To all the artists, creatives, art-lovers and enthusiasts of Newport!

147 Commercial Street, Newport NP20 1LN

Firstly, thank you for your support of The Project Space in Newport over 2014 and into 2015. It has been an amazing time for all the team involved with starting up and developing this project in Newport. It has been both our pride and our honour to work with and support so many amazing and passionate people who want to see and experience even more arty goings on in our city. But the time has now come to gather feedback to feed back to our funders about what you felt the successes were of the project.

Initiated by Sally-Anne Evans, the Community Arts development officer at The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, The Project Space has been funded by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh National Government and The National Lottery to run for 1 year as a short term project. What has become clear over the last year is that space like The Project Space is both sorely needed, regularly used and highly valued in the city – and as such, we need your help.

On Tuesday 14th July, between 5:30pm and 6:30pm – we’d love it if you could pop in and give us your comments and feedback. Let us know:

How were you involved with The Project Space? Did you put on an event at the space? Did you visit one of our events?

What did having a space like this allow you to do?

What did you think we did well?

What would you like to see more of?

How well does the space connect with our community in Newport?

Did having the space increase your access or awareness to other arty goings on in the city?

Did having the space create opportunities for professional artists and creatives to create work and engage with community groups in Newport?

How do you think we could improve?

If you can’t make it on the night, feel free to email you comments to project leader Sally-Anne Evans at sally-anne.evans@newportlive.co.uk

Looking forward to seeing you there! The Project Space team x

Meet The Residents #3: Justin Cliffe & Peter Farago – “Hidden Cities”

Between Monday 11^th May and Friday 15^th May, Justin Cliffe and Peter Farago will be collecting memories of Newport, as part of their residency project, Hidden Cities at The Project Space.

Hidden Cities is a community inspired digital installation project, where real peoples’ voices enter a seemingly white space. Stepping into a bold white light your shadow reveals a once hidden city that now exists in a silhouette of you. A beautiful, digital Newport begins to come to life.

Based on a series of interviews, the artists will collect memories, stories and recordings of people’s memories in Newport. Whether they’re fond or heart-rending, they will then re-trace people’s steps and route their stories to a location of significance. Capturing that place on film, they will then create short pieces of video – animation to correspond with the stories they’re told.

One of the artists, Justin Cliffe, said of Newport, “Having worked and lived in the city for over five years, Peter and I have become quite attached to it. In love with it’s discombobulated urban landscape, enamoured by it’s roguish personality, and inspired by it’s people, we want to document the city’s stories”.

The artists want to talk to people and hear as many stories as possible. Whether you’d like to talk to them at one of their scheduled drop-ins, tweet, mail or post pictures, accessing the public’s stories is a fundamental part of this process. Drop in sessions run from Monday 11^th May to Friday 15^th May 2015.

Can’t make these sessions? To get involved with this project, you can get in touch with Justin and Peter by:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hiddencity.newport

Email: mejustincliffe@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=@jusedcliffe

Or you can post your stories and memories to:

Hidden Cities, c/o Community Arts Development, The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Kingsway, Newport, NP20 1HG

The final outcomes will be exhibited at The Project Space between Monday 25^th May to Tuesday 2^nd June. For more information, please contact the artists via their Facebook page (above).

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MEET THE RESIDENTS #2: Sara Rees – “DEMOCRACY”

Still of DEMOCRACY from Arcade Cardiff courtesy of Sara Rees

On Saturday 18th April and Saturday 2nd May, artist Sara Rees will engage shoppers and passersby in conversations about democracy at The Project Space on Newport’s Commercial Street in her performance of DEMOCRACY.

Sited in one of the now ubiquitous empty shops symptomatic of the Global Financial Crisis, DEMOCRACY explores the ideological basis to the current crisis and the threat to democracy posed by global corporate capitalism. The placing of this installation draws upon the history of democracy, which originated in the agoras of Ancient Greece. Agoras were open public spaces in the centre of the city that were both marketplace and the place of assembly, the site of both commerce and politics.

Based in a vacant retail unit shop in the centre of Newport, and appropriating the visual aesthetic and conventions of consumerism, DEMOCRACY, to all intents and purposes, is a shop. There are bright lights, piped music, and helpful sales staff on hand. There’s even a sale on. But there is nothing for sale. The consumer space has been supplanted with a discursive space, where unsuspecting shoppers are invited to reflect, engage and talk about their experience and understanding of democracy.

DEMOCRACY is made in response to the growing ferment of disillusionment that many people feel with democracy, both nationally and internationally, being increasingly compromised by the insidious influence yielded by powerful corporate elites. To remain democratic, democracy relies on participation of the people. In making this work I want to stimulate discussion about the nature of democracy and engage people with these ideas in the approach to the general election on 7^th May.

