the brief as varied as possible and offering a variety of prizes. The intention is for these competitions to always be achievable within class time, teacher-led and creative.

“ We’re totally blown away! The quality of the entries is just incredible and we’re having a lovely time judging them! We’re not quite sure how to judge a winner from all of them”

Kirsty Woodfield, Stage Management, Hairspray

The Centre has held a number of competitions inviting schools across Wales to participate during class time. Prizes varied from bringing the winning class to the Centre to see a show to taking a workshop out to the school.

Highlights include:

Hairspray – Design a costume for a character within the show (won by Bryn Deva Primary School, Flintshire)

Swan Lake on Ice – Write a review of a family or school trip (won by Sully Primary School, Cardiff)

We Will Rock You – Design an outfit for a Welsh rock star (won by Kymin View Primary, Monmouth)


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Wales-wide

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 3 competitions

TARGET GROUP Primary

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow

Schools CompetitionsEducational Programmes

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Learning Weeks have been introduced into the programme this year with the intention of establishing regular activity within the school calendar. One learning week will be programmed each academic term, each focusing on a different theme or art form and packed with as much activity as possible for schools and the public.

Rock Learning Week took place in March 2011 to coincide with performances of We Will Rock You. It offered workshops based on the curriculum, an interactive schools concert, competitions, dance days, pre-school music with a rock theme, talks and many more activities.

Learning Weeks are supported by Lloyds TSB

Schools which took part: Ysgol Pencae (Cardiff); Ysgol Treganna (Cardiff); St Paul’s Church in Wales Primary (Cardiff); Ysgol Mynydd Bychan (Cardiff); Heronsbridge Special School (Bridgend); St Helen’s RC Junior (Barry); St David’s Church in Wales (Cardiff); Llanedeyrn Primary School (Cardiff); Stepaside County Primary (Ceredigion); Pentyrch Primary (Cardiff); Kymin Primary School (Monmouth); Stanwell School (Penarth); Michaelston Community College (Cardiff); Ysgol Parc Y Llan (Treuddyn).

Dance Learning Week will take place in June 2011, followed by another Learning Week in December 2011. For 2012 we intend to base one of the three Learning Weeks each year in a different part of Wales to focus on outreach activity and establish relationships in different regions.


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA South Wales mainly (see below)

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 Week

TARGET GROUP Schools and public

PROJECT LEAD Jane Collins

Learning Weeks Educational Programmes

“ All pupils were able to take a full part in the workshop, they enjoyed the experience and had an end product to take home!! Dylan worked particularly well with a range of pupils with SEN” Claire Williams, Head of Music, Heronsbridge Special School

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Plans for a similar curtain raiser project are in place, working with the education wing of Matthew Bourne, New Adventures and John Beddoes School in Powys on a project for Autumn 2011.

A week of in-school dance workshops took place in two schools. Participating pupils, ranging in age, devised a short curtain raiser performance using the Glanfa Stage as a site-specific space. The piece was performed in front of a few hundred members of the public ahead of a NDCWales’ performance in the Donald Gordon Theatre. During their visit the pupils attended rehearsals of NDCWales and experienced a backstage tour as well as benefiting from the performance outcome.

In partnership with National Dance Company Wales

This project was supported by D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and Unity Theatre Trust


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Caernarfon & Powys

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 13 workshops (one-off project)

TARGET GROUP Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle & Llanfyllin High School

PROJECT LEAD Sarah PellowPhil Williams & Suzie Firth

Curtain Raiser Educational Programmes

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A one-off primary school project which ran from Jan 2011 to Mar 2011. Key stage 2 pupils wrote, illustrated and composed music for their own Revolting Rhymes. The Rhymes were written in Welsh or English and performed on the Glanfa Stage during World Book Day.

The Centre worked in partnership with Academi, Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

This project was supported by KPMG.

A successful collaborative educational project developing music, art, literature and performance skills. The combination of University students and professional artists worked particularly well.


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Cardiff

LANGUAGE Bilingual


TARGET GROUP Ysgol Pwll Coch & Mount Stuart Primary School

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow & Faye Gibson

Roald Dahl Revolting Rhymes Project Educational Programmes

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In future, the project will extend to both Primary and Secondary schools, increasing the number of pupils taking part each year. Initially the project will run in and around the Cardiff area and then expand year on year to incorporate schools across Wales.

The event will always culminate with a performance on St David’s Day which allows the pupils an opportunity to present their new skills to friends, family and the wider community.

“ The project engaged all children in the activities, which were new and exciting for them; good use of Welsh incorporated into activities”

Sarah Francis, Teacher Albert Primary School, Penarth

“ The children responded well to the use of Welsh language through fun activities, and thoroughly enjoyed performing on the Glanfa stage”

Jo Campbell, Teacher Albert Primary School, Penarth

Lingo Ni targets English medium schools in Wales where teachers are keen to focus on improving Welsh language skills. The project inspires children to learn Welsh words and phrases through taking part in fun activities led by bilingual facilitators.

In 2011 we worked with pupils at Albert Primary School, Penarth, holding circus and dance workshops at their school. The pupils were then invited to the Centre on St David’s Day to take a Welsh Learners Tour and to perform on the Glanfa Stage. The families of the children involved were invited to watch and take part in their performance.



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day in-school (annual project)

TARGET GROUP Albert Primary

PROJECT LEAD Jane Collins Jên Angharad & Rhian Halford

Lingo Ni: Welsh Language Skills ProjectEducational Programmes

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Wales hosted the Commonwealth Conference for the first time in March 2011. Cardiff County Council arranged events around Cardiff for delegates from the 54 Commonwealth countries to attend throughout the week.

