the review
Transcription
the review
PATAGONIA 150 THE CELEBRATION YEAR IN REVIEW www.patagonia150.org/en PATAGONIA 150: THE CELEBRATION YEAR IN REVIEW A review of the activity that took place in 2015 as part of the 150th anniversary of the Welsh settlement of Patagonia COMMISSIONED BY BRITISH COUNCIL WALES WRITTEN BY DR JESSICA MORDSLEY APRIL 2016 Cover image: Marcelo Andrés Roberts FRONT COVER OF DIARIO EL CHUBUT, TRELEW, ARGENTINA, 28 JULY 2015 (PHOTO: MARY GODWARD) CONTENTS Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 4 About this report.................................................................................................................... 5 The evaluation process ..................................................................................................... 5 Report structure................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction: Y Wladfa ........................................................................................................... 7 History and myth ............................................................................................................... 7 Today’s reality ................................................................................................................... 7 The 150th Anniversary Celebration Year................................................................................ 8 The British Council’s role and aims.................................................................................... 9 Patagonia 150 Digital ..................................................................................................... 9 Objectives .................................................................................................................... 10 Advisory group ................................................................................................................ 10 Timeline of activities ........................................................................................................ 11 Examples of Major Projects................................................................................................. 13 BBC National Orchestra of Wales Tour and Residency................................................ 13 {150}: Theatre Production and Film (Galesa) ............................................................... 14 Mimosa: Theatr Clwyd and Urdd Gobaith Cymru Theatre Production .......................... 15 People’s Collection Wales: Workshops and Training ................................................... 16 Tŷ Cerdd: National Youth choir of Wales Tour and Composer Exchange .................... 17 ‘Our Journey to the New World’ Exhibition and Patagonia Weekend at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. .................................................................................... 18 BBC Coverage and First Minister Visit ......................................................................... 20 Other Projects ..................................................................................................................... 21 Activities .......................................................................................................................... 21 Funding ........................................................................................................................... 22 Reasons for taking part ................................................................................................... 23 Number of people involved .............................................................................................. 24 Immediate impact ............................................................................................................ 25 Public response ............................................................................................................... 26 Differences in Welsh- and English-language projects ...................................................... 26 Change in perceptions, attitudes and understanding ....................................................... 27 Learning .............................................................................................................................. 28 2 Unique Patagonian identity .............................................................................................. 28 Partnerships and working together .................................................................................. 28 The importance of planning ............................................................................................. 28 Flexible and tailored communication ................................................................................ 29 Sufficient time and resources .......................................................................................... 29 Political context ............................................................................................................... 29 Legacy ................................................................................................................................ 30 Inspiration........................................................................................................................ 30 Connections .................................................................................................................... 30 Public awareness ............................................................................................................ 30 Institutional and political awareness ................................................................................ 31 relationship between British Council Wales and British Council Argentina ....................... 31 Welsh language............................................................................................................... 31 Education ........................................................................................................................ 32 Music ............................................................................................................................... 32 Objectives, impacts, and KPIs (Table) ................................................................................ 32 Thanks to the British Council............................................................................................... 34 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 34 Appendix 1: Web links and Press .................................................................................... 34 Appendix 2: Other material consulted .............................................................................. 36 Appendix 3: Arts Outcomes ............................................................................................. 37 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1865, a group of about 160 Welsh people sailed from Liverpool to begin a new life in Patagonia. They settled in the Chubut Valley in Southern Argentina, and called their new land Y Wladfa (‘the settlement’). Over the subsequent years, many more settlers joined them, and founded Patagonia’s first towns and farms. From the earliest contact with Patagonia in the 19th century, it has always been a place of great cultural significance for people from Wales, inspiring dreams, imagination, and stories. Today, although few ‘purely’ Welsh people remain, a significant proportion of Patagonian people have some Welsh heritage, and the sense of connection to Wales remains strong. As well as the towns of Trelew, Gaiman, and Dolavon in the Chubut Valley, there are also Welsh-Argentinean settlements in the Andes, where the main towns are Trevelin and Esquel. There are two Welsh/Spanish bilingual schools in Patagonia, as well as Welshmedium nursery schools. A number of eisteddfodau are held throughout the region, including the main Eisteddfod y Wladfa, which is held every October, and the youth Eisteddfod in September. The centenary of the Welsh settlement in 1965 was marked with a number of events and activities and had a long-lasting legacy in the region, particularly in terms of strengthening the Welsh language and establishing Welsh-medium education. The 150th anniversary, in 2015, was seen by many as a unique opportunity to revisit, reaffirm, and renew those links, as well as create new connections and partnerships. The British Council, at the request of the Welsh Government, coordinated a year of events and activities that celebrated the cultural, historical, and linguistic links between the two regions. A large-scale, diverse, and wide-ranging programme of activity took place throughout the year, including multinational orchestral tours, workshops and training, political delegations, historical exhibitions, theatrical productions, and even a new world record (for the longestdistance vocal duet!). Many different organisations were involved, from national arts companies to local community associations, and there were projects on all scales, from international projects such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales residency and concert tour, and the epic multimedia sitespecific theatre production {150}, to small-scale exhibitions, schools workshops, and community projects. Projects of all sizes succeeded due to the dedication, goodwill, and passion of those involved. This reflected the very special meaning that Patagonia holds for the people of Wales. There was also a great deal of press and broadcast media interest, both in Argentina and the UK. Through programmes such as Huw Edwards’ documentary on the history of Patagonia, in both Welsh and English, and live coverage of the First Minister’s visit in July 2015, many thousands of people learned more about the story of Patagonia and the history of Welsh language, culture, and people in the region, as well as their lives today. Press and media raised the visibility of Patagonia in Wales, and vice versa. 