It is fair to say that the latest chapter in the history of our planet and its people has been largely dominated by extremely dark and sad elements. From the climate crisis to the suffering in Palestine, the feeling of despair seems to be spreading. During times like these people tend to turn to the arts in search of comfort, and indeed this is a significant role for the arts. As well as recognising bleak times (or joyful ones!) and reflecting these in creative media, the arts are also there to uplift and inspire people to come together and, more importantly, to give them hope.
This was at the forefront of my mind when researching what theme would be suitable for leading this year's Pethau Bychain project. While doing this work, I came across a short video of a young girl on the Wales Arts International website called Jessica who was discussing her experiences as part of Valleys Kids which is an organisation that provides vital support, advice and opportunities to people of all ages in Rhondda Cynon Taf. She expressed her joy at reflecting on how they have given her hope, made her feel like she was 'back in the light' and given her direction and purpose. This concept of using the arts as a vehicle to raise the confidence of people and wider communities was very appealing. So, it was this emphasis on hope and light that inspired this year's Pethau Bychain themes.
People look for hope and light during tough times, so this year's Pethau Bychain project aims to highlight art that represents these two characteristics. The work and projects selected represent different media and discuss or deal with profound themes in inspiring and hopeful ways. While attending COP26, Taylor Edmonds - who is the Poet in Residence of the Future Generations Commissioner - said artists can connect with people through their work and communicate the message that moments of hope and small things can make a substantial difference. So, this is a call for us all to do the Small Things.
Ani Glass is our guest curator for #PethauBychain 2024. Read about the theme she chose and the selected projects here: