Monthly Archives: 04:32 PM

Festival hits high notes with new funding deal

Pictured is Carys Wynne Williams and Ann Atkinson at St Asaph Cathedral.

One of Wales’s top music festivals is celebrating after clinching a major funding deal.
The North Wales International Music Festival, at St Asaph Cathedral, has secured a £40,000 grant from the North Wales Regional Arts Lottery Fund.
The successful bid came after the Wales Arts Council changed the way it funds festivals.
Organisers believe it is a reward for the “huge success” of last year’s event against all the economic odds.
Audience figures went up by 14 per cent on the previous year at a time when other similar events struggled, with a number of high profile casualties like Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival which was cancelled for the second year running.
Artistic Director Ann Atkinson said: “The funding for all festivals will change from them being revenue funded organisations funded by the Arts Council to going into a new pot of funding that comes via the National Lottery.
“In many ways, it will ensure that all festivals are on a level playing field. When you’ve been revenue funded, it’s very scary going out of that comfort zone but it means we are able to do earlier planning and it should work out well for us.
“It was a great delight and relief to find out that our bid for funding had been successful for this year from the North Wales Regional Arts Lottery fund.”
“I felt that we had been supported greatly by the Arts Council and the staff of the North Wales Office.”
“We felt a great sense of support when we were making the transition – they value what we’re doing.
“It is a special event in a very special place and this year will be our 39th year so we are looking forward to our 40th anniversary next year.
“When the late Professor William Matthias, our founder, tried to find the best acoustic in North Wales he chose St Asaph Cathedral.
“The acoustic is exceptional because of the combination of wood and stone. It’s a very crisp and a very clean acoustic which enhances any performance.
“There is a great deal of affection for the festival among our supporters.
“Some of the core audiences have come faithfully every year and many of the stewards are hardy perennials. We’ve also got sponsors who go back to the beginning.
“The performers who come are always very happy to be asked back because the audience creates a very special atmosphere.
“We are certainly not resting on our laurels and we are going all out to get even more people through the doors this year.
“As well as a host of world class performers, we believe in giving a chance to the next generation of musical stars.
“This year we’re hoping to stage Noye’s Fludde (Noah’s Flood) by Benjamin Britten – it will have about 100 schoolchildren in it.
“We’ll also have National Youth Jazz Wales as well so we’ll have quite a young feel to the festival.
“Another important part of the festival is reaching out into the community and getting people in who would never ever have dreamt of coming to the festival.
“The aim is to get them to realise that classical music is very accessible – good music is good music.”
Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales said: “Our new scheme for funding festivals will allow us to fund the very best of Wales’s engaging, celebratory and inspiring festivals. North Wales International Music Festival aims to bring the finest international classical artists to North Wales.
“Festivals like this are an important part of cultural life for local communities, and for many they can be the highlight of the year.
“We are delighted to support a Festival that plays such role and we are pleased to be supporting the passion and imagination of the programme that the Festival is offering.”

One of Wales’s top music festivals is celebrating after clinching a major funding deal.
The North Wales International Music Festival, at St Asaph Cathedral, has secured a £40,000 grant from the North Wales Regional Arts Lottery Fund.
The successful bid came after the Wales Arts Council changed the way it funds festivals.
Organisers believe it is a reward for the “huge success” of last year’s event against all the economic odds.

Audience figures went up by 14 per cent on the previous year at a time when other similar events struggled, with a number of high profile casualties like Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival which was cancelled for the second year running.

