ABERYStWYTH
HOME'S HISTORY. NEW HOME. HOMEMAKERS.
ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE
Home and Hinterland Aberystwyth - from November 2021 three artists and students from Aberystwyth University led projects with babies born during the pandemic and their carers, student societies and individuals who had moved to Aberystwyth from all over the world, and singing groups from across rural Ceredigion.
During conversations, gatherings, and regular workshops exploring everything from robotics to magic tricks, photography to Viking burial practices, and from singing to swimming, these groups discussed the history of our home County and its hinterland, what it means to say goodbye to one home and find another, and how we support those who make our homes. These led to three open events that brought people from across Ceredigion together to celebrate our past, present, and future, and really question what has changed about home, what we want to hold on to and what we want to change.
Across the three projects, "Tân Morgana / The Burning of Morgana", "Iâs", and "Creuwyd dan Glo / Made in Lockdown", we reawakened our connections with each other after the pandemic, tried new things and shared experiences with over 500 people from all over the county. Aberystwyth Arts Centre would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part, from small businesses to community members, and made this such a unique and special project filled with your creative ideas.
THE BURNING OF MORGANA
Jesse Briton's starting point was noticing how integral Aberystwyth beach was to people's wellbeing during the lockdowns, with swimmers going out early every morning, fires at night, and students and community members walking there every day.
MADE IN LOCKDOWN
Rebecca Smith Williams met weekly from November 2021 to March 2022 with a group of parents and carers of babies born during the pandemic, having been inspired by her own experiences of becoming a mother during this time. There was weekly coffee and cake, chats about what it's like to be a parent, and shared thoughts on the role of care in society.
Hymns and ices
Eddie Ladd and an ice cream van travelled the length of Ceredigion, calling at towns and villages that have hymns named after them. The van visited fouteen that day starting early and ending in the dark on the prom at Aberystwyth. There were singers and there were ice creams. There is nothing like the Iâs (the thrill and shiver) of a minor key and a major sugar rush.