4 The British Council and Welsh Government together contributed £100,000 over two years towards the celebration year. British Council Wales also contributed approximately £30,000 to specific projects. An advisory group with representatives of key Welsh cultural and political organisations helped to coordinate the year’s activities. There was a generous spirit and attitude towards sharing knowledge and working together. Some of the most important impacts that the programme had for participating individuals and organisations included developing new audiences, raising their profile, and helping them to form new partnerships and working relationships with partners both abroad and in the UK. 78% of individuals and organisations surveyed said that Patagonia 150 had attracted new audiences, while 72% said that the celebrations had raised their/their organisation’s profile and given them increased publicity. Participants and audiences were inspired to learn more, and many new artistic and personal connections were created. 56% of individuals and organisations had either formed new partnerships with partners in the UK, formed new partnerships with partners overseas, and/or visited new places. All respondents agreed that the Patagonia 150 year had made an impact on the public in Wales, and 83% of respondents agreed that understanding of the relationship between Patagonia and Wales had improved among participating individuals and organisations. 67% of respondents thought that those who participated were now more ready and willing to form relationships with audiences and organisations overseas, and the same number believe that the celebration year would make a long-term impact on them or their organisation. The foundations have now been laid to strengthen and deepen the relationship and the benefits for all concerned. How exactly it will develop remains to be seen, but the links have been sustained and renewed and can now be built upon. ABOUT THIS REPORT THE EVALUATION PROCESS This review was commissioned by the British Council, and researched and written by an independent evaluator. The following people were interviewed for this report: 1. Tim Baker, Associate Director, Theatr Clwyd and Artistic Director of Clwyd Theatr Cymru Theatre for Young People 2. Walter Ariel Brooks, Patagonia 150 coordinator, British Council Wales 3. Michelle Carwardine-Palmer, Managing Director, National Theatre Wales 4. Lowri Rhys Davies, Producer, BBC Cymru/Wales 5. Ifona Deeley, Head of International Relations, European and External Affairs, Welsh Government 6. Mary Godward, Country Director, British Council Argentina 5 7. Suzanne Hay, Head of Learning and Partnerships, BBC National Orchestra of Wales 8. Steph Mastoris, Head of National Waterfront Museum 9. Marc Phillips, Chair of the 150 Celebration Committee, Wales Argentina Society 10. Marc Rees, Playwright, 150 11. Eleri Mai Thomas, Youth Officer, Urdd Gobaith Cymru 12. Hazel Thomas, Community Engagement Officer, People’s Collection Wales 13. Gwyn Williams, Director, Tŷ Cerdd In addition, 24 people and organisations who had organised events completed an online survey (13 in Welsh and 11 in English). The evaluator also read background material, including blogs, evaluation reports and presentations, press articles, and online reports. Details of these are given in the bibliography. REPORT STRUCTURE This report begins by introducing the history of Welsh Patagonia, its significance for people in Wales and Argentina, and the importance of the 150th anniversary year. It then outlines the advisory group, and the activities that took place, and the British Council’s objectives for coordinating the Patagonia year. As this was an entire year of activities independently organised by individuals and organisations, it can’t be assessed in terms of a single list of objectives and outcomes or a comprehensive enumeration of activity. Instead, it aims to capture an overall sense of the impacts and legacy of the year’s activities. The report looks at seven major projects in detail and considers the main impacts of each one. Statistics and feedback from the survey of smaller organisations are then explored. Finally, the report discusses the impacts, learning, and legacies of the entire year of activities, and looks ahead to the future. Relevant web links, a sample list of press articles, and a bibliography of material consulted are appended to this report. 6 INTRODUCTION: Y WLADFA HISTORY AND MYTH In 1865, a group of about 160 Welsh people sailed from Liverpool to begin a new life in Patagonia, where the Argentinean government had given them land. They settled in the Chubut Valley in Southern Argentina, and called their new land Y Wladfa. Over the subsequent years, many more settlers joined them, and founded Patagonia’s first towns and farms. From the earliest contact with Patagonia in the 19th century, it has always been a place of great cultural and imaginary significance for people from Wales: A couple of key people who were at the front of the mission to, almost in a Biblical way, find your own land and settle your own community, met with the Argentinean government who said, “you can have a bit of Patagonia”. Somehow, the idea that it was a paradise full of greenery and fantastic arable land got into the minds of the settlers, but in fact it was pretty rough and arid. The dream was self-government, speaking and worshipping in our own language. – Tim Baker The migrants’ settlement of Patagonia, their encounters with the indigenous people, and irrigation and cultivation of the land has all the ingredients of a classic romantic story. It remains a source of inspiration and fascination for many people in Wales: We did some audience research right at the start, and found that people were very interested in this unique and important part of Welsh history: an incredible story with adventure, heartbreak, heroism. It’s a gift for creative programme makers and content makers. – Lowri Rhys Davies This idea that there’s a settlement across the Atlantic where Welsh is seen as a positive language and Welshness as a positive heritage, for people in Wales it’s a dream come true. Even for those who are not Welsh speakers, Patagonia is a romantic region of the world; you get this idea of a wild place, where you can ‘go West’ and reinvent yourself, and there’s a bit of Welshness there. It’s a very appealing idea. – Walter Ariel Brooks Individuals have many other reasons for feeling attached to Patagonia, whether that is their own personal experiences, a sense of mutual ‘belonging’, or an interest in specific historical or cultural knowledge. It’s something very innate, deep within our psyche .We just feel that they belong to us and we belong to them. – Hazel Thomas TODAY’S REALITY While the Welsh language, culture and heritage of Patagonia still survives, the reality of life today in Patagonia is quite different from the way it is often imagined by those on the other side of the Atlantic: I think there’s a lack of understanding of the Chubut-Patagonian-ArgentineanLatin American context: cultural, political, sociological, and linguistic. My perception is that if you ask people there, they are 100% Argentinean, though 7 very proud of their Welsh roots, that they have been able to maintain their traditions, which are not 100% Welsh but are Welsh-Patagonian. – Walter Ariel Brooks Many of those involved in the Patagonia 150 programme wanted to demythologise the idea of Patagonia, in order to strengthen the links with the real people and communities that exist today, and to engage with their current concerns. For example, through the production of {150}: It has a mythological status and people are fascinated by that. It becomes an enigma and this production gave us the chance to explore this and demystify it. – Michelle Carwardine-Palmer The concerns of people in Patagonia at the present time are the survival of the language, and searching for money for schools. We wanted to bring that into the performance. – Marc Rees Patagonians growing up in Argentina have a parallel experience, encountering a similar fantasy image of Wales and Welsh people. One Patagonian who first came to Wales in 1999 described his initial experience: Although I knew Wales was a modern country I still expected to see life revolving around chapel and tea at five o’clock. What