As part of this, the Centre held a Cultural Day with Cardiff County Council to celebrate youth and cultural diversity. The day itself consisted of workshops, performances, displays and demonstrations involving pupils from 16 schools across Cardiff.

Projects were also run by Cardiff County Council’s Schools Improvement Advisors leading up to the day and involved the creation of digital banners to hang at the Centre.

This event was to mark a particular occasion and there are no current plans to replicate this.



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day (one-off project)

TARGET GROUP Primary & Secondary schools


Commonwealth Cultural Day Educational Programmes

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The Breakin’ Stereotypes project was a joint project between Wales Millennium Centre and Capita Symonds, one of our main sponsors, to provide a day of learning activities and introduce new skills.

Participants experienced a backstage tour, demonstration, breakin’ workshop and an animated talk by the Centre’s engineers and architects. Year 10 pupils from Cyfarthfa High and Bishop Hedley High in Merthyr Tydfil and Maesteg Comprehensive in Bridgend were then able to find out more about engineering and architecture by experts in both fields. This project was supported by Capita Symonds.

“ We really value the opportunity for our pupils to visit the Centre and experience working with professionals like this”

Emma O’Keefe, Teacher Bishop Hedley High, Merthyr

“ All pupils have engaged with the activities – not always easy with boys and dance!” Head of PE, Maesteg Comprehensive


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Merthyr Tydfil & Bridgend

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day (one-off project)

TARGET GROUP Secondary Schools

PROJECT LEAD Jane CollinsElemental Force

Breakin’ StereotypesEducational Programmes

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Most visiting companies are approached to consider offering participatory activity.

* Figures do not include activities counted elsewhere in this report such as those in Learning Weeks, NDCWales curtain raiser project, commuter classes or professional development.

The Centre has held a number of one-off workshops, linked to shows in either the Donald Gordon Theatre or Weston Studio performance spaces.

They are usually delivered by the visiting company, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Birmingham Royal Ballet; Deborah Colker; Bombastic; Funnybones; Les Enfants Terribles & Pins and Needles Productions; Shakespeare Schools Festival; Idiots of Ants; The Snowman; Earthfall; Fuel; Scottish Ballet; and 5 Soldiers.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 681*

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA South East Wales

LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 22* workshops

TARGET GROUP Schools & General Public

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow, Jane Collins & Aaron Parsons

Show Linked workshops Educational / Lifelong Programmes

“ Hi there, I just wanted to pass a bit of feedback your way about the Idiots of Ants workshop on Sat 23rd Oct. Absolutely excellent - a pleasure, and the boys were professional and fantastic. Please book again, I’ll bring friends!!”

Rick Allden, Participant

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All our resident companies are invited to contribute to Bang! A theme is taken from the show running in the Donald Gordon Theatre at the time and Bang! participants also go to watch this show. Participants experience a series of workshops led by professionals from a range of performing arts genres who work creatively with the young people to develop a final sharing / performance which takes place on the Glanfa Stage. Additional activities include a backstage tour of the Centre and evening social activities.

Bang! is a residential performing arts summer school held at the Urdd City Sleepover, situated within the Centre. Participants aged 11-15 years are invited to take part in a week of activities during the summer holidays. There is an English- and Welsh-Language course each year and participants often return to take part the following year.


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Wales-wide

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 2 weeks (annual project)

TARGET GROUP Ages 11-15 yrs

PROJECT LEAD Jane Collins

Bang! Performing Arts Summer SchoolLifelong Programmes

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Bang! will continue to be an annual collaborative event taking its shape from the combination of resident companies involved in any given year.

“ Ces i brofiad gwych eto eleni ar gwrs Bang! a mwynhau’r holl brofiad yn fawr iawn. Roedd gen i un ffrind o Gaerfyrddin yn dod gyda fi a ffrind a gyfarfyddais ar y cwrs llynedd. I mi hanner yr hwyl yw’r cymdeithasu, a chyfarfod a chriw o bobl newydd sy’n dod yn ffrindiau i chi wedi i’r cwrs ddod i ben.”

Participant

Working with Phil Williams an ex-NDCWales dancer, John Lewis staff created a flashmob style performance, involving well-known dance routines from classic pop songs of recent years. After a number of rehearsals the group performed to a packed Glanfa Stage audience.

The Centre works closely with businesses and organisations, both large and small, through its Corporate Supporters’ scheme. Should this be of interest, please contact the Centre’s Development department on 02920 634646.

As a charity, the Centre is grateful to its wide range of supporters. Many corporate supporters use their membership to further their Corporate Social Responsibility objectives, by directly supporting an element of the Centre’s Learning and Participation programme. The engagement of staff is also a prime driver in their decision to support.

Working directly with 70 John Lewis Partners (staff members), the Centre designed an artistic project which helped meet their personal development targets by finding new ways of working together, working outside their comfort zones and helping to build trust and support between members of staff.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 70+


LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Corporate supporters staff

PROJECT LEAD Simon CoatesPhil Williams

Flashmob Staff PerformanceLifelong Programmes

“ We didn’t have that much time to practise. We did it all in our own time. It was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved it”

John Lewis staff member

“ It was really good and entertaining to watch. It was really fun and looked fun to do too”

Audience member

18\19

Recently, with the help of Literature Wales’ Writing Squads, we engaged with a group of 20 young talented writers from Newport and Caerphilly through a series of workshops. From these we will be producing a bilingual family discovery map to help families explore the building.

