Cysylltu…Connecting
Arbrawf gan Ellen Davies - An Experiment by Ellen Davies
In Collaboration with…
Summary of the year long co-collaboration project between artists with lived experience of poor mental Health etc.. and community members, exploring the concept of isolation and connection. SOUND YOUR VOICE - BE HEARD - RE-CONNECT - RECOVER!
Amdan/About
This experiment is a community arts project weaving original conversations and poetry, music, movement, clay, paint and dance to create a new conversation, that goes beyond words: To feel a part of rather than apart from and thereby improving well being and mental health..... SOUND YOUR VOICE - BE HEARD - RE-CONNECT - RECOVER!
A dozen or so professional artists (musicians potters dancers film makers ) are involved from North Wales, Turkey and England. Most of them have lived experience of mental health issues of different kinds.
Together we have been creatively exploring combatting social isolation, making recovery visible in the community. We are now working towards sharing the results as a public experience at Pontio 5.30-7.30pm on 14 January 2024, enabling learning and ongoing development.
What have we done so far?
Cysylltu… Connecting comprises 4 Stages which flow from each other:
Stage 1 - a series of professionally led workshops
Workshops were delivered at various venues including Penrhyn House and Llyn Alaw, researching how creative arts can support recovery from poor mental health and addictions in ways anyone can appreciate and benefit from. There was no need to be “arty” to take part!
In partnership with the North Wales Recovery Centre, five workshops at Penrhyn House Bangor were offered to residents and others in recovery. And other workshops were delivered in the community giving a taste of the Penrhyn workshops to various other interested groups.
These workshops are now completed, and a number of organisations including Kalaidoscope (rehabilitating ex offenders) plus Mental health professionals and GPs looking at a social prescribing programme have confirmed interest in taking this work further.
We are currently evaluating and documenting feedback from workshop participants, along with the reports of Observers who were at each workshop.
‘Holding Space’ support for the facilitators will conclude with a group creative exercise facilitated by Lisa Hudson and Ellen Davies during October.
Stage 2 - working towards an exhibition and performance at Pontio 2024
We have now begun the second phase of Cysylltu… Connecting, involving artists researching and developing the workshop material.
We are working in residence at Pontio to create “conversations” on the Cysylltu… theme SOUND YOUR VOICE - BE HEARD - RE-CONNECT - RECOVER! We have held two sessions to start working on material through the media of music, dance, mark making, clay and spoken word, with more R&D sessions planned.
The results will be shared at a public performance at Pontio on 14 January 2024 at 5.30pm. There will also be a month-long exhibition documenting our journey. Please join us!
For more information contact Ellie
Stage 3 - exhibition and performance at Pontio, 14 January 2024 6-8pm