I found was a modern vibrant country where instead of having tea, people get ready to go to the pub. For me that was basically culture shock. Then I realised that these images of Wales were based on a romantic idea, something that perhaps existed 150 years ago. For me it was an eye-opener, as it is for most Patagonians who come over. The specific identity is frozen in time and can only be revived with more contact, which is happening now. – Walter Ariel Brooks The time was ripe for renewing and refreshing the connections between the two countries. THE 150 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION YEAR To mark the 150th anniversary of the Welsh settlement of Patagonia, the British Council, at the request of the Welsh Government, coordinated a year of events and activities that celebrated the cultural, historical, and linguistic links between the two regions. Organisations from national arts companies to local community associations were involved, and activities ranged from international projects to small-scale exhibitions. The dedication, interest, and passion of those involved, whether as organisers, participants, or audiences, reflected the very special meaning that Patagonia holds for the people of Wales. There was also significant press and broadcast media interest, both in Argentina and the UK. Many thousands of people learned (more) about the story of Patagonia and the history of Welsh language, culture, and people in the region. 8 THE BRITISH COUNCIL’S ROLE AND AIMS The British Council’s role was: to coordinate all of the activities that were taking place; through the website and branding (e.g. logo design), to create a central information point and brand for the year’s activities; to deliver projects (often in partnership); to co-fund activity; and to provide support and advice through its offices in Cardiff and Argentina. The British Council and Welsh Government together contributed £100,000 over two years towards co-ordinating this project. British Council Wales also contributed approximately £30,000 to specific projects during the celebration year. Activities were organised independently by the organisations and individuals involved. There was no obligation to ‘register’ events centrally, or to seek permission or pay to use the logo and branding. PATAGONIA 150 DIGITAL One of the British Council’s most important tasks was to set up the website for individuals, organisations and the public, along with social media channels; these were invaluable communications tools throughout the year. The website www.patagonia150.org was developed by British Council Wales as an information point for the celebratory year. A Patagonia 150 twitter account @Patagonia150 was also used to publicise the year, engage with the audience and to draw people to the website. The website will be archived and will feature a video of the year’s highlights, this review, and a Storify record of the year’s main social media activity. WEBSITE STATISTICS 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015 31,862 sessions 22,557 unique visitors: 57.8% UK 17.3% Argentina 8.31% USA Remainder Russia, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Canada, France and other. TWITTER STATISTICS 1,102 followers: 63% from Wales 22% from the rest of the UK 6% from Argentina July 2015 was the main celebration month, with a high level of engagement: 104.7K impressions 478 clicks on links 351 retweets 9 3,763 profile visits Thunderclap 139 people (target 100) signed up for the Day of the Landing Twitter Thunderclap. This entailed people giving the Thunderclap app access to their Twitter account to allow it to send an automated Twitter message at 12pm on 28 July, the Day of the Landing: Mae heddiw’n ben-blwydd y Wladfa’n 150! / Today is the 150th Anniversary of Welsh Patagonia! #Patagonia150 (Link to Thunderclap Patagonia 150 page) The Patagonia 150 Thunderclap reached 532,674 people. OBJECTIVES The year’s activity supported a number of the British Council’s broader aims and objectives. The British Council hoped to: Strengthen the cultural links between Wales and Patagonia Highlight the positive relationship between Argentina and the UK Raise the profile of Wales and Welsh artists and cultural organisations in Patagonia and throughout Argentina Reach new audiences in Patagonia and elsewhere in Argentina Form new significant connections between arts companies and artists in Wales and Patagonia Develop the skills of Welsh artists and organisations Help to develop the skills of international artists and organisations Explore, develop, and evaluate new innovative ways of working together Help Welsh artists and organisations to secure new commissions, franchises, and contracts Attract significant amounts of in-kind and/or co-creation funding ADVISORY GROUP An advisory or steering group was formed from representatives of the key organisations taking part in the celebration year. Its members were: BBC (Cymru / Wales): Lowri Rhys Davies BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Michael Garvey, Suzanne Hay British Council Argentina: Mary Godward British Council Wales: Walter Ariel Brooks, Alison Cummins, Rebecca Gould, Lyndsey Halliday, Jenny Scott, Aled Eirug British Embassy in Argentina: John Freeman, Michelle Webster Wales Argentina Society: Marc Phillips 10 National Library of Wales: Rhian Evans, Aled Gruffydd Jones, Lona Mason National Museum Wales: David Anderson, Steph Mastoris, Beth Thomas National Theatre Wales: Michelle Carwardine-Palmer People’s Collection Wales: Rheinallt Ffoster Jones, Hazel Thomas Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru: Carys Ifan S4C: Llion Iwan Tŷ Cerdd: Matthew Thistlewood, Gwyn L. Williams Urdd Gobaith Cymru: Eleri Mai Thomas Velindre Fundraising: Andrew Morris Wales Arts International: Eluned Hâf, Nicola Morgan, Elen Roberts Wales Office: Lowri ap Robert Welsh Assembly: Al Davies Welsh Government: Ifona Deeley, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Sian Furminger TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES This is not a comprehensive list. For further details, please see the website at www.patagonia150.org Jan 2015 Programme launch (Welsh Government/British Council co-reception) Apr 2015 ‘Camwy ar Droed’ (Chubut on foot) trek in honour of the original settlers. May 2015 Mimosa Festival, Liverpool. Organised by the Merseyside Welsh Heritage Society to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the sailing of the Mimosa from the port of Liverpool. Including the unveiling of a memorial plinth on the waterfront. Jun 2015 A live duet of Calon Lân, by Welsh classical singer Shân Cothi in Cardiff and Andres Evans in Patagonia, was sung across more than 7,000 miles, a new record for the greatest distance between people singing a duet. Jun 2015 '150 years of the Welsh in Patagonia: Reflections on a Legacy', Conference at Aberystwyth University. Jun – 2015 Jul 2015 Jul Site-specific production {150} by Marc Rees, the first co-production between National Theatre Wales and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. ‘The Welsh Settlement in Patagonia, 1865–2015’, Conference at Cardiff University. 11 Jul 2015 Main celebrations in Chubut. Including visit by First Minister Carwyn Jones and a Welsh delegation. 28 Jul 2015 Anniversary of the ‘Day of the Landing’ when the first Welsh settlers set foot in Patagonia in 1865. ‘Thunderclap’ on Twitter. Jul – 2015 Oct ‘Patagonia 150: Our Journey to the New World’ Exhibition at National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. Jul – 2015 Aug Special week of programmes on S4C, including news and current affairs from Patagonia, the film Galesa: Patagonia 150, and Huw Edwards’ documentary. Aug 2015 Theatr Clwyd-Urdd Gobaith Cymru co-production Mimosa performed at the National Eisteddfod in Wales and touring to Patagonia. Aug 2015 Restitution ceremony, funeral and burial of Catherine Roberts Davies, one of the original settlers who sailed on the Mimosa, in Punta Cuevas, Chubut. Organised by CENPAT, Centro Nacional Patagónico. Aug 2015 Exhibition: ‘The Welsh in Patagonia’, Bangor University showing the university’s ‘Patagonia Collection’ of more than 1500 items. Launched at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod. Sep 2015 People’s Collection Wales visit to Argentina with workshops in Buenos Aires and Patagonia, including training and the establishment of Digital Heritage Stations across Argentina. Oct – 2015 Nov BBC National Orchestra of Wales tour of South America, including a residency and concerts in Patagonia and touring to Buenos Aires, Chile and Uruguay. Oct 2015 Tŷ Cerdd – National Youth Choir of Wales tour of Argentina. Nov 2015 – Jan 2016 Photography exhibition by Argentinean photographer Marcos Zimmermann at St David’s Hall, Cardiff. Nov 2015 Chubut 150 Eisteddfod. Dec 2015 Fundraising trek across Patagonia in aid of Velindre Cancer Centre, including Patrons Rhod Gilbert and James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers) and Ambassador Shane Williams. Dec 2015 Closing reception hosted by Welsh Government and British Council. Throughout the year: Launch of the Patagonia 150 education resources website www.parotpiws.com/patagonia Programmes on BBC television, radio, and online 12 EXAMPLES OF MAJOR PROJECTS BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES TOUR AND RESIDENCY Twelve musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales took part in a week-long residency in Patagonia. They performed a concert in an old wool warehouse in Trelew that was converted especially for this performance. They also delivered a number of workshops for schools, including special schools, performed in private homes for elderly people, performed with community groups and individual musicians, and more. The harpist Catrin Finch travelled to the communities in the Andes where, among other places, she played her harp on a steam train. The orchestra also toured to other parts of Argentina (Buenos Aires, where they were the first British orchestra to perform at the Colon music hall for 12 years, Rosario, Cordoba) and then to Santiago (Chile) and Montevideo (Uruguay). The orchestra’s residency was featured in a documentary, ‘From Wales to Patagonia: A Musical Journey’, shown on BBC Two Wales. MAIN IMPACTS 1. Took the National Orchestra of Wales’ participatory learning programme on tour in order to connect with a community, not only to perform concerts. 