CENARTH’S pop-up river festival is taking place over the weekend 9th – 11th August as part of a new project to restore the river Teifi and share its potential for the communities that depend on it.
‘Llais yr Afon’ is a new project that celebrates the river Teifi’s natural and cultural heritage as well as encouraging its restoration. West Wales Rivers Trust, Save the Teifi, Small World Theatre and spacetocreate have formed a partnership to develop a new arts and citizen science programme for schools and communities in the lower Teifi valley, with support from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s Blue Spaces Programme and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Llais yr Afon Festival is from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August. The celebrations are free for all and include children’s creative workshops, animation workshops, live music, entry to an exhibition, nature walks, free entry and talks at the Coracle Centre, citizen scientist opportunities and welcoming Save the Teifi’s ‘Source to Sea’ river relay challenge.
The ‘Source to Sea’ river relay sets off from Llyn Teifi to Poppit Sands over three days. A team of Save the Teifi volunteers are walking, cycling and paddling the length of the river Teifi, collecting bottles of water at the source and carrying them to the sea. On their way they are visiting communities who are supporting their journey. The Llais yr Afon Festival has popped up at this time to join the celebrations in Cenarth and help make the point that the only way for unpolluted water to get from the source to the sea, is by carrying it.
Other events include free entry to an exhibition with an opportunity to view a large-scale print of the fine manuscript map compiled by the late Idris Mathias of Cardigan. The detailed, colourful map illustrates the natural resources of the lower Teifi valley between Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan Bay. The original is drawn on a single roll of cartridge paper 16 feet in length and took nearly 17 years to complete. It is held at the National Library of Wales.
Idris’ map inspired local pupils during a series of workshops supported by West Wales River Trust to add to the children’s knowledge of their river. spacetocreate artists ran visual art workshops and Small World Theatre artists worked with the same pupils at Ysgol Gymunedol Cenarth and Ysgol Llechryd to devise and perform a shadow puppet show for parents. A selection of their work will be an important part of the exhibition.
Finally, don’t miss the incredible opportunity to enjoy the music of Julie Murphy (voice and shruti box) and Ceri Rhys Matthews (flute) in a concert in Capel Cenarth as part of the Llais yr Afon Festival. Together they introduce and perform many traditional songs and dance tunes from west Wales and beyond.
An evolving festival programme with dates and times is available on Small World Theatre’s website, with updates on their social media.