We are keen to increase our offer of high quality performances and workshops for families, and develop our Family Days as part of our regular family programming.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 485 in workshops


LANGUAGE 4 English, 1 Welsh

FREQUENCY 5 days

TARGET GROUP Families

PROJECT LEAD Simon Coates

Family Days Lifelong Programmes

Family Days offer the opportunity and environment to create early bonds between children and the arts. Backstage tours, workshops, free performances and storytelling all feature as part of the programme. Whatever families choose to do, they can do it together.

Wherever possible they are related to the shows in the Donald Gordon Theatre. Examples include performances of Guess How Much I Love You? and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s The Snowman.

Baylingo, a Welsh-language Family Day was offered in partnership with the Welsh for Adults Centre at Cardiff University this year. Families were encouraged to practice their Welsh-language skills.

“ Today was really good fun and my favourite part was going around backstage and seeing the dressing rooms. I also enjoyed working with a real author called Horatio Clare”

Molly, Newport Writing Squad

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Our programme of dance insight events covered subjects such as the creation of new contemporary work (Cai Tomos and Carole Blade), the creation of new ballet (Emma-Jane McHendry, Scottish Ballet) and dance-injury prevention (Nick Allen, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Jerwood Centre).

Alongside this, we hosted community group talks by both the Punjabi Poetry Society and Arabic Society. We also marked the centenary year of International Women’s Day with Patti Flynn, a prominent member of the local community, hosting World Women’s Stories; a morning of talks, readings and presentations of women’s successes and experiences.

The Centre plans to continue with dance insight events, pre and post-show talks and more events in both English and Welsh. We will also be looking at how we capture and present this content online.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 1,970


LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 45 talks

TARGET GROUP Show attendees, arts professionals, interested amateurs, students

PROJECT LEAD Rob Ashelford

TalksLifelong Programmes

The Centre hosts a range of talks throughout the year, which are either show-related or based around specific subjects in the arts industry. In 2010 the Centre hosted and supported the first edition of TEDxCardiff.

Stand-out talks for 2010/11 included Q&A sessions with Alicia Alonso, Artistic Director of Ballet Nacional de Cuba and Judith Jamison, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as conversations with Howard Blake (composer, The Snowman); Catherine Johnson (writer, Mamma Mia!); John McGrath (Artistic Director, National Theatre Wales) and Paul Rees (Editor-in-Chief, Q Magazine).

“ Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for the Paul Rees masterclass and talk – [my son] spent the entire journey home telling me about it… it confirmed for him that music journalism is the way he wants to go.”

Philipa May

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In 2010 the Centre began a series of post-show performances with DJs and bands providing entertainment for audiences It is also the venue for annual events including Butetown Bay Jazz, Chinese New Year celebrations and Nos Calan Mai, a day of Welsh music to celebrate the first day of summer according to the Celtic calendar which premiered in 2010.

The Glanfa Stage was supported by: GC Gibson Charitable Settlement \ Eranda Foundation \ Jenour Foundation \ Mary Hamfray Charitable Trust \ Paravicini Dyer Charitable Trust \ Simon Gibson Charitable Trust \ Thistle Trust.

A permanent, busy fixture of our programme since opening, the Glanfa Stage will continue to provide a wide and varied selection of performances throughout the year.

Wales Millennium Centre programmes a wide range of performances which are free to the public and take place on our Glanfa Stage. Based around our four Make it Yours strands (Hanfod, Curiad, AnturCelf and Dan y Pared), performances have ranged from solo acoustic performers, harpists, opera groups, classical ensembles, rock bands to Celtic roots music, male voice choirs and brass bands.

The Glanfa Stage is one performance platform that allows us to support emerging artists on a daily basis. In 2010/11 more than 2,900 emerging artists performed on the Glanfa Stage, with regular contributions from Cardiff University, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Junior Guildhall (London) as well as many school groups.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 38,512 audience members2,915 emerging artists

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Wales, UK and international

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 441 performances

TARGET GROUP Casual Visitors, show attendees

PROJECT LEAD All programming team

Glanfa Stage PerformancesLifelong Programmes

“ The Centre has given a vital and exciting platform to students of Pro Corda, the International Chamber Music Academy. Students from our various age levels have performed so far and this platform has enabled them to learn more about how to prepare for a concert and how to relate to the audience”

Pro Corda

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Wales Millennium Centre hosts an annual programme of visual arts work by a wide range of artists. 2010/11 saw exhibitions by amateur photographers (Gwanwyn Festival’s Growing Old Disgracefully, The 09 Group), professional photographers Aled Jenkins and Cambridge Jones, a touring exhibition from the V&A of work by Harry Hammond and a range of mixed media exhibitions.

As well as supporting established photographers and artists such as the Female Frame group of artists, the Centre gave gallery time to emerging artists from UWIC for their graduate and MA shows and continued our relationship with the University of Glamorgan by hosting the annual Art Purchase Prize.

We also hosted our first exhibition of work by offenders housed at Parc Prison, Bridgend. The exhibition provided an opportunity for people to learn more about the positive effect art can have on the rehabilitation of offenders and was sponsored by G4S.

In 2010 Wales Millennium Centre exhibited a range of film-based work, projected onto the wall of Angorfa from tactileBosch. This was followed by work from Ffresh, the Student Moving Image Festival of Wales, who presented a showreel of films from their annual awards ceremony.

