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National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

A Month of Arts and Music in Mid Wales

Ingredient X - Powys Arts Month
11th August – 16th September 2007

Fifty six different arts events, taking place the length and breadth of the county over four weeks - every Ingredient X event includes an opportunity to engage with the arts and artists as more than just a spectator.

Over twenty visual artists and craftsmakers are opening their studios, for visitors to enjoy their work and talk to them about what they have created. Musicians, filmmakers and theatre directors will invite audiences, not just to enjoy their performances, but also to talk with them about their ideas and approaches. There are hands-on opportunities to get creative in workshops alongside professional artists. You can even share a day with a poet, exploring ideas and inspiration. Many of the events are suitable for families, and many of them are free of charge.

Machynlleth Festival
19th August – 26th August 2007

The Machynlleth Festival takes place at The Tabernacle in late August every year. During the week eminent performers take part in events ranging from classical music to jazz. This is combined with lectures and art exhibitions to interest and entertain people of all ages, whatever their tastes.

This year star attractions include Adriano Graziani, Annette Bryn Parri, Dylan Cernyw, Rhys Meirion, Sarah - Jane Davies, Jack Liebeck, the Leopold String Trio and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

Special features are the Hallstatt Lecture on an aspect of Celtic culture and the Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the Arts in Wales. Alongside the Tabernacle is MOMA (Museum of Modern Art, Wales), where the Tabernacle Art Competition will be on view during August.

Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts
23rd – 28th August 2007

The twenty-fifth anniversary Presteigne Festival celebrates with a wonderfully wide programme of events. There will be a strong Australian presence with Peter Sculthorpe as composer-in-residence, music by Percy Grainger and a special Sidney Nolan exhibition at The Rodd.

The festival includes concerts, talks, composers in conversation, exhibitions, poetry readings, children's shows and a guided walk. Among the venues to be used are St Andrew's Church in Presteigne, the jewel in the festival's crown with its exquisite acoustic, and village churches and halls nestling in the beautiful countryside of the surrounding Welsh Marches.

The advocacy of new music continues with the premieres of no fewer than sixteen works from a wide range of the finest British composers. Once again the artist roster is sensational with many favourites returning (including Alice Neary, Sarah-Jane Bradley, Carole Cerasi and Gretel Dowdeswell) and some exceptional musicians appearing for the very first time, among them violinist Sara Trickey, the Psophos Quartet from France, oboist Virginia Shaw and Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson.

With twenty-five events, magnificent scenery, wonderful music and outstanding musicians, who could fail to fall under the spell of this magical place?

Barmouth Arts Festival
2nd - 8th September 2007

For more than 30 years, this festival has grown to become an established part of the cultural life of Barmouth. Taking place mainly in the Dragon Theatre, the week's programme is a mix of classical and popular entertainment and includes both professional and local artists performing in music and drama productions, plus art & craft exhibitions.

Barmouth is one of the most picturesque resorts on the Welsh coast and is surrounded by the unrivalled splendour of the Snowdonia National Park. A traditional seaside resort, Barmouth has miles of unbroken golden sands. The recently refurbished Dragon Theatre is in a splendid position overlooking the promenade.

Famous men have sung the praise of Barmouth - Percy Bysshe Shelly visited Barmouth with his wife in 1812 and subsequently wrote of Barmouth 'with its sands and terraced rocks'. Tennyson and Darwin both visited the town and Ruskin, who never tired of extolling the beauties of Barmouth and environs linked his name with the ‘Ruskin Cottages’ high on the rock above the harbour.