Local schools enjoyed a day out at three of Wrexham’s most popular attractions recently as part of a new school visits partnership pilot project.

Pupils from Victoria Community Primary School, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Alexandra Community Primary School visited Tŷ Pawb, Xplore Science Discovery Centre and Wrexham Museum earlier this month for a bumper day which included tours and workshops.

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Immersive experiences in safe environments

Prior to COVID, the three venues had already started to work collaboratively on a joint project with the aim of highlighting and promoting skills based learning experiences available locally. This resulted in the creation of an introductory pilot for joint schools visits.

The aim of the visits was to give schools the opportunity to take part in an immersive experience at each venue, with the opportunity to use their imagination, explore, be curious, and problem solve in safe environments.

The visit to Tŷ Pawb included a tour of the new exhibition, Misshapes: The Making of Tatty Devine, a colourful and playful celebration of one of Britain’s most iconic design teams. Pupils were then invited to come up with their own designs in a workshop inspired by the exhibition.

The learners time at Xplore! was spent being wowed by some science demonstrations and then getting an opportunity to explore the science exhibits in the exhibition space. The pupils were given the chance to think about some of the jobs that the exhibits linked with.

Meanwhile, at Wrexham Museum pupils were given a talk about what a museum does, followed by a tour of the galleries which included a short handling session with a couple of objects.  After that they were free to explore the galleries for themselves before returning to Courtroom 2 to produce a caption for an object of their choice from the displays.

A welcome return for school visits

Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “Wrexham town centre offers local schools a myriad of learning opportunities right on their doorstep, with access to the arts, heritage, culture, science and technology.

“It’s very encouraging to see school visits finally returning and I’m delighted to see three of our most popular attractions working together to provide such a rich day of learning and activities.  I hope this will open the door for more collaborative projects in future.”

Claire Evans, Senior Education Officer at Xplore! said: “Several staff commented how pleasant it was to have young people in the centre investigating the exhibits during the week again following almost 18 months of reduced opening, closures and difficulties. 

“It was a great opportunity for three of Wrexham’s attractions to work together to deliver a unique and engaging day. Following the work of Tŷ Pawb and Xplore! To bring Darganfod//Discover Science Festival to Wrexham earlier this summer it’s fantastic to see the relationship continue to be developed with the additional collaboration with Wrexham Museum.“

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Tŷ Pawb with architects Featherstone Young has received another top architecture award.

Tŷ Pawb is one of the three buildings in Wales to receive the RSAW Welsh Architecture Award 2021, part of the national Royal Society of British Architects (RIBA) Awards.

The win means Tŷ Pawb will now be eligible for the 2021 RIBA National Awards and the 2021 Stirling Prize, one of the most prestigious architectural awards in the UK.

The other two winners included a 19th century cottage known as House in North Wales and Maggie’s Cardiff, which is a cancer care centre.

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An ‘imaginatively and courageously repurposed’ community and arts venue

The jury’s report on Tŷ Pawb states: “The previously named People’s Market has been imaginatively and courageously repurposed as a Lottery-funded community and arts venue while also retaining its former functions.”

The report goes on to say: “The strength of this project undoubtedly lies in what it seeks to achieve through reuse and repurposing of town centre building stock rather than the pursuit of an architectural statement.

“Tŷ Pawb takes a new look at the provision of facilities for the arts, seeking to make it accessible to all and inject relevance into the everyday lives of those who wouldn’t otherwise be attracted to a traditional gallery.”

Read the report in full

‘A huge team effort with social value at its heart’

Sarah Featherstone, Director at Featherstone Young Architects said: “It means a great deal to us to have won an RSAW Award for Tŷ Pawb. This has been a transformative project for Wrexham. It was the result of a huge team effort with social value at its heart.

“Flexibility and experimentation were key drivers of the design and it has been immensely gratifying to see Tŷ Pawb flourishing in its full spectrum of uses. Alongside exhibition programme and the market. unplanned informal events take place – pop-up open mic, tea dances, pizza workshops, street dance to name but a few; the reciprocal benefits of sharing resources have been important to the success of Tŷ Pawb.”

One of Wrexham’s best-loved attractions

The award is one of several architectural honours Tŷ Pawb has received since opening in 2018.

Other awards received include the National Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture 2019 and Architects Journal’s Retrofit of the Year 2019 and Best Cultural Building under 5m 2019

Cllr Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, said: “Thanks to incredible vision, creativity and ambition of Tŷ Pawb’s design team Wrexham now boasts a multi-award winning cultural facility which is widely recognised all over the UK as one of the finest examples of how a public building can be re-imagined into something new, innovative and exciting.”