Artistic Director Ann Atkinson said: “The funding for all festivals will change from them being revenue funded organisations funded by the Arts Council to going into a new pot of funding that comes via the National Lottery.
“In many ways, it will ensure that all festivals are on a level playing field. When you’ve been revenue funded, it’s very scary going out of that comfort zone but it means we are able to do earlier planning and it should work out well for us.
“It was a great delight and relief to find out that our bid for funding had been successful for this year from the North Wales Regional Arts Lottery fund.”
“I felt that we had been supported greatly by the Arts Council and the staff of the North Wales Office.”
“We felt a great sense of support when we were making the transition – they value what we’re doing.
“It is a special event in a very special place and this year will be our 39th year so we are looking forward to our 40th anniversary next year.
“When the late Professor William Matthias, our founder, tried to find the best acoustic in North Wales he chose St Asaph Cathedral.
“The acoustic is exceptional because of the combination of wood and stone. It’s a very crisp and a very clean acoustic which enhances any performance.
“There is a great deal of affection for the festival among our supporters.
“Some of the core audiences have come faithfully every year and many of the stewards are hardy perennials. We’ve also got sponsors who go back to the beginning.
“The performers who come are always very happy to be asked back because the audience creates a very special atmosphere.
“We are certainly not resting on our laurels and we are going all out to get even more people through the doors this year.
“As well as a host of world class performers, we believe in giving a chance to the next generation of musical stars.
“This year we’re hoping to stage Noye’s Fludde (Noah’s Flood) by Benjamin Britten – it will have about 100 schoolchildren in it.
“We’ll also have National Youth Jazz Wales as well so we’ll have quite a young feel to the festival.
“Another important part of the festival is reaching out into the community and getting people in who would never ever have dreamt of coming to the festival.
“The aim is to get them to realise that classical music is very accessible – good music is good music.”
Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales said: “Our new scheme for funding festivals will allow us to fund the very best of Wales’s engaging, celebratory and inspiring festivals. North Wales International Music Festival aims to bring the finest international classical artists to North Wales.
“Festivals like this are an important part of cultural life for local communities, and for many they can be the highlight of the year.
“We are delighted to support a Festival that plays such role and we are pleased to be supporting the passion and imagination of the programme that the Festival is offering.”

Thursday February 24th, 2011

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Events

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Store reaches new jobs milestone

DEBENHAMS EAGLES MEADOW, WREXHAM
A scheme to rescue unemployed people from the dole queue has reached a major milestone at a top department store in Wrexham.
Debenhams at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre has now taken on a total of 50 people thanks to the Local Employment Partnership with the town’s branch of Job Centre Plus.
The shop reached the milestone after eight temporary staff employed during the pre-Christmas rush were given permanent positions.
Among the lucky 50 recruited since the store opened two and half years ago is Gareth Hughes, 28, who was out of work for four years before he was accepted for a two-week pre-employment course at Debenhams.
The first week included training and confidence building sessions and during the second week he spent four hours a day on the shop floor.
As the father of a two year old daughter, Charlotte, and another baby on the way, the timing couldn’t be better for Gareth, who works in the wedding gift department.
He said: “I wanted to provide for my family and being out of work and unable to find work was one of the worst points in my life.
“At the end of the two weeks I had an interview and they offered me a permanent contract.
“It was brilliant because we had been struggling to make ends meet on the dole money.
“It’s an amazing place to work, the people are great and the managers are brilliant. It’s the best place I have ever worked in. I am really happy.”
Equally delighted is Amber Lloyd, 23, who now works as a sales advisor for the Tripp Luggage concession at the store.
Amber really struggled to get a job after graduating from university with a first class honours degree in illustration.
She recalled:  “I was looking to work, writing to employers and applying for jobs – anything really for a means to live. Job hunting became a job in itself, it was a nightmare.
“Coming to Debenhams has done me a load of good and helped my confidence because it can be very demoralising trying for jobs and not getting replies from people.
“It was one of the most difficult times in my life but now things are very different. I just feel like a different person. I feel a lot more confident now – it has changed me for the better.”
“It’s going really well. I’m going into my second year and Tripp Luggage is expanding a moving into a bigger space and I’ll have a back office which will make things more efficient.
“It’s all positive, full steam ahead. It’s really exciting because we will have more products coming in so it will be really good.
According to Debenhams Sales Manager Andy Ray, the partnership with Job Centre Plus has been extremely positive for them too.
He said: “It’s something we want to build on. Whatever we can do in terms of vacancies, we try and employ local people.
“We have around 120 people working at Debenhams and a substantial percentage of them have come via the Job Centre Plus route.
“They are people who have had difficulty finding a job and have been unemployed for six months or more.
“We give them pre-employment training which involves a two-week course which gives them a bit of experience on the shop floor.
“As part of the scheme, we took on about 15 temporary staff during the later part of last year to cater for the Christmas rush and we have kept on eight of them on.
“It’s great for them because they probably thought it was only a three month job but they have got a permanent job at the end of it.
“Everyone’s a winner. It’s really important to us that we get local people working and a bit of pride in Wrexham.
“There is a great deal of doom and gloom in the media but I think Eagles Meadow in general and Debenhams in particular had a really successful Christmas.
“I think that 2011 which has been designated the Year of Culture in Wrexham could be a fantastic year for the retailers and for the town as well.
“It seems to have given everybody a lift already, so long may it continue.
“There’s a real sense of optimism at Eagles Meadow and we are building year on year, contributing to the whole of the local economy.”
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley added: “I would like congratulate Debenhams on an amazing achievement.
“We are proud of our record in creating more than 1,000 new retail jobs Wrexham since Eagles Meadow opened, helping to boost the town’s economic heartbeat.”

