December Newsletter
END OF YEAR MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
"As 2023 draws to a close I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Ffotogallery this year. Whether you have visited us at the gallery, attended online events or encouraged friends and family to do so, we’re extremely grateful for your continued support. Our volunteers have been exceptional this year, so thank you to everyone who has given up their time to help with installing exhibitions, invigilating and helping out with events – we couldn’t do what we do without you.
Over the last few months it has been a great delight to showcase the work of some of the best local emerging talent in Wales and to get to know these brilliant artists. Due to the popularity of our current Ffocws exhibition we are extending it to the beginning of February 2024. We’re preparing for a busy year of exhibitions and events in 2024, with some exciting projects already in the pipeline. Our next Gallery Reset exhibition (supported by Art Fund), opens in early March and will be curated by photojournalist and researcher Nelly Ating. The exhibition will focus on reimagining photographic archives within the gallery context. We are also looking forward to developing new projects supported by the British Council for a new international partnership with FotoFeminas in Latin America. Watch this space!"
With seasonal best wishes from Siân and the Ffotogallery team - we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
FAREWELL ALEX
Our wonderful colleague Alex is sadly leaving her role as Operations Manager at Ffotogallery and moving on to pastures new. Alex joined Ffotogallery through a Natwest Internship scheme back in 2018, and worked hard to become a core member of the team.
Here is what Alex has to say about her time at Ffotogallery:
“I can’t believe that it’s time to move on! I’ve had the most incredible time working alongside the fantastic team on such amazing projects (including two editions of Diffusion, exhibitions all over the world, and also shows that nurture new talent closer to home in Wales). Many thanks to the artists, volunteers & freelancers that I’ve worked with over the last five years for making it so lovely.”
We wish Alex the best of luck with her new adventure with the Welsh National Opera, and know she will do amazingly in her new role. A cup of Earl Grey to go?
JANUARY PICK-ME-UP PHOTO ESSAY PROJECT
January can be a long, dark month after the highs of the holidays so we’d like to invite you all to join in on a project designed to help improve our wellbeing and lift our spirits! Our aim is to create a space where creativity and wellbeing intersect.
At the start of 2023 we ran a project with daily prompts but this time we’ve decided to do it a bit differently. Instead of a prompt every day, we will issue a prompt at the start of each of the 5 weeks in January (4 full weeks and three days in week 5). The themes will follow the 5 Themes of Wellbeing and we invite you to create a photo essay that explores the theme for each new week with as many or as few photographs as you would like to capture.
Find out more about how you can get involved by visiting our website below.
FFOCWS ARTIST TALKS
Did you miss our recent online artist talks? Don’t worry! We’ve put the recordings online so you can have a sit down with a cup of tea and watch our brilliant Ffocws artists talk in-depth about their projects to give you, the audience, a better insight into the works on display.
FFOCWS VIRTUAL TOUR
If you haven’t had the chance to pop in, or can’t get down to Ffotogallery - don’t worry! We can bring it to you with our 360 degree virtual tour of the exhibition, you’ll feel like you were really there. See some brilliant work by the fourteen exhibiting artists from the comfort of your own home.
PANEL DISCUSSION RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE
The audio recording of the panel discussion Barriers Facing Young Disabled Artists with Suzie Larke, Jack Moyse and Joshua Jones is now available to access on our website (audio transcript also available). If you were unable to attend the event, you can now listen to this important and informative panel discussion online.
TEA AND CAKE TUESDAY
The next Tea and Cake Tuesday takes place on Tuesday 9th of January 2024. We will be open from 11am - 1pm with staff on hand to greet you and tell you more about the exhibitions and events coming up at Ffotogallery.
You might also like:
The Gods Are All Here (online on demand)
Following a successful tour across 20 dates in England this autumn, and his earlier tour across Wales in 2022, Welsh Storyteller Phil Okwedy, with support from producers, Adverse Camber will now be streaming The Gods Are All Here on demand from 11 December 2023 until 1 January 2024.
Poverty, Language and the New Poor Law in Wales, 1834-1871
Friday, 26 Jan 2024 at 2pm (online)
Records specialist Paul Carter will examine some of the issues faced by the Welsh poor and the ways in which Welsh culture was highlighted in the political battles around welfare. He’ll also discuss comparisons of Welsh pauper and advocate letters with their English pauper and advocate counterparts.
Gludafael / Holdfast
Friday 24 November 2023 - Sunday 10 March 2024
10:00 am - 4:30 pm at Glynn Vivian, Swansea
A group exhibition in which a collective of eight artists navigate art’s capacity to respond to the climate emergency.
Open 2024 - Plas Brondanw
The theme and inspiration of this year's Open exhibition is 'Transformation', this will coincide with an exhibition of Susan Williams-Ellis' work in the drawing room at the top of the stairs. You are welcome to interpret the theme in any way that sparks your imagination.
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The gallery is now closed over the seasonal period! Ffocws 2023 reopens on Wednesday 3rd of January 2024, and has now been extended until Saturday 3 February so you will have a few extra weeks to come and see it in the new year.