The two performances of DEMOCRACY at The Project Space will run between 10 am and 5 pm on both days. For further information, please contact the artist at reessara@hotmail.com or visit www.sararees.com

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About the artist:

Sara Rees is a practising artist from the Gower Peninsula, currently based in Cardiff. Awarded First Class Honours in Visual Performance at Dartington College of Arts, she later gained Masters in Fine Art at Cardiff School of Art & Design with Distinction. For the past fifteen years Rees has created artworks for residencies, commissions, and exhibitions; her work is exhibited both nationally and internationally, including in The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Latvia, Belgium, Montreal, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Barcelona, Glasgow, Athens, Moscow, London, Sao Paolo and Berlin. She has been the recipient of a number of awards and prizes, including First Prize for the Oriel Davies Open, a Creative Wales Award and the prestigious Leverhulme Trust Award. 

Conceptually driven, Rees works across mediums, including video, photography, performance, installation, intervention, writing, and relational art. She works both within the gallery and beyond, creating site-specific installations and interventions for a diverse range of sites, from bucolic woodlands to a derelict ex-Soviet power station. Her practice is an on-going exploration of the interface between nature and civilization, of the conditions of global capitalism in relation to the environment and the human condition. While political and provocative, Rees’ work is also playful. Often blurring the distinction between reality and fiction, her work is both uncanny and enchanting.

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Meet the Residents #1: Clary Saddler – “UPRISING”

UPRISING – Information about events with Clary Saddler at The Project Space

Between Tuesday 7th April to Saturday 9th May, artist in residence Clary Saddler will be launching her project Newport Rising at The Project Space. Delivering a project using relatable themes (e.g. the gang metaphor running parallel to the workshops), Clary hopes the project will inspire people within Newport to get more politically active. Uprising takes place in a dystopian future that exists after the collapse of our own society in a world governed by gang leaders and crime lords. By 2017, the number of people voting declined so dramatically that governments eventually got overthrown by gangs who promised their followers a brighter future but failed to deliver. Now the world is in a constant state of civil war; with each gang invading – seeking new territory. A large underground movement of rebels and political protesters hold secret meetings – identifying themselves by wearing rainbow bracelets. They strive for a democratic future; their motto “the classes against the masses”. They believe they can empower the masses through creative expression. Through a series of participatory arts workshops these sessions will explore themes of democracy through the creation of songs, raps, rhythms & beat-poetry; graffiti art, short films (holding subliminal messages of democracy) and political theatre. This will culminate in a forum theatre style performance entitled Uprising on Saturday 9th May. Timetable: Tuesday 7th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space, Rhythms & music making Wednesday 8th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space, Movie Making, music videos & adverts Thursday 9th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space, Devising forum theatre Friday 10th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space, Devising forum theatre Saturday 11th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space, Devising forum theatre Saturday 18th April – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Riverfront, Graffiti art (Riverfront) Saturday 25th April – 9:30 -12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Project Space Devising forum theatre Saturday 2nd May – 9:30 – 12:30 & 13:00 – 16:00 @ The Riverfront, Rehearsal and tech run Saturday 9th May – 9:30 – 12:30 Dress rehearsal / 13:00 – 16:00 PERFORMANCE – UPRISING @ The Project Space

For further information, please contact the artist at clary@forget-me-not-productions.co.uk or visit www.forget-me-not-productions.co.uk

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About the artist: Clary Saddler is a young practitioner who holds ‘old school’ ideals of changing the world through art. Founder and artistic director of Forget-Me-Not-Productions, she is a qualified drama teacher and producer, director, facilitator and tutor. Her background includes 15 years as a professional actor, musician, and singer/ songwriter, and has toured with such companies as Theatre for Youth and Mullet Productions.

Port Songs by Operasonic – EASTER ACTIVITIES

We love Newport – it’s a city worth singing about!
Tell us your Newport stories, and spin them into songs, working with the operasonic team – composer Stacey Blythe and director Rhian Hutchings. operasonic is holding workshops at Project Space in Newport for young people aged 10 to 14 years old on:

11am – 1pm Thursday 9th April
11am – 1pm Friday 10th April

If you would like to find out how to sign up email rhianhutchings@outlook.com
Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/operasonic

Book on Eventbrite:

Thursday 9th April https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/port-songs-easter-workshop-1-tickets-16169973827
Friday 10th April https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/port-songs-easter-workshop-2-tickets-16170016956

BENEATH THE SURFACE: NIA takeover at The Project Space

FREE – Thursday 19th – Saturday 28th March – 10am – 5pm

Beneath The Surface is a project by Newport International Airspace (NIA) who has commissioned professional artists to explore and express their own interpretation of an unsung hero living within the city of Newport. Whether it be a person, service or landmark, the artists’ unique journeys have taken them to the streets to find a character they connect with.