2. Developed the musical and social skills of young people in Patagonia, including children at special schools. 3. Brought high-calibre symphony orchestra performances to communities that do not generally have the opportunity to hear them. 4. Developed the skills of the musicians involved: as well as musical skills, also teaching, language, improvisation, and communication skills. 5. Created new artistic connections and cultural exchange between the NOW and Patagonian musicians including community and school choirs, indigenous musicians, and professional musicians 6. Brought together different choirs, youth orchestras, musicians etc. and thereby increased cooperative working between local organisations in Patagonia. FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS This project has left a mark that will be felt for years to come. – Catrin Morris1 What we expected was serious musicians, very structured, professional; instead we met people who transmitted music in a fresh, unstructured way. Besides learning we had fun and shared days full of warm affection and inspiration. Many of our children are homeless or have absent families; this environment is something we try for our teachers to create daily. I appreciate your kind gesture of coming to our neighbourhood and we hope in time you will return. I will not forget and this experience will remain with us – Email from Mariana, one of the two conductors of INTA Youth Orchestra based in Trelew 1 http://www.wai.org.uk/6853 13 {150}: THEATRE PRODUCTION AND FILM (GALESA) {150} was a multi-platform production that combined live performance in Wales with a specially commissioned film telling the story of the settlement of Patagonia. The site-specific performance was created by artist Marc Rees and performed at the Royal Opera House Stores in Aberdare. The film Galesa: Patagonia 150, directed by Roger Williams, is a creative mix of drama and reality television, shot on location in Patagonia and starring many members of the Patagonian Welsh community (as well as other Patagonians not of Welsh descent). It was the first time that Wales' two national theatres, National Theatre Wales and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, had worked together. Both theatres, as well as Wales Arts Inetrnational, contributed funds to the project. The production was also in association with S4C. A total of 1,900 people attended the live show in Aberdare. 14,000 people watched the film Galesa when it was broadcast live on S4C, with a further 19,000 watching the two subsequent broadcasts, and 813 viewed it on the S4C website. There were 8,489 visits to the {150} website (4,403 of which were unique visits). MAIN IMPACTS 1. Wales’ two national theatres collaborated on a major production for the first time. 2. Changed perceptions of Patagonia among Welsh audiences by challenging the mythical, romanticised idea of Patagonia, with a contemporary take, not a straightforward historical reconstruction. 3. Gave the Patagonian descendants a voice and put a spotlight on current life in Patagonia; to accurately represent their concerns and the reality of their lives today. 4. Used the Royal Opera House stores as a performance space for the first time. 5. Developed artistic and technical skills of the theatre makers involved. 6. Created digital resources that are available on the S4C website. AUDIENCE RESPONSE Last night's #150patagonia was a visual feast. Beautiful scenes and soundtrack to an unforgettable journey. @NTWtweets 2 Amazing performance by @NTWtweets #150Patagonia -Took me right back 2the beauty of #Patagonia Wonderful story and wonderful history #Cymru3 An astonishing work of cultural memory, weaving together archive recordings, oral histories and traditional song in this bilingual celebration of what it means to be a nation. This is installation theatre at its best – Kate Maltby, the Times (four star review)4 https://twitter.com/lleucuc/status/619128923335606273. https://twitter.com/JemAppleby/status/618524674021007361 More feedback can be read at: https://storify.com/ntw/150 4 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/theatre/article4483892.ece 14 MIMOSA: THEATR CLWYD AND URDD GOBAITH CYMRU THEATRE PRODUCTION Mimosa is a dramatized documentary ensemble theatre piece by Theatr Clwyd, written and directed by Tim Baker, and performed in Wales and Patagonia by 18 young people, including two from Patagonia, and four professional actors. It tells the true story of the boat on which the first Welsh settlers sailed to Patagonia in 1865. In summer 2015, the professional company toured both English- and Welsh-language versions to communities in Wales. Then in August the piece was expanded to include young people aged 16-22; this was the version taken to Patagonia and this was in Welsh only. The project was funded by the Arts Council of Wales and by the young people themselves, who each raised over £2,500 towards their own costs. Urdd Gobaith Cymru run a trip to Patagonia every October for approximately 15 young people. In 2015, for the two trips combined, nearly 40 young people from Wales travelled to Patagonia. MAIN IMPACTS 1. Built bridges between young Welsh speakers in Wales and in Patagonia, and increased awareness of the Welsh language. The company are much more knowledgeable about the real situation in Patagonia and about the importance of keeping that culture alive. The future of the language and of the culture is in the hands of the young people out there, and unless resources are there for teaching, but also the enthusiasm for speaking the language, then it’s either going to become a museum piece or die. – Tim Baker 2. Strengthened links with Patagonian people by visiting new communities. 3. Gave young people from Wales the experience of visiting Patagonia. 4. Took a piece of theatre telling the story of the original settlers to Patagonia and performed to their descendants. The audiences were phenomenal. To stand in a country and tell them their story is about a pure example of an artistic cultural bridge as you can get. Many many tears flowed, not just from the audience but from our young actors as well. – Tim Baker 5. Celebrated the continuing existence of the Welsh community and the Welsh language in Patagonia. 6. Formed a new and successful partnership between the Urdd and Theatr Clwyd. 7. Raise awareness of Patagonia within Wales. 15 PEOPLE’S COLLECTION WALES: WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING People’s Collection Wales is a programme at the National Library of Wales: a bilingual website dedicated to Welsh heritage and culture. They aim to document the history of Wales and its people across the world, creating an invaluable historic archive. For the Patagonia 150 year, PCW wanted to collect more material relating to Patagonia, and also to deliver training to communities in Patagonia to help them document and preserve their own history. Funding from the British Council enabled them to send two of their staff to do outreach work in Patagonia: work they would otherwise have had to do online. The fact that PCW staff were able to visit in person to deliver training and workshops made a big difference to the level of engagement. In Patagonia, they worked with a total of 263 people (far exceeding their original target of 60), and digitised over 1000 items. They also delivered a workshop on digitising documents in Buenos Aires for 68 people, for the University of San Andres, including 10-12 staff from the National Library of Argentina and other libraries. This was organised by the British Council Argentina. 2. CAPEL BERW YN CHAPEL AC 1: YSGOL YR HENDRE SEPTEMBER 2015 SCHOOL, TRELEW, 16 AMGUEDDFA SALESIAN MUSEUM, RAW SON, 19 SEPTEMBER 2015 3. SUMMARY OF PCW ACTIVITY IN ARGENTINA 16 MAIN IMPACTS 1. Made connections with the Welsh communities in Patagonia. 