The main aim of the festival again this year was to bring art out of the gallery and into the heart of the community with a special event celebrating sculpture. We wanted to increase opportunities for all members of our community to participate in a creative and positive way. Through the use of natural and recycled materials in the artworks, we also promoted an awareness of the diversity of our natural environment. The festival was held at three venues during the festival - Blackpill, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Caswell Beach, on Gower,an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Sandfields Beach, our city location. The ideas for the festival artworks were developed through aspects about each site and its wildlife. At Blackpill and Sandfields, cultural themes were also developed by both the Welsh and Ethnic Artists with the participants in their workshops. Other attractions at Sandfields beach included a kite-making workshop, a true eye-opener into this ancient craft, a stunning sculpture performance by the Connect Project at Caer Las in the form of a wonderful octopus with dancing tendrils cleverly choreographed by John, festival props by various community groups and local primary schools, plus an African dance workout by Afrotawe. As the sun shone down, some interesting, thought provoking and beautiful sculptures were created to adorn each beach; an exciting visual experience for all who witnessed it ...before the tide reclaimed the beach and its treasures!

Our Festival Photographer captured some of the temporary festival sculptures and special workshop moments which are featured below:- (scroll down to see all pictures and click to enlarge)

Artists running the workshops during festival 06 weekends were:

Dave Marchant, Tina Marie Cunningham, Sara Holden, Ami Marsden, Jo Steadman,

Jeff Phillips, Tafadzwa Gundu, Patricia McKenna, Sarah Griffin, Emma Ismaiel.

Click photos to enlarge, press back button to return to page

CASWELL BEACH

8th /9th July

Click photos to enlarge, press back button to return to page

BLACKPILL BEACH

15th/16th July

 

SANDFIELDS BEACH (in front of County Hall)

22nd/23rd July

Kitemaking workhops at Sandfields event by: Mr. Bin y Luo and Pan Kui Wong

African Dance workout at Sandfields by Afrotawe.

Community festival props by SBREC Women's Group, Mentariath, the Chinese Community,

and Primary Schools, Bishopston, St. Helens, Christchurch and Brynmill.

Travelling Sculpture Performance by the Connect Project at Caer Las at Sandfields event.

Thank you to everyone involved for all your hard work in making this creative event successful.

National Lottery Awards - Vote for us - See below

PLEASE VOTE FOR US - AWARDS 06 Sculpture by the Sea U.K. /Cerflun ar lan y Mor are shortlisted finalists for the National Lottery Awards 06 - having beat over 460 other projects to reach the Welsh Finals for the prestigous U.K. title of "Most Innovative Project". To vote for us visit: http://www.nationallotteryawards.org.uk/votingwales.asp

We would like to hear from you. After last year's festival, we published participants' comments in our photo feature (see Page 2) which we would like to repeat this year. Please e-mail your comments about this year's festival to:- contactus@sculpturebythesea.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you.

Sculpture by the Sea U.K./Cerflun ar lan y Mor work in association with

Education Effectiveness Service, Swansea, to maintain high standards in their work.

Click here to see last year's festival page