Over the next 12 months we will look to consolidate our visual arts programme and expand the range of moving image work shown in Angorfa. We will also look at ways of providing greater insight into the visual arts and how this might be delivered through online content.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Not measurable at present

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA South East Wales / England

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 16 Exhibitions

TARGET GROUP Visual Artists, Show Attendees, Casual Visitors

PROJECT LEAD Rob Ashelford & Jane Collins

Visual Arts Lifelong Programmes

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In February, Wales Millennium Centre celebrated Chinese New Year with the local community in association with Multicultural Development Consultancy and Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales (BVSNW).

The celebration included a packed day of free performances from Lion Dancing, Chinese Opera and Thai Chi to demonstrations of traditional Chinese Instruments, and workshops and stalls selling Chinese arts and crafts.

Wales Millennium Centre has hosted a Chinese New Year celebration for the past three years. The Centre will continue this tradition and its support of Multicultural Development Consultancy and BVSNW in 2011 and beyond.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 4,119 Casual Attendees, 68 Performers


LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day (annual event)

TARGET GROUP Chinese Community, Casual Visitors


Chinese New YearLifelong Programmes

The weekend festival featured workshops by House of Legacy (Vogueing), The Waacktitioners (Waacking) and HOXE and RMER1 (Grafitti), showcases by beatbox group Duke, MCs Ruffstylz, The Astroid Boys and 4Dee amongst others and competitions for young people to show off their dance skills. The Centre also hosted the first ever Bones 2 the Stones event in Wales – an opportunity for Bboys to battle against each other for prize money.

Breakin’ the Bay celebrated its fifth birthday in 2010 with the first visit to Wales by Sadler’s Wells’ Breakin’ Convention tour and a two-day festival celebrating hip hop culture.

For the first time, Breakin’ the Bay was curated by a team of four community experts – Bboy Slammo (dance), Liara Williams (dance), Dregz (MCs) and RMER1 (Grafitti).

Alongside this, we invited the Nordic Seals, a specially selected crew of Swedish Bboys, to take part in an exhibition battle with local crew S.U.P. and hosted individual and 2 on 2 competitions for participants under the age of 21.

We will continue our relationship with the curators into 2011 with the aim of increasing Breakin’ the Bay’s content with more workshops and free performances. We are currently looking at how we extend our hip hop offer, for all levels of participants throughout the year.

“ Congratulations on putting together a wicked [Breakin’ the Bay] weekend. One of my faves so far. It had an amazing energy and feel to it, and I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the Hip-hop heads that came to check it out. ”

Jason Camilleri, Breakin’ the Bay Curator

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 9,970 attendees, 179 participants


LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 1 weekend (annual event)

TARGET GROUP Dance Groups, MCs, visual artists, casual visitors


Breakin’ the BayLifelong Programmes

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We plan to continue programming a different visual arts activity each October as part of this UK-wide event.

The Big Draw is the UK-wide Campaign for Drawing’s flagship event held throughout October each year. It is intended to get people of all ages drawing.

On Saturday 9 October 2010, we held a drop-in workshop for members of the public to follow a trail around the Centre, encouraging them to see the building in a new light and sketch as they go.



LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 1 day (annual event)

TARGET GROUP General public

PROJECT LEAD Jane CollinsShelley Norton

The Big Draw Lifelong Programmes

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Opportunities for visiting companies to share their expertise and provide participatory events to the Centre’s visitors will continue to be explored and programmed.

Working with visiting companies or freelance facilitators, the Centre holds public workshops so that audiences can discover more about a show or art form. They are programmed to be as regular as possible, highlights include:

April 10 – Bombastic Family workshopMay 10 – Funny Bones comedy workshop for adultsAug 10 – Family art workshops linked to exhibitionsOct 10 – Idiots of Ants comedy workshop for adultsDec 10 – Craft family workshops linked to the Christmas FayreDec 10 – Snow Child family workshopMar 11 – Adult vocal workshop (part of Learning Week)


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA South Wales

LANGUAGE Mainly English

FREQUENCY 7 workshops



Public WorkshopsLifelong Programmes

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Pre-School Music will continue to be a regular activity, offering arts opportunities for early years within the Learning & Participation programme.

There is scope to offer music students from local Universities and Colleges placement opportunities where they could participate by playing music in the Mystery Instrument section.

Weekly music classes for children under five and accompanying adults run during term time. Two sessions are run each Friday.

Classes are run by mother-of-two, musician, pre-school specialist and writer of the Tiddly Prom, Helen Woods. Musicians from Welsh National Opera attend some sessions, where children are introduced to a variety of instruments in a section called Mystery Instruments.



LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 56 classes per year

TARGET GROUP Parents/Guardians of children under the age of 5

PROJECT LEAD Aaron Parsons Helen Woods

Pre-School MusicLifelong Programmes

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Since August 2010 the Centre has held craft sessions in Canfod for families one Saturday each month.

Sessions take their theme from Saturday Storytelling on the Glanfa Stage or the programme in the Donald Gordon Theatre or Weston Studio.

Where possible these sessions form part of Family Days.



LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Families with children 4-10 years

PROJECT LEAD Aaron ParsonsShelley Norton

Mini Make & Do Lifelong Programmes

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During the weekend of 2 - 3 October 2010, Wales Millennium Centre along with its resident companies, threw its doors open to the public.

Free activities included performances, tours, demonstrations, walk-about acts and workshops throughout the weekend.

