Verges of the Rheidol is a new collaboration between two organisations and two arts practitioners based in Mid Wales; Aber Food Surplus, Summit to the Sea, Alice Briggs and Zoe Quick funded by an Arts Council of Wales Connect and Flourish R&D grant.
Our draft vision is around:
The disconnection of people and communities from food agri-culture, livelihoods, heritage and tirweddau.
with the draft aim
To foster deeper understanding, compassion and community and to explore shared practices of learning, belonging and joy along the verges of the Rheidol.
Working with local artists, performers, storytellers, musicians and writers, the project will creatively explore gathering, gleaning and foraging to begin conversations about people, land, farming, food, fibre and heritage in the verges of the Rheidol.
Verges of the Rheidol will work with the urban and rural communities that live along its 19 miles to engage in gatherings, celebrations, walks, listenings, sharings, skills workshops and re-enactments.
The project has secured funding for a pilot phase during August to December 2021 to develop the co-created project which will continue over the next few years and create a deeply embedded and lasting intervention.
The project will walk the river, mapping and defining the river in journeys of one day walks and then hosting gatherings in selected locations along the river which will include;
Nant y Moch Farm
Tymawr Farm
The Old Mill near Ponterwyd
Devil’s Bridge
Allt Boeth
Bethel Chapel studio
Statkraft Hydro electrical Power Station - and/or visitor centre and butterfly house
Coed Geufron
Aber Food Surplus Compostor Penparcau
The harbour,
These gatherings will include creative exploration in the form of;
Collection and exchange of oral histories
Exploration of creative practice
Commissioning creative responses to the river
Re-enacting and celebrating lost rural practices
Craft practices; spinning and weaving, wool dyeing with foraged plants, printing
Harvest gathering - pressing apples, bobbing apples, floating apples down the river,
Food sharing; shearing dinners,
Gathering sounds, recording/filming along the river,
Performative-conversational walks
Writing, singing, poetry, storytelling, music,
Broadsheet and/or zine (using the risograph printer acquired for the project
Verges of the Rheidol will use creative action for social impact seeking to empower the people of the Rheidol to converse with national and global institutions and organisations to influence policy making that will impact on the communities and landscapes of the verges of the Rheidol river.
