Art Trails for Fishguard and Goodwick.
Small World Theatre is appointed by Pembrokeshire County Council to work with the communities of Goodwick and Fishguard, to co-create a new art trail, or series of artworks, for the twin towns 2024.
An exhibition of draft artwork designs and locations
🗓️ 4 - 11 May 2024
📍Fishguard Town Hall
Artists to present their draft designs for new artworks connecting Goodwick and Fishguard.
22/4/24
The new artworks project commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council and awarded to Small World Theatre in December 2023, has reached a stage where the proposed artworks can be presented to the public. Residents and stakeholders of Fishguard and Goodwick are invited to join the artists at the opening of an exhibition on 4 May from 11am – 1pm in Fishguard Town Hall to see the draft artwork designs and their proposed locations, as well as offering feedback in person.
The exhibition will remain open to the public from Tuesday 7 - Saturday 11 May from 11am - 2pm.
It will explain the themes behind the artworks and include models and images by the artists, including public-realm artist Gideon Petersen, and works by artists Ann Shrosbree, Bill Hamblett, Toby Downing, Ben Cramp, Seán Vicary and Steve Knight. The exhibition will be staffed, and a comments book offers another opportunity to feedback.
The artwork will lead pedestrians and walkers along the existing walkways, paths and roads connecting Fishguard and Goodwick. Our exhibtion in Fishguard Town Hall will show these proposed locations. We’re also going to share comments and drawings from the public consultations that took place in February and March. We had over 400 comments or drawings, so there’s been lots to inspire this process.”
Project timeline.
Meet the artists
20/12/23
A presentation by Small World Theatre’s artists team took place in Theatr Gwaun in December 2023. There followed a Q+A session and an explanation of how the public consultation process was planned.
Consultancy
Phase 1
Dates in January - February 2024
Three public co-creation sessions gathered ideas in January/February. These took place in Fishguard Town Hall, The Phoenix Community Centre, Goodwick, The Point youth centre, Fishguard. In worked with pupils from local primary schools and the secondary school in February and held an online survey that closed in March 2024.
Phase 2
Consultation with Pembrokeshire County Council and Fishguard stakeholders.
An public exhibition of the draft designs for the artworks in Fishguard Town Hall, with an opening event on Saturday 4 May from 11am - 1pm. The exhibition will be open and staffed by a member of Small World’s team from Tuesday 7 May - Saturday 11 May from 11am - 2pm.
Ways to keep in touch.
An online exhibition of the draft designs will be live on 7 May.
We’re sharing our progress in a blog. You’ll find updates here.
David, artist and resident of Fishguard, is our Community Link.
The project
The trails are an opportunity to celebrate the distinctive history, culture and stories of the area and make an appealing attraction for local people and tourists alike. They form part of a wider regeneration drive funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to encourage vibrant town centres, maintain and increase footfall to support shops, decrease vacant buildings, create jobs and increase a sense of pride in place.
Small World was chosen through a competitive evaluation process involving members of the Regeneration Place team at PCC and an external public art specialist; Emma Price of Studio Response based in Cardiff. There were nine other applications from all over the UK.
The project starts this year, with a real focus on gathering ideas and sharing stories in January 2024. We'll be running a series of events to engage with as many residents and community groups as possible. Please help us share this news through your networks and in your neighbourhood.
We are a strong, creative team headed up by Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett, artists and performers who will also lead on the public engagement events. Joining us is Gideon Peterson, a Pembrokeshire based artist with many years’ experience in creating public realm artwork using a range of metals. Toby Downing and Ben Cramp are a creative duo specialising in playful and interactive sculptural projects using upcycled materials. Filmmaker and animator Séan Vicary and creative technologist Steve Knight, will add a digital wayfinding element to the project. David Pepper, Fishguard-based musician, curator and walking guide completes the team.
In January 2024, applications from Pembrokeshire based artists will be sought for a paid opportunity to join the team for ten days as a mentored artist. If this appeals to you, come along to the engagement sessions and meet the artists to find out more.
The trails will be completed by Autumn 2024, and will be launched through community public events that bring people together to celebrate this unique peninsula.
Contact
David Pepper, Community Link trails.communitylink@gmail.com
Photographs credited to filmmaker Jay Bedwani working for Pembrokeshire County Council. Jay is creating a documentary-style film following the trail’s development.