A scheme to rescue unemployed people from the dole queue has reached a major milestone at a top department store in Wrexham.Debenhams at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre has now taken on a total of 50 people thanks to the Local Employment Partnership with the town’s branch of Job Centre Plus.The shop reached the milestone after eight temporary staff employed during the pre-Christmas rush were given permanent positions.Among the lucky 50 recruited since the store opened two and half years ago is Gareth Hughes, 28, who was out of work for four years before he was accepted for a two-week pre-employment course at Debenhams.The first week included training and confidence building sessions and during the second week he spent four hours a day on the shop floor.As the father of a two year old daughter, Charlotte, and another baby on the way, the timing couldn’t be better for Gareth, who works in the wedding gift department.He said: “I wanted to provide for my family and being out of work and unable to find work was one of the worst points in my life.“At the end of the two weeks I had an interview and they offered me a permanent contract.“It was brilliant because we had been struggling to make ends meet on the dole money.“It’s an amazing place to work, the people are great and the managers are brilliant. It’s the best place I have ever worked in. I am really happy.”Equally delighted is Amber Lloyd, 23, who now works as a sales advisor for the Tripp Luggage concession at the store.Amber really struggled to get a job after graduating from university with a first class honours degree in illustration.She recalled:  “I was looking to work, writing to employers and applying for jobs – anything really for a means to live. Job hunting became a job in itself, it was a nightmare.“Coming to Debenhams has done me a load of good and helped my confidence because it can be very demoralising trying for jobs and not getting replies from people. “It was one of the most difficult times in my life but now things are very different. I just feel like a different person. I feel a lot more confident now – it has changed me for the better.” “It’s going really well. I’m going into my second year and Tripp Luggage is expanding a moving into a bigger space and I’ll have a back office which will make things more efficient.“It’s all positive, full steam ahead. It’s really exciting because we will have more products coming in so it will be really good.According to Debenhams Sales Manager Andy Ray, the partnership with Job Centre Plus has been extremely positive for them too.He said: “It’s something we want to build on. Whatever we can do in terms of vacancies, we try and employ local people.“We have around 120 people working at Debenhams and a substantial percentage of them have come via the Job Centre Plus route.“They are people who have had difficulty finding a job and have been unemployed for six months or more.“We give them pre-employment training which involves a two-week course which gives them a bit of experience on the shop floor.“As part of the scheme, we took on about 15 temporary staff during the later part of last year to cater for the Christmas rush and we have kept on eight of them on.“It’s great for them because they probably thought it was only a three month job but they have got a permanent job at the end of it.“Everyone’s a winner. It’s really important to us that we get local people working and a bit of pride in Wrexham.“There is a great deal of doom and gloom in the media but I think Eagles Meadow in general and Debenhams in particular had a really successful Christmas.“I think that 2011 which has been designated the Year of Culture in Wrexham could be a fantastic year for the retailers and for the town as well.“It seems to have given everybody a lift already, so long may it continue. “There’s a real sense of optimism at Eagles Meadow and we are building year on year, contributing to the whole of the local economy.”Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley added: “I would like congratulate Debenhams on an amazing achievement.“We are proud of our record in creating more than 1,000 new retail jobs Wrexham since Eagles Meadow opened, helping to boost the town’s economic heartbeat.”