2. Encouraged people in those villages and towns to collect and digitise historical material relating to the Welsh history there. 3. Collected new material for the PCW website. 4. Trained people in Patagonia to continue the collection and digitisation of historical material after the PCW visit ended. 5. Set up two digital heritage stations on either side of the prairie, with equipment (specifically, two A4 Epson scanners with laptops in mobile cases with wheels that can be transported for outreach work) to continue the work of digitising. 6. Made new connections between the National Library of Wales and the National Library of Argentina in Buenos Aires. 7. Developed skills of PCW staff, who had to adapt their usual workshops for different audiences: 8. Raised visibility of Wales and of the Welsh-Patagonian community in Buenos Aires and in Argentina at a national level, which benefits the people, museums, and organisations in Chubut. TŶ CERDD: NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF WALES TOUR AND COMPOSER EXCHANGE 70 young singers from the National Youth Choir of Wales toured Argentina in autumn 2015. They performed music in Spanish, Welsh, and English by Welsh and Latin American composers, including Patagonian composers and a newly commissioned work for choir and accordion by Tŷ Cerdd’s President, Paul Mealor, and worked with both a Welsh and an Argentine conductor. The tour was organised by Tŷ Cerdd – Music Centre Wales, in partnership with the Wales Millennium Centre. One of the resident major arts organisations in the WMC, the mission of Tŷ Cerdd is to support, develop and promote the creation, performance and empowering experience of music, nationally and internationally. The choir gave two concerts in Buenos Aires, including one promoted by the Mozarteum, followed by concerts in Patagonia. The largest venue was a huge converted warehouse in Trelew with an audience of 2,700: the smallest a chapel in Gaiman where they performed to 300 people. In Buenos Aires they performed in a school to 250 people and also in a major concert hall to an audience of 1,000. There was also a ‘composer exchange’ (in partnership with the National Orchestra of Wales); a Patagonian composer, of Welsh heritage, came to Wales, and a Welsh composer went to Argentina. They were both commissioned to write new pieces of music. The tour was funded by members of the choir, the British Council. The Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales, and the Argentine Embassy. 17 MAIN IMPACTS 1. Effected a cultural exchange between conductors, composers, and musicians in Wales and Argentina. 2. Recognised and celebrate the shared musical heritage of Patagonia and Wales: The musical heritage of the Welsh people in Patagonia is still to be seen with the ready presence of choirs and the numbers of concerts that are held at a very local level, including in small village halls. The eisteddfod as well is a shared musical and literary tradition. – Gwyn Williams 3. Raised the profile and visibility of Welsh music in Latin America. 4. Shared Patagonian and Argentinean culture with people in Wales, through bringing the Argentine composer and music to Wales. 5. Several new pieces of music were written, produced and performed. 6. Changed perceptions reciprocally between the Welsh and Argentinean people involved in the project. 7. Developed the planning and logistical skills of those who arranged the tour. 8. Formed new connections, described by Gwyn Williams as ‘very real and concrete legacies’, including the Argentine composer with National Orchestra of Wales, the Welsh composer with Patagonia, and one member of the choir, a student at Southampton University, has been invited back to work her ERASMUS year in an English school in Buenos Aires. 9. Strengthened the partnership between Tŷ Cerdd and the Wales Millennium Centre. ‘OUR JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD’ EXHIBITION AND PATAGONIA WEEKEND AT THE NATIONAL WATERFRONT MUSEUM, SWANSEA. This exhibition explored the migration to Patagonia from the perspective of what the colonists were moving away from, as partly a reaction against the industrialisation and Anglicisation of nineteenth-century Wales. Four reconstructed rooms in the main foyer of the museum, designed by Andrew Deathe, offered visitors the opportunity to explore four different environments: A cottage interior in Wales, then a shipping office in Liverpool, then a bunk bed on board the Mimosa, and then a cottage in Patagonia. Around that, a series of traditional display panels told the story of the initial emigration. – Steph Mastoris As well as the exhibition itself, that ran for 2.5 months, the museum also held a well-attended Patagonia weekend at which they showed films, had a series of lectures, family events such as craft work, etc., themed around the exhibition. Fengtian Li (a student of Museum Studies from the University of Leicester) did an observational and face-to-face evaluation of the exhibition. She tracked 30 visitors, observing how much time they spent in front of each exhibit, and also interviewed 30 visitors. Some of her key findings included: 18 50% of visitors know the story of the Welsh in Patagonia before visiting 97% of those surveyed were satisfied/ very satisfied by the exhibition 97% would recommend to friends 37% of visitors surveyed were Welsh speakers Dwell time was 6-10 mins, good for a small-scale temporary exhibition. 4. THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOR CULTURE (KEN SKATES) VISITING THE PATAGONIA EXHIBITION ON THE 14 OCTOBER 2015. MAIN IMPACTS 1. Engaged a broad demographic, including those who may have known little or nothing about Patagonia, and sparked their interest. Also well received by Argentineans who were visiting Wales to see the Rugby World Cup. 2. Incorporated young adults’ input, via the museum’s youth forum, into the conceptualisation and planning for the exhibition. 3. Challenged people’s preconceptions. The museum’s aim was ‘trying to make people think about these big icons of Welsh culture - Patagonia, Dylan Thomas - and say there’s another story there besides the one you all know.’ 4. Created a new type of design, similar to a theatrical set, for the exhibition. The design was also innovative in terms of its portability: It was very ingenious because it could be packed away in ten minutes, the speediest we’ve ever had, due to the design and carpentry involved. It showed it was feasible to have an object-rich environment that could be packed away very quickly when we have commercial activity in the hallway. 5. Trialled an innovative approach to the use of the Welsh language by having the main captions solely in Welsh, with English translations in a small box in each area. This was a success and they plan to repeat it. 6. Improved the understanding and knowledge of Patagonia among the museum’s staff, meaning that: ‘In the next 5-10 years, when we revamp the permanent galleries, we’ve got all the material we need to talk about Patagonia.’ (Steph Mastoris) 19 BBC COVERAGE AND FIRST MINISTER VISIT The Patagonia anniversary was one of BBC Wales’ editorial highlights for the year. There was significant programming and content on all platforms: television, radio, and online. This was co-ordinated by Lowri Rhys Davies, who already knew Patagonia well. Some highlights included: BBC National Orchestra of Wales gala concert World record duet of ‘Calon Lan’, with soloists and choirs in Wales and Patagonia. Covered on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and R3 Coverage of events in Patagonia during the summer, around 28th July, the key celebration date marking the arrival of the Mimosa in Patagonia in 1865, and including the First Minister’s visit to Patagonia. This was covered on news outlets live from Argentina in both Welsh and English Huw Edwards documentary in both English and Welsh on S4C and BBC Cymru Wales Cymru Wales and the Welsh-language online service: many features, including a ‘live’ Twitter feed of the diary entries of one of the original Mimosa travellers, with each entry posted on the same date as it was written in 1865 Programme looking at the state of the Welsh language today in Patagonia BBC Wales Director Rhodri Talfan Davies visited in October/November and presented as a gift to the community a digital copy of the BBC Cymru Wales archive on Patagonia, to schools, so that anyone could access them for research or enjoyment whenever they wanted. This included historical archive programmes dating back to the 1960s. MAIN IMPACTS 1. Communicated the story of Patagonia to both English- and Welsh-language audiences, and increased the understanding of Patagonia among audiences in Wales. 2. Challenged the romanticised image of Patagonia by showing both the reality of the original migration, and a realistic picture of what life is like in Patagonia today, including asking questions about identity, Welsh language, etc., and what the future might hold. 3. Created a year of content that was varied, fun, relevant, and forward-thinking. 