Celebrating history, heritage and man’s connection to the land, the LLS-7 Big Skies Community Arts project is a mixture of theatre, public art, community workshops and exciting happenings in and around the Gwent Levels. Over the next three years the project will be working with schools and communities to develop exciting events spanning the whole landscape from Chepstow to Cardiff
Our inaugural event took place this December 1st at Newport Wetlands. Over 100 people braved inclement weather to enjoy the artistic celebration by project partners Tin Shed Theatre, a local theatre group based in Newport. Visitors were invited to roam and discover just one of the many different places to visit on the Levels, exploring what the Wetlands and the Gwent Levels mean to people, focusing on the themes of winter bird migrations, wildlife, the unique landscape, the significance of water and the natural phenomena of the starling murmurations...
Donning hats and scarfs and clutching warm drinks, visitors took a ‘wander in wonder’, enjoying the surprises lurking around each corner in the form of pop-up performances and intriguing installations, including a Bug Hotel with a Bell boy checking in snails, slugs, bees and other bugs for a night of respite, culminating in a moody twilight finale at the historic East Usk Lighthouse, complete with an actual starling murmuration! There was also the opportunity to make ‘starlings on sticks’ and see the creative writing of Year Five pupils from Bishop Childs School in St. Mellons, Crindau Primary school in Newport and Tredegar Park school in Duffryn.
We want to invite schools and communities to participate in, witness and create beautiful things in 2019. Interested? Get in touch with Gavin!
