Many workshops have been arranged under the programme through the Vale of Glamorgan and beyond with a range of partnering organisations. They range in a wide variety of media and have through their success underlined the importance of art therapy in health and well being. Other benefits for clients of art workshops has been an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence, prevention of exclusion and isolation and enhanced teamwork. Many projects have resulted in the enhancement of the environment of participants and the Galle

The full outline of the project is now in the hands of the Heritage Lottery Fund and they will make a decision later this year as to whether this stage of the bid has been successful. The timescale for the future currently looks like this:

November 2009 – First Round Approval

The following is dependent on the bid approval:

July 2010 – Second Round Bid Submitted

Early 2011 – Approval of Second Round Bid

Mid 2011 – Building Begins

Easter 2012 – First Programme Events Occur

July 2012 – Official Opening

The ‘Lets Make It Happen’ campaign continues, with the support from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and more public events to be announced soon – keep an eye on the site for updates.

Register your support now at www.letsmakeithappen.org.uk.

The Washington Gallery will be host for South Wales Shelter Cyrmu Annual Auction. A large number of works all donated will go under the hammer to raise money for the charity.

Shelter Cymru will produce an extensive catalogue for this event and you can view pieces online at www.sheltercymru.org.uk

Shelter Cymru is Wales’ people and homes charity. Its vision is that everyone in Wales should have a decent home, and the charity deals with over 18,000 housing problems a year. It helps a wide cross section of people with a range of housing related problems, from disrepair, claiming benefits to mortage repossession.

To attend the auction contact Shelter Cymru or the Washington Gallery (02920 712100)

This exhibition unites two of Val Hunt’s touring exhibitions: Reincarnated Rubbish and the Alchemist’s Garden in one. Reincarnated Rubbish is Val Hunt’s touring solo exhibition. ‘Reincarnated Rubbish’ and ‘The Alchemist’s Garden’ are full of witty, humorous, imaginative and thought provoking constructions which will whet the appetite and encourage everyone to experience the fun of creative recycling.

Aneurin Jones
New Work
More information shortly…

Keith Harvey
Ponderings from Dinas Powys
More information shortly…

Pat Johnson
Felt Objects
More information shortly…

Barnardo’s Staff Martine Palmer and Emily… with PACL Chair Jill Penn and Lela, 11, from Barnardo’s Community Links

Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd and Cardiff & the Vale Barnardo’s Community Links Cyrmu have received a grant of £4,820 to set up a specialised Art Club for Community Links children and their carers for the lottery-funded grants programme ‘Awards for All Wales’. The art sessions, geared specially towards disabled children, will begin in September this year and end with an exhibition of work in early January 2010 at The Washington Gallery, Penarth.

The Art Club project developed from PACL’s previous 2-day outreach art workshop with a group of disabled children from Barnardo’s Community Links in October 2008. Lela, aged 11, who attended the outreach workshop, said she wanted a more regular art club – and importantly, one which their carers could come to, too: ‘There aren’t any art clubs at the moment I can go to. I would prefer a club I could go to with [my carer] Sue. She helps me when I get stuck.’ Martine Palmer, Children’s Disabled Services Manager at Barnardo’s Community Links helped develop the Art Club project in partnership with PACL to address the current deficit in art activities available to disabled children.

Maggie Knight, of Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd, is delighted at the award. She said:

“PACL was established to make art and art education accessible to everyone. This grant from the Big Lottery Fund enables us to work with the Barnardo’s team and bring the skills of experienced art tutors from Wales to the children”.

Martine Palmer was equally pleased:

“The children involved in the art workshop last time benefitted a great deal and thouroughly enjoyed the experience. I am delighted that the ‘Awards for All Wales’ grant will be able to bring this opportunity to more children.”

This exhibition draws together a selection of atmospheric seascape paintings. A predominant feature of the work is its accuracy and detail. The foundation of the art together with this accuracy lays also in technique, with observation and a sense of balance being necessary components in each piece.

Private View: Friday 21st August 6pm – 8pm – An opportunity to meet the artist and view the show first.

Vernon Jones

Vernon Jones

The gallery will show seventeen of the Washington Gallery Artists’ original 2D and 3D pieces. In collaboration with Collectorplan, the exhibition promotes art for all. Artwork can be bought and taken home by paying a 10% deposit and paid for fully later; entirely free of interest.

The Artists: Luke Shepherd, Karen Hughes, Ben Gubb, Dominic Gubb, Carolyn Merrifield, Richard O’Connell, Lois Stewart, Alan Williams, Mary Hayman, Barbara Cooper, Leonard Gibbs, Celia Roberts, Lyndon Richards, Garrod Roberts, Kari Manley, Aran Pitter & Charlotte Leadbeater

Carolyn Merrifield

Striking hand-printed relief prints by the Cardiff artist Peter Raymond, alongside vibrant coloured-clay ceramics by Frankie Locke which are inspired by natural wood and sea textures. Both have a long association with the Welsh National Opera design department.

Peter Raymond

Peter Raymond

Frankie Locke

Group exhibition. Fourteen members of the professional artists group VOGA will each show a final finished work alongside preparatory sketches and studies to illuminate the creative process from initial concept to final resolution.

Special free walking-painting tours are also happening on the 11th and 18th July – click here for details [link to news].

Bernard Van Lierop, Study for part of Homage to Edith Downing – Welsh Suffragette Sculptor

Shirley Anne Owen, Warehouses Triptych

Kay Keogh

Cardiff based artist Luke Barker shows a selection of portraits in oils on canvas accompanied by figurative drawings in charcoal and watercolour. Vivid and coarse depictions of skin and flesh characterise Barker’s work.

Luke Barker, Ellie

Luke Barker