4. Raised profile of BBC Cymru Wales within the wider BBC: We had interest outside of BBC Cymru Wales. A programme on BBC Radio 4, BBC magazine, World Service, the Huw Edwards programme will be shown on BBC4. We were able to push the Patagonia theme beyond the Welsh border. It caught the eye of the BBC as an organisation as a whole. – Lowri Rhys Davies 5. Increased sense of connection between people in Patagonia and Wales, thanks in part to the First Minister’s visit. 6. Made a digital archive of BBC programmes about Patagonia permanently available to schools in Patagonia. 20 OTHER PROJECTS Many smaller-scale projects took place across Wales and beyond. Individuals and organisations who had organised events during the year were invited to complete an online survey, in order to find out more about motivations for taking part, numbers of people involved, the impact of activities on individuals and organisations, and its long-term legacy. 24 complete surveys were received (13 in Welsh and 11 in English).5 ACTIVITIES The survey captured a wide range of activities from political visits and historical commemoration, to book publication, schools activities, performances, exhibitions, and many musical and artistic projects. Some activities are described below: A 5 day art and music project for 148 Swansea primary school children which included a live performance of songs and dramatic interpretations written by the children at the National Waterfront Museum to launch the Swansea International Festival 2015. Producing bespoke fabric for an artistic production To lay to rest the bones of Catherine Roberts-Davies Raising money to send 5 harps to Y Wladfa Solo performances/talks (René Griffiths) Band musical performances (Celtica Latina) Book publication (Ramblings of a Patagonian) Anniversary trek raising funds for Velindre Cancer centre An exhibition, 'The Welsh in Patagonia,' and a Welsh Patagonian Tea Party at the Eisteddfod in Meifod, August 2015 A new choral commission for the BBC National Chorus of Wales The first visit from the National Assembly for Wales’ delegation to Y Wladfa, including activities in Trelew, Gaiman, Esquel, Trevelin and Buenos Aires Collaboration, composing and recording with other musicians from Chubut to create a CD and travel across Wales to perform songs and hold workshops Workshops in schools in Wales and Y Wladfa. Creating a mural in Pentrefuchaf School with children of Wales and visitors from Y Wladfa. Creating exhibitions in the Galeri, Caernarfon and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. Carrying the work of Delyth Llwyd from the home of Silvia J, in the Gaiman, to Wales. A one man show for Key Stage 2 children (7 – 11 year olds) which travelled across Wales. The show revolved around the character William Jones – one of the original settlers that travelled on the Mimosa to Patagonia. 5 A survey completed in Welsh/English does not necessarily mean that the activity it referred to also took place exclusively or primarily in that language. The results of the two surveys have generally been aggregated, but significant discrepancies between the Welsh-language and English-language responses are noted. 21 FUNDING Three projects had received funding from the British Council. Of those three, two said that without British Council funding, their activity would not have taken place at all, and one said that the activity would have been on a smaller scale. Other sources of funding included: Wales Arts International Arts Council of Wales British Embassy in Argentina S4C/BBC Local / county councils (e.g. Gwynedd) Universities (e.g. Swansea, Bangor) Schools (who paid for shows to be performed) Arts companies (e.g. Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Gallery; the Galeri, Caernarfon) Patagonian organisations (e.g. CENPAT) Public donations / appeals Generated income Sponsorship Self-funded 22 REASONS FOR TAKING PART Why did you want to take part in Patagonia 150? 100% 100% 90% 82% 80% 70% 64%62% 64% 60% 50% 54% 46% 46% 36% 40% 36% 27% 30% 20% 46% 15% 10% 15% English Cymraeg 0% The most important reason for taking part was ‘To celebrate a special event (the 150th anniversary of Welsh settlement of Patagonia)’. 100% of respondents who answered in Welsh, and 81% in English, said this was a reason. For both Welsh and English speakers, the second most important reason was ‘to attract new audiences’ (over 60% of respondents). For Welsh speakers, the next most important reasons were ‘To develop my organisation’ (54%) and ‘To build my contacts and networks’ (46%), while for those who answered in English, ‘enjoyment/fun/experience’ (63%) and ‘to improve my own skills’ (46%) were the next most significant reasons. Welsh speakers therefore placed more emphasis on organisational or corporate development, and English speakers on individual/personal development. ‘To attract funding/make money’ was the least important motive for all those taking part. 23 NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED Respondents were asked how many people were involved in their activity.6 Response # Trefnwyr/ organisers/ staff Cyfranogwyr/ participants Cynulleidfa fyw/ Live audience 1 3 110 200 2 0 0 0 3 5 40 100 4 6 0 80 5 15 0 4500 6 12 40 36000 7 1 4 4500 8 18 148 9 4 0 0 10 0 0 0 11 3 5 2500 12 5 70 13 6 10 1600 14 1 3 200 15 3 0 16 15 100 250 Total 97 530 49930 Average 6 41 3841 A total of 97 people were involved as organisers or staff, an average of 6 per project. 530 people in total participated in projects, approximately 40 on average. The total for live audiences was 49,930, with an average of 3841.7 6 None of the projects listed any online or broadcast audience. 7 This includes one project for which the numbers seem exceptionally high; the respondent said that they had reached a live audience of 36,000 with a project that included: Workshops in schools in Wales and Y Wladfa. Creating a mural in Pentrefuchaf School with the children of Wales and visitors from Y Wladfa. Creating exhibitions in the Galeri, Caernarfon and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. Helping to catalogue. Carrying the work of Delyth Llwyd from the home of Silvia J, in the Gaiman, to Wales. It is not clear how the respondent arrived at this figure but it may have distorted the overall totals. Excluding this project, the total number of people reached as live audience was 13,930, with an average of 1563, which may be a more accurate figure. 24 IMMEDIATE IMPACT What was the impact of Patagonia 150 on you/your organistion? 90% 80% 80% 75% 80% 70% 70% 63% 60% 60% 60% 50% 50% 50% 50% 38% 40% 38% 30% English 25% Cymraeg 20% 20% 13% 10% 10% 0% New audiences Increased New publicity partners UK New partners overseas Visited new places Received visitors Other (please specify) Employment and/or training opportunities 80% of Welsh-language respondents and 75% English reached new audiences, while 80% of English-language respondents and 63% Welsh saw increased publicity. For Welsh speakers, new partnerships/working relationships abroad (50% of respondents) was a bigger impact than new partnerships in the UK (38%). This was different for English-language respondents; 70% formed new relationships in the UK, and 60% abroad. Approximately half of respondents had visited new places, received visitors, or both. 17% of all respondents said that the year had provided employment or training opportunities (10% English, 25% Welsh). Every impact, except for employment or training opportunities, was rated as more significant for those who answered in English, compared to those who answered in Welsh. Other short-term impacts included: Reports have been received from the participating schools on the positive impact the project has had on school attendance figures, engagement and increased selfconfidence of the children involved. The teacher resource website was extremely well received by the teachers involved in the project. It gave the children of Y Wladfa the opportunity to play the harp Establishing an Appeal to raise money was a new experience, especially as it was an online Appeal We are a small company, and this is the first grant funding we’ve received (Welsh Assembly). The show is still available to schools, and although less schools are now booking the show, we still receive a small income as a result. 25 PUBLIC RESPONSE Respondents were asked: ‘In what ways have you seen the impact of the Patagonia 150 celebrations on the public in Wales?’ Many people mentioned ‘raised awareness’ of Patagonia, an increased understanding of its history and current situation, and of the ‘shared history’ and ‘special relationship’ between Patagonia and Wales, a sense of ‘pride’, and capturing the public’s imagination. Many respondents attributed this raised awareness and engagement to ‘widespread reporting’ in the press, and to television and radio programmes. People had also seen larger audiences at events and more people travelling to Patagonia or travelling for events: ‘The crowds that came to us, over two thousand to Liverpool for the 3 days Festival.’ Several people also mentioned that public understanding of Wales’ history had increased, for example: ‘Over 90 primary schools ordered the Williams Jones show – Mordaith y Mimosa (Voyage of the Mimosa), which is tantamount to approximately 4500 children who have seen the show and learnt about an important piece of Welsh history.’ DIFFERENCES IN WELSH- AND ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROJECTS One respondent felt that there was ‘A little more awareness amongst Welsh speakers – but not much awareness amongst non-Welsh speaking people of Wales.’ There was some disappointment among those who answered the survey in Welsh that their projects had not been supported, financially or otherwise, by the British Council or other grant-making bodies: Some practical support from the British Council in order to allow the William Mathias Music Centre arrange online training sessions (e.g. Skype) for harpists in Patagonia would have been very useful. It was a little disappointing that there was no financial support available from the British Council to support the work, especially during the Gŵyl Hanes Cymru i Blant (Welsh History Festival for Children); the hope was to bring and perform the show for schools for free in the Abercynon and Aberdare areas. Having said that, as a young Theatre Company for Children, we were very happy to see the work of the company included on the website for the campaign, and were very happy to carry the logo on our activities and publicity. The respondent above acknowledged that, although they wished they had received financial support, the visibility provided by the Patagonia 150 website and the use of the logo was helpful in promoting their activity. 26 CHANGE IN PERCEPTIONS, ATTITUDES AND UNDERSTANDING Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements about changes as a result of taking part in Patagonia 150. Results were as follows: 83% of respondents agreed I am/my organisation is more ready and willing to form relationships with audiences and/or organisations in other countries 67% of respondents agreed The Patagonia 150 celebrations have made an impact on the public in Wales 100% of respondents agreed (72% ‘agreed strongly’) The Patagonia 150 celebrations will make a longterm difference to me / my organisation 67% of respondents agreed My understanding of the British Council’s work has improved as a result of taking part in Patagonia 150 44% agreed that their understanding had improved, 22% said it had not improved, and 34% were unsure. % of respondents My understanding of Wales’ relationship with Patagonia has improved as a result of taking part in Patagonia 150 80 1 (Disagree strongly) 70 2 (Disagree slightly) 60 3 (Neither agree nor disagree) 4 (Agree slightly) 50 5 (Agree strongly) 40 30 20 10 0 27 LEARNING UNIQUE PATAGONIAN IDENTITY Many of those involved said they had learned more about the realities of contemporary Patagonian identity: I thought that it was a little corner of Wales. But it’s somewhere with a specific and incredible identity all of its own. They’re very proud of their Welsh heritage and their connection with Wales, but they are Argentinean and they have this unique balance of being Argentineans of Welsh descent but very happy to learn Welsh, to keep in touch and try to make new contacts with people in Wales, to keep Welsh culture going side by side with their unique Argentinean culture as well. – Lowri Rhys Davies What was interesting is that perhaps the future of the Welsh language is not dependent on Welsh descendants but people who have nothing to do with Wales but want to learn the language. A new identity is formed; not dependent on the families of the settlers but something else. It’s tremendously exciting, new, unusual. – Marc Rees PARTNERSHIPS AND WORKING TOGETHER Many people spoke very positively about their experiences of working together with other Welsh organisations and individuals. They emphasised how generous people were with their time and sharing their ideas and plans: The advisory board was really great for us because it put me in touch with people who were at various stages of developing projects with their organisations, people who could share their knowledge and understanding of the communities we would be working with. – Suzanne Hay We had a closing event in December to thank all the partners for the excellent work they did in supporting the whole. A lot of people said to me it would be lovely to work in that way again, because they found they worked extremely well, people really cooperated with each other. I thought that was a nice legacy in itself. – Ifona Deeley THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING A number of those interviewed mentioned the essential importance of sufficient research and recce visits, in order to plan activity and to find out from the communities there what they wanted / needed: What we decided to do was a community residency with a group of musicians, that would reflect some of the work we’ve piloted here in Wales; going to live in a town or community and really knowing the situation before we start work, of what’s needed on the ground rather than us devising something that we think is appropriate and bringing it along, but instead working with the community to find out what they need. – Suzanne Hay 28 It was really important to go several times. I was really able to explore, to talk to people, and to understand the importance of the history and how extraordinary it was. I had a mission to explore, to unearth, to excavate. – Marc Rees FLEXIBLE AND TAILORED COMMUNICATION Communications technology, such as social media, Skype, email, and phones, was essential to establish and sustain successful relationships across long distances and periods of time. It was vital to be flexible and open to different forms of communication, and to be aware of how the intended audience used technology (for example, older people were surprisingly responsive to Facebook). The groundwork of inviting people to attend the various People’s Collection Wales sessions was done via Facebook pages and it was incredible how people were responding to that invitation and telling us that they would like to attend those sessions and where. – Hazel Thomas SUFFICIENT TIME AND RESOURCES Several people emphasised the need to begin planning for this type of activity as far in advance as possible: If we could go back and share ideas earlier, there might have been greater scope to have manipulated the programme so that we were working together, and not duplicating anything. – Ifona Deeley Others wished there had been more time during the year itself to communicate with the public about what was taking place: We [BC Argentina] didn’t have enough time to contribute more to the communications and to the Patagonia 150 website. I think we missed an opportunity there. We did take somebody on two days a week for the 150th anniversary, a Welsh speaker, but once the programme got going she was too busy for communications. I think we could have had somebody working seven hours a week systematically on our communications; it would have given everything more visibility without massive cost. – Mary Godward POLITICAL CONTEXT The anniversary celebrations took place against a background of broader political issues, including the elections in Argentina, and a re-examination of the historically complex and sometimes challenging relationship between Argentina and the UK: The Argentine ambassador in London, although she was very supportive of the celebrations, was quite open also in saying that the main reason for the support is that it was a clear example of how a community with a British origin could live in Argentina and their culture would be respected and they could preserve their language. So there was the idea of making a certain political use of the anniversary. That at times made it a bit difficult, because from the 29 point of view of Wales, and most organisations, the link between Chubut and Wales is a cultural link; politics doesn’t come into it. – Mary Godward I think the Argentine Embassy saw this as a real opportunity to celebrate the positive aspects of the relationship between the UK, through Wales, and Argentina, through Patagonia. The then-President of Argentina, President Kirchner, used the happy relationship that the small community in Patagonia enjoys with other Argentine people and also with its parent country in Wales, as an example of what might be possible with the Malvinas. – Gwyn Williams The lesson learned here was the sometimes surprising extent to which small-scale or local projects, focused on a specific community, can have ramifications that extend far beyond their immediate audience, and can intersect with larger-scale political and international issues. LEGACY Many of the specific organisations, individuals, and projects will have their own specific legacies, whether that is in future projects, improved skills, new connections, or increased audiences. In terms of how the year as a whole might leave a legacy, here are some of the key impacts. INSPIRATION People were excited and inspired by the year’s events, and speak passionately about them. They want to carry on exploring and building on the activity that took place. CONNECTIONS Many connections were formed between individuals, such as