Celebrating Trerhondda – What the project was about.
Celebrating Trerhondda was a project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to celebrate the history of the Trerhondda Congregational Chapel in Ferndale which is now owned and run by Arts Factory as a community Education Facility. There has been a series of events taking place to celebrate the history of the building, the people who used it in the past and the local community who use it now...
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Trerhondda Celebrates in style!
The Celebrating Trerhondda Project came to a successful climax on Friday 1 September when over 60 invited guests attended the Showcase event at Trerhondda Chapel. Visitors came to admire the photographic exhibition on display in the newly decorated vestry and browse the photographs and objects that were gathered together during the research for the project. There was a showing of some of the ‘Digital Histories’ made by local residents during the past year and there was a chance for the guests to view some of the work done by local schoolchildren who were such an important part of the project. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the reading by local actor Phil Howe of the title story from the illustrated anthology of short stories called ‘A Voyage To America…and other stories’ which celebrated its publication that day. Copies of the book (which is not for sale) can be found in local public libraries, schools and care homes. Recording of a ‘Talking Book’ version has already been completed. Keep your eyes peeled for the feature article in the Rhondda Leader that will tell you how you can obtain a copy of the audio CD for those with reading or vision problems. Guests from the Heritage Lottery Fund (major supporters of the project) and from voluntary sector organisations and the local authority were full of praise for ‘Celebrating Trerhondda’ that has been running for almost a year and comes to a conclusion at the end of September. The comments in the visitors book included words like ‘Inspirational!’ and Brilliant!’ so here’s hoping that future funding can be secured to build on this work in the coming year.
The first of our Digital Histories have been completed by members of the People First Organisation in Porth, by pupils from the Darran Park Primary School in Ferndale and by a number of former local residents. Already our ‘Digital History’ of the Ferndale area is taking shape. You can view some examples on the Documentary Channel of the Shape-it.org TV Station
Further Digital History Workshops have taken place with residents of Ferndale and Blaenllechau...the results of their work will be available soon!
Schools in Ferndale were buzzing over the recent visit by storytellers from New Zealand. Mary Kippenberger and Pete Charlton-Jones (with some help from Charlie the Chimp) enthralled the children with their stories and songs from far away.
Celebrating Trerhondda History Detectives.
The year 6 pupils of Darran Park school in Ferndale recently completed their History Detectives Project as part of the ‘Celebrating Trerhondda’. The culmination was a cinema-style showing of the completed Digital Histories to pupils and parents as part of their ‘Leavers Assembly’. The kids had a great time and showed some real talent. Steven Spielberg watch out!!
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Events that have taken place include:
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An exhibition of photographs and memorabilia
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A book of short stories written by local writers and illustrated by local artists
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A showing of ‘Digital Histories’ (featuring the memories of local people). The Trerhondda Vestry, for a day, become a cinema to show the results of work done by local school pupils (The ‘History Detectives’) and community groups.
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A specially developed Stained Glass work designed and made by a group of artists from the Arts Factory.
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A specially designed and made Banner which will be the result of a collaboration betweem local school pupils and the quilting group that meets at Trerhondda Chapel
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Performances n local schools, playgroups and care homes by Visiting Storytellersfrom New Zealand!
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The creation of a Photographic archive for the Trerhondda area.
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The Celebrating Trerhondda Project has now come to a close ...but we still need your help. As part of the project we published a book of short stories called "A Voyage To America and other stories" and have also recorded a 'Talking Book' Version. The book and CD are available in public libraries and schools, but we would also like to be sure that copies are available to the people who can't get about easily or who have probelems reading...people like the blind or visually impaired, those in care or residential homes, those who may have difficulty reading...if you know of a person or organisation who might like a copy of the book or the CD send an email with their address and details of why you think they would like a copy to Daniel at vta@artsfactory.co.uk or give him a call on 01443 757954.
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