Through their eyes, it’s been about discovering someone or something they feel gives the city its daily pulse and vibrancy. By looking beneath the surface and behind the scenes, unexpected relationships have formed and a whole new perspective has been found.

The exhibition and performances taking place promise to be a dynamic experience. You can find out what happens to one artist as he is thrown down the challenge by an award-winning toilet attendant, or witness the conversations unravel spontaneously through traveling around on a Newport bus with no end destination in mind.

NIA will be taking over the Project Space in Newport from Thursday 19^th to Saturday 28^th March for a multi media event spanning two weeks. Through an ambitious exhibition with performances and workshops across the duration, it will show how artists connect to the communities they live in.

The event kicks off with a screening of Massimo Salvato’s film, Jonny. The film is a documentary about Newport artist, Jonathan Sherwood. Through his eyes and the constant suspension between creation and demolition, we follow the diaspora that a group of artists is stuck in since the transformation of the town centre into a big shopping mall.

There is an invite-only private viewing of the film, Jonny on Wednesday 18^th March, but tickets will be available to book along with the exhibition opening to the public from Thursday 19^th March.

Featuring artists: Art Rat, Jo Haycock, Marion Cheung, Marega Palser, Massimo Salvato, Mr and Mrs Clark, Stephanie Roberts, Steven George Jones, Tin Shed Theatre Productions and Victoria J E Jones.

Beneath The Surface is funded by Newport Community Arts Development, The Project Space and The Arts Council For Wales.

www.niabroadcast.com

www.facebook.com/newportinternationalairpace

EXCLUSIVE: Live performance of ‘Awakening’ by James Moore

Screenshot from ‘Awakening’ by James Moore.

FREE – Tuesday 3rd March – 5:30pm – Viewer discretion advised.

As part of our current exhibition, DRIFT by 2nd year BA (Hons) Photographic Art students from the University of South Wales, we will be hosting a performance by artist James Moore of his piece AWAKENING which features in the show.

The exhibition DRIFT showcases artwork produced as a result of a site-specific brief responding to ‘The RIver’, where they have integrated themselves within the local community, each individually responding and creating a diverse range of personal and explorative art whose themes address local heritage, community, and the power of the river.

This performance is a controlled exercise of immersion in water, as a representation of a fear of drowning. The artist will submerge his head into the bowl of water until he is out of air. He will do this until he cannot continue. The performance projects him into the reality of his fear – to overcome it he must attempt to confront it. Viewer discretion is advised as the performance may include scenes some viewers find upsetting.

The exhibition continues until Thursday 5th March 2015, and is open between 10am and 4pm daily.
For more information about the exhibition DRIFT and to contact the artists, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1589111567969857

Newport International Airspace – more workshops coming up!

Newport International Airspace are a group of professional artists who work collaboratively with others to showcase the talent, space and diversity within and around Newport. The next in a series of workshops, talks and events in the city, (you may well have seen photos from photographer Jo Haycocks’ workshop from last weekend – fully booked before we could promote it!) we’re proud to be supporting their latest workshops in the next coming weeks at The Project Space.

FREE to attend – booking essential, age restrictions may apply. Please contact via http://niabroadcast.com BEFORE attending.

MAKING PERFORMANCE – Saturday 14th February 2015

Gareth Clark is one half of Mr and Mrs Clark, the Newport based performance duo and is running an introductory workshop based on his performance practice. This workshop is ideal for adults and will involve some movement so loose, comfortable clothing is recommended.

MOVEMENT & MARK MARKING – Saturday 21st February 2015

Led by Marega Palser, also of Newport International Airspace, join us for a session of movement and drawing. The session will involve some movement so loose, comfortable clothing again is recommended.

DEADLINE EXTENDED – Call Out: Residencies 2015

Well there’s nothing quite like a deadline to encourage submissions!  Due to the success and popularity of the Open Call, we’re extending the deadline for these residencies by 1 week to midnight on FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2015. Just incase you missed it, here are all the details once again:

Call out for proposals for Residencies at The Project Space

A printable version of this document is available at: FINALCalloutforResidencies2014

See also: FAQs Residency / Guidelines / Terms & Conditions

Who we are & what we do:

The Project Space is a cultural community platform for the creative arts in Newport, South Wales. Initiating, developing and delivering a programme of performances, exhibitions, workshops and activities in the heart of the city, we deliver events that are responsive to both the needs and interests of our wider community.