“Since opening in 2018 Tŷ Pawb has grown to become one of our most treasured and best-loved local destinations. The atmosphere has been fantastic over the summer with live music and family activities returning, new local businesses joining the markets family and visitors returning to galleries, including the brand new Useful Art Space.

“This award is richly deserved. Huge congratulations to Featherstone Young and to the staff team for their success in bringing culture and community together under one roof.”

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We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised arts practitioner, to plan, deliver and evaluate our Family Art Club, which takes place on Saturday mornings.

This contract is to deliver 23 sessions between 11^th September 2021 and 26^th March 2022.

The fixed fee for this is £5,200, inclusive of travel, materials and any other expenses.

The Family Art Club programme should be designed to engage children aged 4-11 and their families, taking inspiration from Ty Pawb’s exhibitions, wider arts programme and the market hall. We would like the sessions to reflect the Ty Pawb ethos, and the importance of Welsh language and culture.

Sessions will usually take place within the Useful Art Space at Ty Pawb, however depending on changing restrictions it will be necessary to have digital contingency plans in place.

The role includes all planning, setting-up and clean-up of session, monitoring (feedback, photo consent and an end of project evaluation report), providing marketing content and documenting each session. 

There is potential to subcontract on occasion, with the prior knowledge, participation and consent of Tŷ Pawb.

To apply please email karen.whittingham@wrexham.gov.uk:

• An up to date cv (no more than 2 pages)
• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role

If you are invited for interview then 2 x references will be required

Deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 11^th August, and applicants need to be available for interview on Thursday 19^th August.

The Portfolio programme offers additional opportunities for young people aged 14-18 years showing artistic promise to enable access to high level artistic practice. These workshops promote engagement with contemporary artists and access to specialist techniques in art and design.

This year’s artists include Menai Rowlands, Rachel Holian, Anya Paintsil and Wendy Connelly.

WORKSHOP 1

Rachel Holian – Clay Workshop 

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th June 2021

 “What we find when walking – Exploring the visual imagery of hidden worlds”

A two-day workshop where you will develop 3D modelling skills whilst exploring the exciting visual imagery of the natural world. You will be working with air drying clay and clay modelling tools, making a range of sculptural organic forms inspired by mosses bark and fungi.

Rachel is a clay and ceramics artist and a Lecturer in Art and Design at Coleg Cambria. 

See Rachel’s website

WORKSHOP 2

Anya Paintsil – Textiles workshop

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th June 2021

Anya is a Welsh-Ghanaian from Wrexham who centres her practice on skills learnt outside an art education context; working with methods of rug hooking, embroidery, and afro hair dressing techniques to create wall based textile pieces. 

Drawing from personal narratives, her work frequently focuses on the significance of race and black identity outside of urban areas, feminism, memory, storytelling and fantasy. Anya is a recent Graduate from MMU and her Portfolio workshop will be centred around Textiles.

See Anya’s instagram page

WORKSHOP 3

Wendy Connelly – Masterclass in oil painting 

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th June 2021

Oil Paint, Exploring Possibilities:

In this Portfolio Workshop I will be sharing the most exciting techniques in oil painting. I will guide you through the subtleties of mixing colour, working with glazes, impasto painting and many textures you can discover by making our own unique tools. I will be inviting you to explore my practice and take a close look into my studio set up and my latest paintings. The two-day workshop will provide you with the insight into my professional practice and the simple steps into developing confidence in working with oil paints. 

I have been a professional Artist since I graduated from Central St Martins and have been represented by many galleries both nationally and internationally.

Wendy’s website
Instagram @wendyconnelly_artist  twitter @RAWiStudios

WORKSHOP 4

Menai Rowlands – 3D Character Design Sculptural Workshop 

Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th July 2021

Explore techniques in designing and making your very own unique 3D Character model with designer Menai Rowlands. Learn how to explore, develop and realise your ideas through using methods in drawing, painting and 3D paper modelling. 

Menai Rowlands is a designer maker based in Caernarfon, Gwynedd and graduated in a BA(Hons) Product Design from Swansea School of Art in 2015. She revels in working in mixed-media, collaborating and sharing ideas with other creatives.

See Menai’s work

How to apply

To book on any of these workshops please email your preference of workshop/s:

Ellie Ashby Formal Learning Officer at Tŷ Pawb: ellie.ashby@wrexham.gov.uk

Further information and details of each workshop will be sent out on confirmation of your place after the closing date.