Plans are underway to programme an Open Day, again in collaboration with the resident companies for late 2011.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 9025 visitors over the weekend


LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 41 activities (annual event)


PROJECT LEAD Louise Miles-Crust

Open WeekendLifelong Programmes

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Three workshops took place over the February 2011 half term for young people ranging from ages six-fourteen years. Workshops were led by a bilingual facilitator focusing on music, drama and storytelling.

Workshops are being programmed for each holiday period throughout 2011, experimenting with different formats including drop-in and closed sessions and a different mix of audiences from families, to young people.



LANGUAGE Bilingual


TARGET GROUP Young people

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow Dylan Adams

Half Term Workshops Lifelong Programmes

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In October, DEMO - a day of free public workshops and performances-took place in St David’s Hall. A gathering of Cardiff-based arts companies, venues and individual artists worked together to get local people interested and involved in the arts.

A workshop managed by Arts Active and the Centre provided workshops on activity that is part of the Centre’s on-going programme events such as pre-school music and street dance.

This was the first time that a wide cross section of Cardiff-based arts organisations had worked collaboratively across the city to encourage participation in the arts. There are currently no immediate plans to replicate the event.

Organisations invited to be part of DEMO included the following; Arts Active; Promo Cymru; South Wales Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA); Community Music Wales; Touch Trust; Youth Service; Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales; Grassroots; Samba Galez; Cultural Concerns; Women’s Arts Association; Llanover Hall; Hijinx Theatre; The Sprout; Welsh National Opera; Rubicon; Academi; Makers Guild of Wales; Butetown History & Arts Centre; Ffotogallery; Chapter and NoFit State Circus.



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 2 workshops (one-off event)



DEMO – Cardiff Community Arts Festival Lifelong Programmes

Wales Millennium Centre was approached by CILT Cymru to host a day of family activity in September, intended to encourage families to explore, use and celebrate European languages.

Activities included free performances, workshops, information stalls, language lessons and backstage tours, conducted through a variety of languages including German, French and Welsh. Hufen, one of the Centre’s cafes, offered a European themed menu encouraging orders using different languages.



LANGUAGE Multilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day (one-off event)

TARGET GROUP Public

PROJECT LEAD Sarah PellowCILT Cymru

European Day of Languages Lifelong Programmes

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Workshops have been led by cast members of large West End musicals such as Hairspray, ballet companies including English National Ballet and BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing stars Flavia and Vincent.

Tea Dances were supported by: Big Lottery Fund: Awards for All \ Concertina Charitable Trust \ Greggs Foundation \ The Turner Family.

A variety of Commuter Classes will continue to be programmed, with the aim of attracting a wide variety of participants. We are currently looking at ways of taking Commuter Classes into the workplace to engage office-based employees with arts activity.

Commuter Classes are offered as free workshops for commuters and members of the public to experience different aspects of the shows that are programmed at the Centre. They also provide an opportunity to profile the work of the resident organisations.

Commuter Classes take place in the Glanfa, and the sessions usually consist of a vocal, or dance warm-up before participants learn a song or dance routine from the current show in the Donald Gordon Theatre.



LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Local commuters & general public

PROJECT LEAD Aaron Parsons

Commuter Classes Lifelong Programmes

Tea Dances are programmed into each season; spring, summer, autumn and winter, alongside the Centre’s Dance Days which explore a variety of different dance genres.

Tea Dances take place during weekday afternoons, with a regular Caller and musicians from Welsh National Opera Orchestra who support and accompany participants in traditional partner sequence dancing.

Dance Days offer participants the opportunity to explore different dance styles such as Tango; Salsa; Twmpath; and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Dance Days take place over the weekend and the Centre works with local dance leaders and groups to provide workshops followed by music for free style dancing.



LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Tea Dances 50 + and Dance Days Adults (although open to all)

PROJECT LEAD Aaron Parsons & Sarah Pellow

Dance Days and Tea DancesLifelong Programmes

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In 2011, Nos Calan Mai will take place on the 30 April, the eve of Calan Mai. The free event, held on the Glanfa Stage will feature performances by six Welsh bands

“ It’s wonderful that Wales Millennium Centre is providing audiences in Wales and beyond with such a wide range of activities to celebrate Calan Mai. It’s important that as a nation we continue to celebrate such traditions so that we can preserve our own distinctive culture including our language, our national festivals and our indigenous music”.

Eluned Hâf, Director Wales Arts International

“ Wales was the first guest country to be showcased at our Festival 40 years ago. We’re very happy that our first collaboration outside of France is with Wales Millennium Centre and in a country famous for its Celtic heritage and music”.

Lisardo Lombardia, Director Festival Interceltique de Lorient

Last year saw a new development in our support of the Welsh music scene. We joined forces with the internationally renowned Festival Interceltique de Lorient to present a whole day of live Celtic festivities.

Dathlu Calan Mai: An Interceltic Celebration offered a wealth of Celtic music, featuring the very best of traditional folk music from Wales and beyond. The day-long event marked Calan Mai - the traditional Welsh celebration of the first day of summer in the Celtic calendar on 1 May. The event success surpassed expectations, attracting nearly 5,200 casual visitors, more than double the average number of visitors to the Centre on any given Saturday.