Building on the success of previous schemes piloted in the city, Empty Shops Project (2010) and URBAN (2011-12), we exist to facilitate creativity in the community, and create opportunities for people to engage with the arts in Newport.

Project & Proposals:

We would like to build on the considerable success of projects involving our community and are inviting proposals from creative practitioners for projects based in and emanate from the city of Newport. Proposals can be for projects in any form and might include process-led residencies or a series of events, but should start with an engagement with the communities of Newport, whether that is an object, landmark, activity or group.

One aim of this project is to support and encourage new opportunities and an active artist presence for creative practitioners in Newport as well as generate professional and cultural opportunities to work within the city.  We will provide support, guidance, use of our resources and equipment, and act as a sounding board to hear and develop ideas. Also, throughout the project, you will have the benefit of mentoring and/or feedback and dialogue with visual artist who has knowledge and experience of developing a practice that relates to community based activity. In addition, you will be able to use The Project Space as a workspace and will have access to shared and heated communal areas.

You will be expected to present the outcomes of your residency project at the end or during the project period. There is no fixed format in which this should happen and will most likely be responsive to the outcome of your work. This will most likely mean a small-scale exhibition, talk, performance or other event that can be accommodated within The Project Space building.

Another aim of the project is to develop The Project Space as a resource within the community, and to encourage increased awareness and use of it by making art available and accessible directly to the wider general public. Applicants therefore should give an idea of how their project would highlight certain aspects of The Project Space, or generate an activity that encourages direct engagement with Newport residents.

In addition:

The Residencies will run along side regularly programmed events at The Project Space. Those units will be used as development spaces during weekdays and be open to the public each Saturday. During this time, we will continue to run our advertised programme of talks, activities and events. Before submitting a proposal, it is strongly recommended you come into The Project Space and familiarise yourself with our programme, as well as our immediate area in Newport. The Project Space is open Tuesday – Saturday between 10 am – 2 pm, and you are welcome to pop in any time. If however you have a specific time you would like to visit, we recommend you call or email in advance and arrange an appointment.

For more information, please email sally-anne.evans@newport.gov.uk or theprojectspacenpt@gmail.com

 

Timescale of project: 20 days during March – April 2015.

Outcomes of project: To be exhibited, documented or presented during May 2015.

Stipend: Maximum £2000

PROCESS

Applications for these residencies close on Friday 20th February 2015. Strictly no late submissions will be accepted. A panel of community representatives will then meet in February to review the submissions and generate a shortlist of artists. These artists will then be invited to interview with the panel about their proposals during that month, before the final Artists-in-Residence are chosen.

All successful shortlisted artists will be contacted directly via email no later than Wednesday 25th February. Successful residents will be notified by Wednesday 12th March.

How to apply:

To make an application for this project, please email the following material to theprojectspacenpt@gmail.com

• A current CV (including website / blog and contact information).
• A proposal outlining your idea and its aims, including how it will highlight content or generate activity in The Project Space on Newport. The proposal should be 500 words maximum. A financial breakdown of how you expect to use the stipend for the proposal is also desirable.
• Up to 12 photographic images of your 2D/3D work saved as jpgs, 1MB max per image, and/or:
• Video / audio documentation of your time-based work, performance or show reel.

Deadline for applications: Friday 20th February 2015

These residencies would not be possible without the generous support of The Project Space by the Arts Council Of Wales, for which we show our thanks.

A printable version of this document is available at: FINALCalloutforResidencies2014

MOLECULE: Tin Shed Theatre Company and Dino Rovaretti

Tuesday 10th February – 7.30pm – £3 tickets (includes a free glass of wine / beer)

The brainchild of Newport’s Tin Shed Theatre Company, Molecule is a new project development scheme that offers space, resource, opinion, and financial support to artists seeking a platform for work in it’s early, physical stages of development.

The very first Molecule sharing will see Newport born Dino Rovaretti develop a new autobiographical piece of work, entitled: Made Of Paper. Dino Rovaretti is a Newport born Performing Artist who recently graduated from Falmouth University and is currently based in Bristol.

Molecule is open to Welsh and International participants, and aims to assist the creation and development of new work that falls under the category of ‘Theatre’ ‘Performance’ or ‘Live Art’.

Supported by National Theatre Wales:TEAM and The Project Space, Tin Shed Theatre Company aim to run Molecule twice a year. For more information on Molecule, and information on how to pick up tickets, please visit: http://tinshedtheatre.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/molecule-sharing.html