There is a very limited number of spaces available on each workshop and places will be allocated amongst applicants to ensure maximum participant engagement should workshops become over-subscribed. You may apply for more than one workshop but places may be spread out to give as many young people an opportunity to take part.

Age: 14-18 Years old taking GCSE, A Level and BTEC Art and Design

Location: The workshops will take place in Gallery 2 at Tŷ Pawb

Cost: £15 per weekend workshop, bursaries are available for applicants in receipt of FSM Payment for this will be made via an Eventbrite Link once your place is confirmed

Timings: The workshops will run 10.30am – 3.30pm approximately

Materials: All your materials will be provided for the workshops and details will be sent out when your place is confirmed.

Over the last few months we’ve been transforming Siop//Shop into Maker Space, an accessible studio, facilitated by Arts Council Wales, where artists, makers and designers from all backgrounds can develop their practices with a window onto the world.

The transformation work is now complete and we are delighted to announce our first Maker Space artist.

Georgia Nielson is currently embarking on her final year, studying a Fine Art degree at Glyndwr University, Wrexham.

Currently, the greater part of Georgia’s practice specialises in textile-based art, with an emphasis on rug-making and applique banner-making.  Distinctive and humorous stand out pieces are produced.

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‘I want to build a career doing what I love’

Georgia explains her Maker Space project: “This town has so much to offer and I want to flaunt it!”  

“Recently I’ve been making a lot of work about Wrexham, the town gets a pretty bad rep so I wanted to pick out some of my favourite imagery from around the town and bring back some of the nostalgia from growing up in the area.”

“I want to work closely with the Wrexham community, listening to their stories and finding and finding out what people love about the town.” 

“As I’m close to graduating this year I want to use this time to start to really set myself up for post-graduate life and hopefully begin to build a career doing what I really love”

Interactive workshops

Over the coming weeks and months (Covid regulations permitting) Georgia will lead workshops on skills such as rug tufting. It is hoped that skills learnt at these workshops will enable participants to go forward to produce their own products in the future

We’ll be following Georgia’s work on our website and social media channels as the project develops.

Stay tuned for more news and images!

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UPDATE: These sessions have now sold out! Join our mailing list to receive news about future workshops.

For artists and makers wanting to share their practice and teach skills online to a range of ages. These interactive, hands on training sessions will guide you through the planning, preparation and practicalities to help you lead fun, accessible dynamic online creative classes that inspire and engage your audience.

From creating bitesize videos and pre-recorded activities to leading live, interactive creative workshops through Zoom, these sessions will give you all the tools and confidence you need to get sharing your craft online!

The sessions will be hosted online via Zoom. Details will be sent to you after booking your place.

CREATING PRE-RECORDED ACTIVITIES

April 20th, 12:30 – 2:30

and

Saturday 1st May, 10:00 – 12:00

In this 2 hour training session, Rhi will lead you through the process of planning, filming and editing pre-recorded creative activities that inspire your audience to get making!

From Tik Tok style mini clips, to slow, mindful process videos, you’ll learn how to ensure your content is accessible and engaging, and how to maintain the attention of your audience to complete an at home creative project. You will learn how to edit and upload your content, and understand the best platforms to engage different audiences, as well as how to break down an activity into digestible chunks which make it easy for people to follow at home.

By the end of the session you will have come up with your very own masterclass master plan, and will be armed for all the practical know-how to get started with creative classes! In addition to the 2 hour session you will also be sent a digital workbook to help guide you through the process of planning your session, step by step, with lots of additional online resources and top tips!

Book here

GET STARTED! HOW TO RUN DYNAMIC INTERACTIVE CREATIVE WORKSHOPS… LIVE! 

With a focus on engaging vulnerable adults.

Saturday 24th April, 10:00 – 12:00

and

Tuesday 27th April, 12:30 – 2:30

In this 2 hour training session, Rhi will lead you through the process of planning, preparing and delivering a fun and engaging creative workshop on Zoom that is accessible and inspiring.

You will learn how to break your activity down into easy to follow steps which build skills, interest and confidence. You will gain skills to nurture creativity in everybody, regardless of their own experience and confidence, and how to make sure you are taking accessibility needs into consideration, especially when working with vulnerable adults.

You will gain practical insight into the technicalities of running sessions online, as well as how to ensure safeguarding when leading workshops over Zoom. At the end of the session you’ll be well on your way to delivering exciting and engaging creative workshops online and you’ll be armed with a detailed workbook to help you think about the next steps.

These sessions will also be a lovely opportunity to meet other creative folk and share tips and tricks on facilitating workshops, and feel inspired about running sessions online!

Book here