Thursday February 24th, 2011

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News

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Lovely Lauren backs campaign to preserve our magnificent moorland

Lauren Knowles with Nick Critchley and Paul Davies at the Horeshoe Pass near Llangollen
Lovely Lauren Knowles is lending a touch of glamour to a campaign to preserve some of Wales’s most scenic and spectacular landscape.
The gorgeous gal from Prestatyn is the face of this weekend’s Llangollen Motorbike Show and she has been busy helping distribute information about the Heather and Hillforts project.
The 20-year-old has been on the Horseshoe Pass with the Heather and Hillforts Project’s Moorland Field Officer, Nick Critchley to meet bikers and encourage them to sign up to the campaign to promote responsible off-roading on two wheels and four.
The former Miss Prestatyn, who was third in the Miss Wales competition, also took time out to see some of the preservation work that has been done on footpaths which cross the heather moorland – and some of the damage that has been done by illegal off-roading.
Lauren will be at the show at the Royal International Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, where one of her duties will be to help judge this year’s Biker Babe competition.
She said: “This wonderful landscape is part of our heritage and is something which has to be preserved.
“The Motorbike Show can play a part in that by helping people to enjoy off-roading legitimately and that’s why we’re happy to have the Heather and Hillforts campaign at the show.”
Also part of the Heather and Hillforts stand at the show will be national organisation Tread Lightly which aims to promote responsible off-roading and whose Project Manager is Mark Margetts.
He said: “We want to engage and find a way of getting on together. Treadlightly has been going in the USA for 25 years and is a highly respected, credible and positive organisation.
“The popular conception of off-roaders might be of young kids on old bikes tearing round the place but it couldn’t be further from the truth – the majority act responsibly and this just happens to be their hobby.
“We want to encourage responsible off-roading and encourage people to act legally, join a responsible user group or club, and use legal routes.”
Nick Critchley added: “We want to send out a positive message that there are places where people can enjoy off-roading and we will have information about those routes and places that can be used.
“We support Tread Lightly in what they aim to achieve and to direct our message at off-roaders and help them find out how to do what they do legally.
“We will be at the show with merchandise and information about the Heather and Hillforts campaign and the importance of the landscape of our moorlands both from an ecological and an historical perspective.
“The people who are riding their bikes and driving their 4x4s illegally are ruining this magnificent countryside for everyone else.”
Rare species and their priceless habitats are being illegally endangered and damaged by off-road motorbikes and 4x4s and so are the Iron Age hillforts which are a very special feature of the uplands of Denbighshire.
The campaign, catchphrase is ‘don’t leave home without it’ and led by Denbighshire Countryside Services, encourages farmers, ramblers and others who enjoy the county’s wide open spaces to carry a special telephone number with them – or even key it into their mobile phones – to report the vandals.
Nick Critchley said: “We want the legitimate off-roaders to join us in this and report those they know are acting illegally because they are giving all off-roaders a bad name.
“But ideally we want prosecution to be a last resort for those who refuse to get the message – we would much sooner persuade people and ifnrom them and that’s what we hope to do at the Motorbike Show.”
Denbighshire County Council’s Heather and Hillforts Project covers the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Horseshoe Pass and Llantysilio Mountains, part of the Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains and Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The campaign to protect them is backed by North Wales Police, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales.
They are appealing for the public’s help in catching and convicting the offenders who are liable to be fined up to £20,000 and can have their vehicles seized and crushed.
That Police telephone number – 0845 6071002 or 0845 6071001 for Welsh language callers – means that anyone seeing illegal off-roaders tearing up the landscape can immediately report them.
The Motobike Show will once again include wide range of bikes on display, exhibitors, attractions, features & entertainment. The Custom Bike Show introduced in 2009 will return (more details to follow), there will also be more bike parking spaces on site.
For more information on the Heather and Hillforts campaign go to www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk and for further details of the Motorbike Show check out www.themotorcycleshow.co.uk