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 day, annual event

TARGET GROUP Welsh Language | Music

PROJECT LEAD Gareth Lloyd Roberts

Dathlu Calan Mai: An Interceltic CelebrationLifelong Programmes

Criw Cymru continues to develop and in 2011 we anticipate visiting at least ten different venues, doubling the project’s output and reaching a greater number of young people in Wales. With the continued support of the Arts Council of Wales we have secured a grant of almost £30,000 to help us increase the amount of activity we provide. As a collective, the Criw will develop their hip hop skills and contend for a chance to represent Wales as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Criw Cymru is an urban arts workshop tour and a Cultural Olympiad Inspire Mark project.

In 2010 we visited five venues across Wales including the Urdd National Eisteddfod in Ceredigion and one of our strategic partners, Galeri in Caernarfon. In October the same year, participants were invited to a week-long residential course at the Centre. The course, which was directed by Curtis James of KnoLove Productions, helped participants tighten up their hip hop skills and create a brand new piece of hip hop theatre to perform live to hundreds of people. The Criw members became a part of a tight group of like-minded people, developing skills and an understanding of hip hop together.

It is funded by the Arts Council of Wales.

“ I’ve been twice, and each time I’ve discovered something new – like meeting professional athletes and musicians. It’s brilliant. It’s the highlight of my summer holiday – and has inspired me to join a street-dance crew up here in North Wales. I can’t wait for the next!”

Trystan Chambers, Criw Cymru Member, Caernarfon

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 350 approx.

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Wales

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 26 workshops (annual project)

TARGET GROUP 11 - 18 years

PROJECT LEAD Gareth Lloyd RobertsCurtis James

Criw CymruLifelong Programmes

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The Unity Festival is a joint venture between resident Hijinx Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre in collaboration with Mencap Cymru, Disability Arts Cymru, Touch Trust and Community Music Wales, showcasing the best in integrated inclusive performances from artists based in Wales, the UK and Internationally.

Unity Festival is a valuable way of engaging with disability groups and is an effective way of collaborating with the Centre’s resident companies.

Supported by: David Solomans Charitable Trust \ Boshier - Hinton Foundation.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 85 performers, 343 workshop participants


LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 1 week (annual event)

TARGET GROUP General public - with an emphasis on disability groups & schools

PROJECT LEAD Louise Miles-CrustHijinx Theatre

Unity Festival Lifelong Programmes

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“ I think it is amazing that your festival is in the Wales Millennium Centre, in your cultural hub. I think it’s very important that the work be highly visible”

Alice Nash Back to Back Theatre

Blysh is a festival of carnival and vaudeville entertainment. Now in its third year, its main purpose is to increase the number of people coming to the Centre during what used to be a quiet period in the Donald Gordon Theatre.

Last year’s ten-day festival included circus skills workshops, comedy performances as well as quirky band performances. On average, attendances to the Glanfa stage during Blysh festival increased by nearly a third [31 per cent]. The festival continues to gain traction in the press and media, especially online platforms.

Blysh 2011 is a much bigger event, lasting throughout July with almost 40 free performances. Once again the majority of the free activity will be focused around the four weekends during the month, with additional paid performances held in the Weston Studio. Highlights for this year’s event include a newly commissioned site-specific dance piece developed by Blade Williams Productions and a giant inflatable pig where the audience are invited to take a peek at the performance held inside the pig’s belly.

Just wanted to say thanks again for an amazing event, one of the best things we’ve ever been involved with”.Al Dunn, Le Navet Bête

“Cardiff ’s young, arty community should have been flocking to the Weston Studio like a pack of voracious jackals”.Ben Bryant, Buzz Magazine

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 2,123


LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 10 days, 21 activities (annual event)

TARGET GROUP Young professionals / Pre show audience / families


Blysh Lifelong Programmes

In October 2010, Black History Month Celebrations were launched at Wales Millennium Centre with a varied programme of talks, dance, live music and workshops. Throughout the month there was a packed programme of events on the Glanfa Stage with performances by local artists and schools groups.

Black History Month at Wales Millennium Centre is a partnership between Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales, the Centre and other not-for-profit organisations.

We are pleased to host the Black History Month Wales Celebrations here again in October 2011 with a wide ranging programme of specially selected performances taking place on the Glanfa Stage

Black History Month Wales promotes and reflects Black history, its cultures, contributions and presence in Wales, whilst challenging historical and contemporary discrimination of black people living in Africa and in countries across the world.

The spirit of Black History Month is informative, instructive and celebratory, and acknowledges contributions made by black people to local, national and world history and culture. It is celebrated within Wales and across the UK, with activities hosted by Wales Millennium Centre linking into a UK celebration.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 6500 +


LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 1 month (annual project)



Black History Month Wales Lifelong Programmes

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“ I thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment today. I’ve learnt more about African history and will definitely be back next year.”

Audience member, 2010

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We are continuing to work with Age Cymru on future festivals.

This was the third time the Centre worked with Age Cymru on the Gwanwyn Festival.

The 2010 festival focussed on the theme of Growing Old Disgracefully and included an exhibition at the Centre based on this theme in collaboration with NIACE Cymru.

The Centre also worked with poet Mab Jones and the Cardiff U3A group on a creative writing project and the U3A performed their poems to launch the festival at the Centre.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 10 at workshop, 89 photos entered into exhibition

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Cardiff, Porthcawl, Bridgend & Newport

LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Older people

PROJECT LEAD Louise Miles-CrustMab Jones

Gwanwyn Festival Lifelong Programmes

Engagement through the use of technology and virtual methods is a key area for development in 2011. Wales Millennium Centre’s new website should help support more digital projects and plans are underway to develop a catalogue of online and interactive teaching resources.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Immeasurable at present

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Anywhere

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 7 guides/packs

TARGET GROUP Schools and families

PROJECT LEAD Sarah PellowRhiannon Gamble & Megan Merrett

Learning PacksVirtual Engagement

Learning packs have been written to support Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s The Snowman with the aim of offering information such as interviews, plot synopsis, character details and suggested tasks for both the classroom and for families to do at home.

