An intergenerational poetry and song writing project to celebrate the area and community of Bala
Participants: Intergenerational project for pupils and older people
Lead artist(s): Branwen Haf Williams, Osian Huw Williams and Haf Llewelyn
Location: Bala, Gwynedd
Further info: Cerddi’n Clymu | Poetry Bonds will use poetry and music to bridge the generations in Bala, Gwynedd. Workshops will be delivered with Year 8 Pupils at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn and elderly individuals in the area, where they will share memories – both old and new – of life in this rural community. There will then be an opportunity to compose poems in response to these memories, before composing music as a backdrop to the literary works. These will then be performed to an audience. This project will empower the voices of those suffering social exclusion, and shows that school pupils and elderly people have so much to offer our communities. Literature and music will be a vehicle which brings people together, creating new friendships and nurturing talents.
About Branwen Haf Williams: Branwen is a creative practitioner who creates and delivers a variety of workshops. She is a musician and is a member of a variety of bands including Blodau Papur and Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, and co-runs a recording label.
About Osian Huf Williams: Osian is a musician and a member of many bands including Candelas and Blodau Papur and runs the record label Cwmni Recordio Drwm recording label. He also delivers composing, performing and recording workshops across Wales.
About Haf Llewelyn: Haf is a freelance writer and workshop facilitator from Llanuwchllyn. She has published many novels and books for adults and children. Haf won Tir na n-Og with her children’s novel Diffodd y Sêr in 2014 and was shortlisted for Book of the Year in 2010 with her poetry collection Llwybrau.
Artists’ quote:
“The opportunities to bring people of different ages together to socialise are very rare in our society; a chance to share a creative experience is rarer still. It will be a privilege to twist this Cerddi’n Clymu project and see arts bringing a community together.”