Lovely Lauren Knowles is lending a touch of glamour to a campaign to preserve some of Wales’s most scenic and spectacular landscape.The gorgeous gal from Prestatyn is the face of this weekend’s Llangollen Motorbike Show and she has been busy helping distribute information about the Heather and Hillforts project.The 20-year-old has been on the Horseshoe Pass with the Heather and Hillforts Project’s Moorland Field Officer, Nick Critchley to meet bikers and encourage them to sign up to the campaign to promote responsible off-roading on two wheels and four.The former Miss Prestatyn, who was third in the Miss Wales competition, also took time out to see some of the preservation work that has been done on footpaths which cross the heather moorland – and some of the damage that has been done by illegal off-roading.Lauren will be at the show at the Royal International Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, where one of her duties will be to help judge this year’s Biker Babe competition.She said: “This wonderful landscape is part of our heritage and is something which has to be preserved.“The Motorbike Show can play a part in that by helping people to enjoy off-roading legitimately and that’s why we’re happy to have the Heather and Hillforts campaign at the show.”Also part of the Heather and Hillforts stand at the show will be national organisation Tread Lightly which aims to promote responsible off-roading and whose Project Manager is Mark Margetts.He said: “We want to engage and find a way of getting on together. Treadlightly has been going in the USA for 25 years and is a highly respected, credible and positive organisation.“The popular conception of off-roaders might be of young kids on old bikes tearing round the place but it couldn’t be further from the truth – the majority act responsibly and this just happens to be their hobby.“We want to encourage responsible off-roading and encourage people to act legally, join a responsible user group or club, and use legal routes.”Nick Critchley added: “We want to send out a positive message that there are places where people can enjoy off-roading and we will have information about those routes and places that can be used.“We support Tread Lightly in what they aim to achieve and to direct our message at off-roaders and help them find out how to do what they do legally.“We will be at the show with merchandise and information about the Heather and Hillforts campaign and the importance of the landscape of our moorlands both from an ecological and an historical perspective.“The people who are riding their bikes and driving their 4x4s illegally are ruining this magnificent countryside for everyone else.”Rare species and their priceless habitats are being illegally endangered and damaged by off-road motorbikes and 4x4s and so are the Iron Age hillforts which are a very special feature of the uplands of Denbighshire.The campaign, catchphrase is ‘don’t leave home without it’ and led by Denbighshire Countryside Services, encourages farmers, ramblers and others who enjoy the county’s wide open spaces to carry a special telephone number with them – or even key it into their mobile phones – to report the vandals.Nick Critchley said: “We want the legitimate off-roaders to join us in this and report those they know are acting illegally because they are giving all off-roaders a bad name.“But ideally we want prosecution to be a last resort for those who refuse to get the message – we would much sooner persuade people and ifnrom them and that’s what we hope to do at the Motorbike Show.”Denbighshire County Council’s Heather and Hillforts Project covers the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Horseshoe Pass and Llantysilio Mountains, part of the Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains and Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation (SAC).The campaign to protect them is backed by North Wales Police, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales.They are appealing for the public’s help in catching and convicting the offenders who are liable to be fined up to £20,000 and can have their vehicles seized and crushed.That Police telephone number – 0845 6071002 or 0845 6071001 for Welsh language callers – means that anyone seeing illegal off-roaders tearing up the landscape can immediately report them.The Motobike Show will once again include wide range of bikes on display, exhibitors, attractions, features & entertainment. The Custom Bike Show introduced in 2009 will return (more details to follow), there will also be more bike parking spaces on site.For more information on the Heather and Hillforts campaign go to www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk and for further details of the Motorbike Show check out www.themotorcycleshow.co.uk

Thursday February 24th, 2011

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News, PR

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