Art form guides, aimed at introducing anyone to what may be an unfamiliar art form to them are being prepared for Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Circus, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre.

All Learning Packs and Art form guides are downloadable from the website.

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Blysh 2011 will feature a new immersive video goggle experience which will take place in the Weston Studio. Once again, the Centre will ensure that the experience is available in both Welsh and English, by commissioning a translation of the piece.

“ Wondermart is a truly relaxing experience and rather insightful into average human behaviour if you’ll allow yourself to get lost in the moment and immersed in the soundtrack to your shopping experience!”

Marc Thomas, Plastik Magazine

Wondermart was a downloadable audio tour, where by participants were invited to walk around a large local supermarket whilst listening and following instructions from an audio track.

The audio track was available from the Centre’s website in both Welsh and English for two weeks. This was the second time for the Centre to work with theatre innovators Rotozaza who specialise in site-specific, interactive theatre.


GEOGRAPHICAL AREA International

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY Downloadable for 4 Weeks

TARGET GROUP 11 years +


WondermartVirtual Engagement

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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The Centre has hosted Christmas Fayres for the last five years. The emphasis has always been on showcasing quality Welsh products including handmade items sold by the makers.

On sale this year were hand-cut coins, organic cosmetics, jewellery and other fashion items, hand-crafted cards and gift bags, cupcakes, chocolates, and children’s books and toys, The Fayre created a buzz of activity around Glanfa Stage during the weekend with performances and workshops each day to engage shoppers and visitors to the Centre.

The Christmas Fayre has been evaluated each year and different formats and durations have been trialled. The emphasis this year will be on food and linking closely with our restaurant, ffresh, the first venue in the country to become a Wales the True Taste partner.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 17 Stall HoldersOver 18,000 casual visitors


LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY Annual

TARGET GROUP General publicShow attendees


Christmas Fayre Emerging Artists / Professional Development

With both Inc’ling and Incubator, groups have the opportunity to present their work in front of a specially invited audience and, crucially, receive feedback to help them develop their work.

Last year the Centre continued its relationship with two Incubator groups enabling them to continue to develop their work into a fully staged show. Each group was offered financial support and the opportunity to perform as part of the Weston Season programme.

The Incubator Project offers opportunities for companies and artists to produce new work in association with the Centre. It is made up of two elements - Incubator and Inc’ling

Inc’ling is a platform for artists and companies to experiment and receive feedback on initial ideas or Inc’lings for a performance. The aim is to create a five - twenty minutes sharing of work undertaken during a five-day residency.

Incubator is a platform to develop new work in partnership with the Centre during a period of up-to one month. As well as providing a small financial contribution, the Centre offers practical help, advice and expertise on programming, marketing, communications, and fundraising.

We intend to develop the Incubator Project in a number of different ways so that it can better meet the needs of the individual artist. This includes accepting applications for the project throughout the year and programming Incubator work in both the Autumn and Spring seasons. The Centre also intends to approach creative partners and ambassadors to join the projects and offer a mentoring scheme in the future.

“ The incubator project is a great opportunity for theatre makers in Wales to try out their work in a supportive environment. The Incubator project provides a platform for future exciting theatre in Wales.”

Dirty Protest, 2010 (Pictured)

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 9 companies and artists

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Welsh and Wales-based artists

LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY (Annual project)

TARGET GROUP Artists


Incubator Project Emerging Artists / Professional Development

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Shakespeare School’s Festival returns to the Centre in 2011/12, which now includes working with primary as well as secondary schools this year.

National Theatre Connections also return with another Weston Studio performance National Theatre Connections invites young people to take on a new script from an established playwright. Five groups took part in 2009.

Wales Millennium Centre continues to work closely with both companies as well as engaging with the participating schools on other arts projects and workshops.

* Welsh translations were offered but participating groups chose to perform in English.

The Centre has become a regional venue for Shakespeare School’s Festival, a project that invites secondary school groups to perform abridged versions of Shakespeare plays in the Weston Studio in either Welsh or English.

The Centre provided artistic support and technical advice throughout the process and held teacher days and cast workshop days leading up to the performances in October 2010.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 577, 11 schools


LANGUAGE English*

FREQUENCY Annual project

TARGET GROUP Secondary Schools


Weston Studio School Projects Emerging Artists / Professional Development

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This was a pilot year for the Young Company. The Centre is exploring further ways of how the Young Company can engage with its broader programme of work and to cater for a wider age group. There is potential for the Young Company to work in collaboration with the resident companies, especially Ffwrnais Awen, the Urdd’s Welsh-language theatre school to create a bilingual performance piece.



LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 10 sessions in term 1

TARGET GROUP Local young people aged 7 – 11 years

PROJECT LEAD Aaron Parsons Big Talent School (Leigh-Ann Regan & Shelley Norton)

Young Company Emerging Artist / Professional Development

Young Company offers young people the opportunity to engage in classes that allow them to explore the performing arts.

