Vale Libraries and Makerspaces Launch Artist in Residence Project with Arcade Campfa
Vale of Glamorgan Council Libraries and Makerspaces are delighted to announce the launch of a new Artist in Residence project in collaboration with visual arts collective Arcade Campfa.
Running throughout April until June - with the support of Arts Council Wales - the project brings two artists into library spaces in Penarth and Barry to work closely with local communities.
The residencies will culminate in public launch events in June to showcase the artists’ final works.
The selected artists for this year’s programme are:
Dela Anderson – Print Residency, will explore themes of memory and place in the Vale. Dela said: “During my residency I will explore nostalgia for lost leisure spaces in Barry and Penarth. Engaging with local literature, archival images and oral histories, I’ll produce a risograph printed zine that reflects on our relationship to leisure and public space.”
Mab Jones – Makerspace Residency, will invite community participation through creative writing and making. Mab said: “Your Words Belong Here Too is a participatory poetry residency transforming community-contributed words into wearable text pieces and growing installations using reclaimed materials and textile techniques. The project will culminate in a celebratory community sharing event.”
This exciting initiative highlights the leading role of libraries as dynamic cultural spaces, fostering creativity, collaboration, and community engagement through opportunities such as the Artist in Residency programme right across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Jordan Forse, Libraries and Cultural Services Manager for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Arcade Campfa and Arts Council Wales to bring this exciting Artist in Residence programme to our libraries. This project reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting creativity at a local level and providing meaningful opportunities for people to engage with the arts in accessible, welcoming spaces.
“By working directly with artists, library users can take part in creative processes, share their own experiences, and contribute to new work that is rooted in the communities of Barry and Penarth. We look forward to celebrating the outcomes with the public at the final showcase events.”