Musicians from Wales and Brittany at the Tafwyl festival in June 2022
Global Programme- Spotlights on Culture
We are delighted to share a programme of arts and cultural activity celebrating links between Wales and France.
In the lead up to several global events in 2023 and 2024, including the Rugby World Cup and the Paris Summer Olympics, we will be supporting artists and arts organisations to connect, develop their relationships and create work with their colleagues.
Projects
Welsh music festival Tafwyl, have partnered with Trac Cymru (folk music development for Wales and across Europe) to support young musicians and producers from Wales and Brittany to meet and collaborate virtually, culminating with physical residencies and performances at the festival in June 2022. Three partnerships have been supported: Gwilym Bowen Rhys and Nolwenn Korbell, Cerys Hafana and Léa, and Sam Humphreys and Krismenn.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Orchestre National de Bretagne are developing and showcasing their partnership (partly supported in 2019 by British Council Wales Europe mobility fund). A series of exchanges in April and May 2022, , with a joint concert in April 2022, May 2022 and June 2022 have taken place and a Spring 2023 concert is planned. This concert will culminate with BBC NOW & ONB leading a joint schools / community project around the coast, sea and environment inspired by Claude Debussy’s La Mer.
Artist Anna Falcini will exhibit her work around the Welsh artist Gwen John in Dieppe, France in 2024. Falcini will partner with a French artist to explore Gwen John’s journey from Wales to Toulouse and produce a cross art form piece of work in response.
Hijinx Theatre, Wales have completed a tour through France with their ‘Meet Fred’ production in Spring 2022. They will be workshopping a French language version of the production, alongside developing resources for schools. Hijinx will work with arts organisations and venues in Northern France.
Coming Up
Further plans to engage with other arts organisations in Wales and France will be announced later this summer.