Sessions are run in partnership with the Big Talent School to develop skills in drama, dance, and singing as well as building their confidence and learning the values of team work under the guidance of experienced and skilled theatre practitioners. The group will perform on the Glanfa Stage at the end of the summer term, with a longer performance taking place at the end of 2011 in the Weston Studio.

“Young Company is fun and I look forward to Saturday’s when I can go, it’ll be great to do a show I can’t wait. I love it” Amy Rowlands, age 9

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Oct 5 – Touch Trust Dance Day for Teachers in Special Schools (with Touch Trust)

Nov 26 – Getting to Grips with Shakespeare

Feb 18 – Individual Placement – what happens at the Centre (with all resident companies)

Mar 19 – Being Creative with Curriculum Cymraeg

Working in collaboration with Careers Wales, Teacher Training Days are programmed to address the arts needs of teachers in both primary and secondary.

Many training days are devised and delivered in collaboration with the Centre’s resident companies. Teacher packs are provided to support each training day.

Teacher Training days are a valuable way of engaging with arts teachers within participating schools and are an effective way of collaborating with the Centre’s resident companies.

“ The day will allow me to extend ideas within group work and encourage creativity and spontaneity in the children. A thoroughly enjoyable hands on practical day.”

Julie Postians, TA3, Blackwood Primary School



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 4 Days

TARGET GROUP Teachers

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow & Jane Collins

Teacher TrainingEmerging Artists / Professional Development

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Workshops to support the continued development of artists within a range of art forms, including dance, drama, literature and visual art, form part of the programme, utilising the skills of visiting companies where possible.

May 10 – Deborah Colker

July 10 – UWIC sketch group

Oct 10 – Motionhouse

Nov 10 – Dissecting Shakespeare

Dec 10 – Young Critics Scheme

Mar 11 – Scottish Ballet

Opportunities to enable visiting companies to share their expertise with artists will continue to be explored and programmed.

We will continue to develop new relationships with individual artists and groups who may benefit from such training.



LANGUAGE English


TARGET GROUP Artists


Continued Professional Development (CPD) Emerging Artists / Professional Development

In May 2010, teachers, community contacts, youth leaders, local artists and the Centre’s resident organisations were invited to attend a networking event in ffresh.

The purpose of the event was to share information on current and future plans and to generate ideas for future collaborations.

A similar networking event is currently being planned for autumn 2011, working closely with the Centre’s resident companies to share contacts and create a mutually beneficial event.

“ Thank you so much for organising such a worthwhile event. I made two new contacts that I think will be of lasting value. I also hope that there will be the opportunity for us to work with your department on something in the future.”

Dr Charles Wilson, Director of School of Music, Cardiff University



LANGUAGE Bilingual

FREQUENCY 1 event

TARGET GROUP Teachers, community contacts, youth leaders, residents, artists


Education Networking Emerging Artists / Professional Development

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Arts Management students from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama are invited annually to take up an internship within the Arts & Audience Development portfolio.



LANGUAGE English

FREQUENCY 90 days in total

TARGET GROUP University Students

PROJECT LEAD Sarah Pellow & Louise Miles-Crust

Internships Emerging Artists / Professional Development

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“ NoFit State is delighted to become a Wales Millennium Centre Associate Company. We look forward to developing an even stronger and more fruitful relationship with one of the UK’s most important venues as, together, we explore the development of circus and the creation of new work in Wales”.

Alison Woods, Executive Director, NoFit State

“ Theatr nà nÓg enjoys an excellent working relationship with Wales Millennium Centre. We feel it is the natural home for our work when presenting in Cardiff and have enjoyed considerable success doing so in recent years. Collaborating with Wales Millennium Centre’s team, creating new work through the Incubator Project, has significantly strengthened our working relationship and has produced fantastic results. Becoming an Associate Company offers further opportunity to develop brilliant new work produced in Wales that is ambitious, relevant and nationally recognised for its excellence.

Geinor Styles, Artistic Director, Theatr nà nÓg

The Associate Company programme will assist with the creation of new productions, support the Learning and Participation programme, provide artist advocates, and increase collaboration and opportunities for the resident organisations based within Wales Millennium Centre.

We will offer Associate Companies a significant presence or residency at the Centre, tailored to mutual requirements. This could include linking with our Learning and Participation programme, a significant commission, mentoring and / or management input, enable the production / performance of new work, provide rehearsal or creative space for short periods, a platform performance, a mentoring session with other Wales Millennium Centre departments such as Marketing and Communications or Development.

2010 Companies

NoFit State

We have had a relationship with NoFit State since the Centre opened in 2004, through education and free performances. We have also presented their tent show twice in the Bay’s Roald Dahl Plass.

We are working with NoFit State on a new co-production for spring 2013 to be performed in the Donald Gordon Theatre.

Duration of partnership: Three years

Theatr nà n’Óg

We have presented Theatr nà n’Og, one of the Centre’s first Incubator companies, three times in the Weston Studio.

We are currently in discussion with Theatr nà n’Óg on two projects. Both projects will assist the company in its aspiration to produce large-scale work.

The first is a Welsh language piece called ‘Salsa’ which will be performed on the Donald Gordon Theatre stage, with the audience seated on the stage.

Duration of partnership: Three years

We will continue to expand the Associate Company programme in the months ahead, increasing links with companies based outside of Wales.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 2 companies

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Cardiff & Neath

LANGUAGE Bilingual

PROJECT LEAD Louise Miles-Crust

Associate CompaniesEmerging Artists / Professional Development

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Free and Participative Activity at Wales Millennium · PDF file ·...

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