artists, teachers, musicians, writers, politicians, journalists, school children, and organisations, such as universities, schools, orchestras and choirs, libraries, museums, etc., in Patagonia and Wales, as well as in Buenos Aires. Many of these relationships will continue; 44% of those who answered the online survey expect to sustain the new working relationships that they formed during the year, both in the UK and abroad. PUBLIC AWARENESS People are far more aware of both the history of Patagonia, its links to Wales, and its current situation. This awareness has been built through excellent media coverage both in Wales and in Argentina: The fact that our news crews covered Carwyn Jones’s visit to Argentina, with outputs in both languages, signified how historically important is to audiences in both countries. Audiences in Wales could see the scale of celebrations there and it brought home how important it was to people in Argentina. – Lowri Rhys Davies 30 The anniversary year made a big impact on the public in both Wales and Argentina: I talked to members of staff at Menter Patagonia and they liked it because there was a big buzz for the whole year. Most years some people from Patagonia come to Wales but this year they decided not to as there was so much happening in Patagonia for the anniversary. The publicity, the radio programmes, it’s been really good. – Eleri Mai Thomas 67% of those who answered the online survey believed that they had developed sustainable new audiences as a result of the year’s activities, while 50% of respondents think that their/their organisation’s profile will be increased long-term in the press/media as a result. INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL AWARENESS The year’s activities significantly raised awareness of Patagonia and its links with Wales among politicians and institutions in Argentina. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITISH COUNCIL WALES AND BRITISH COUNCIL ARGENTINA The two offices worked regularly together throughout the year, resulting in an improved reciprocal understanding of each other’s work and context and closer working relationships. WELSH LANGUAGE The programme boosted the Welsh language in many ways, including creating links between young Welsh speakers in Wales and Patagonia, creating new artistic works in Welsh, and inspiring more people to learn the language. The British Council Argentina are exploring a number of options for sustaining and building on this, including continuing the sessions led by a Welsh language teacher at the main English-language teachers conference in Argentina, and starting negotiations with the National Ministry of Education in Argentina for a Welsh language assistant: It’s important to develop these relationships at a national level to gain greater support for the programme. It would be a shame not to take advantage of everything that’s happened in 2015. We’re trying to find a way in which we can bring Wales and the Welsh language programme into the rest of the work we do. We are also considering using a remote teaching centre to deliver a Welsh language course, or maybe Welsh language conversation group for Welsh speakers who are isolated in different parts of Argentina. – Mary Godward It also inspired many people from Wales who took part in projects to take a greater interest in learning the Welsh language: Coming from an anglicised area of Cardiff, I have never learnt Welsh or even learnt many of the Welsh songs so key to our culture. I never thought of getting involved with Welsh language festivals, but this tour opened to me a new world. I have found in my heart pride which has passed through Welsh 31 music I’ve sung half way around the world.– Matthew Welch, Bass, National Youth Choir of Wales8 EDUCATION Another bilingual school in Patagonia was opened as a result of the First Minister’s visit: The school in Gaiman, on the coast, had been promised a building by the provincial government for many years and nothing seemed to be happening. Suddenly one week before the visit of the Welsh First Minister they were given a building. So I think the visit and the celebration did put pressure on the provincial government to move ahead with certain promises they’d made. – Mary Godward The community in the Andes, however, still have not received the funding that they were promised for their new school building. They are hoping that the new provincial government will go through with the promises made by the previous government. New education resources about Patagonia have also been created in three languages: Welsh, English, and Spanish. Schools also benefitted from visits from the National Orchestra of Wales learning team, and from the People’s Collection Wales as well as other smaller projects. MUSIC If the primary legacy of the 1965 centenary celebrations was the benefits it brought to the Welsh language in Patagonia, the emphasis in 2015 was somewhat different. Music In particular emerged as a crucial part of shared heritage and a way for people to communicate, regardless of the language they speak: ‘The language of music can be shared by all people.’ [GW] This emerged in multiple projects, such as the National Youth Choir tour and the BBC NOW tour. With the conversion of the wool warehouse in Trelew, there is now a world-class venue for concerts to be performed. OBJECTIVES, IMPACTS, AND KPIS (TABLE) This report has considered the impacts of seven major projects, and 24 smaller projects. Although impossible to quantify exact numbers involved, the table below indicates some of the most important impacts and achievements of the year’s activities, with examples of each, and how these relate to the British Council’s Key Performance Indicators for Arts activity. Broad Objectives Strengthen the cultural links between Wales and Patagonia 8 Specific Impacts and Examples Cultural links were strengthened through a wide variety of projects and reciprocal visits, e.g. the National Orchestra of Wales residency https://tycerddp150.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/matthew-welsh-bass/ 32 KPIs PROFILE CONNECTIONS Broad Objectives Specific Impacts and Examples KPIs Highlight the positive relationship between Argentina and the UK The positive relationship between Argentina and the UK, particularly between Wales and Patagonia, was highlighted through press and media coverage, e.g. BBC season, visit of First Minister Carwyn Jones REACH Raise the profile of Wales and Welsh artists and cultural organisations in Patagonia and throughout Argentina Wales and Welsh artists’ profile was raised significantly, with a greater visibility throughout Argentina as a result of the celebrations, e.g. extensive coverage of the NOW tour in Argentina REACH Reach new audiences in Patagonia and elsewhere in Argentina New audiences were reached in Patagonia through exhibitions, concerts, and workshops, e.g. the Mimosa theatre production REACH Welsh artists showing work in new territories Work was shown both in new physical territories, e.g. the Welsh musicians who performed in Latin America, and virtual, e.g. people accessing Marc Rees’ {150} and the Galesa film online PROFILE Form new significant connections between arts companies and artists in Wales and Patagonia Connections were formed between musicians and composers in Patagonia and Wales, e.g. the Ty Cerdd composer exchange CONNECTIONS Develop the skills of Welsh artists and organisations Welsh artists and organisations developed their skills through touring, adapting their existing practice to Patagonian contexts, e.g. the National Orchestra of Wales took their Learning Programme on the road for the first time. 1/3 of survey respondents anticipate developing their skills further as a result of the year’s activities SKILLS Help to develop the skills of international artists and organisations Artists and organisations in Patagonia developed skills with the help of Welsh visitors, e.g. the People’s Collection Wales visit where they trained National Library of Argentina staff SKILLS Many organisations and artists developed new Explore, develop, and innovative ways of working together, e.g. Welsh evaluate new innovative ways of working together classical musicians and Patagonian indigenous musicians worked together for the first time, new use of technology, e.g. the world-record long-distance duet. Also new ways of training, and putting on exhibitions were developed, e.g. the National Waterfront Museum exhibition 33 CONNECTIONS PROFILE CONNECTIONS PROFILE PROFILE CONNECTIONS INNOVATION Broad Objectives Specific Impacts and Examples KPIs Help Welsh artists and organisations to secure new commissions, franchises, and contracts Welsh artists and organisations secured contracts to perform and produce various artistic projects during the year, e.g. the show about William Jones that toured to schools through Wales ENTERPRISE Attract significant amounts of in-kind and/or co-creation funding In-kind and co-creation funding was attracted from both large and small funding bodies, e.g. Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, local councils, sponsorships, etc. LEVERAGE THANKS TO THE BRITISH COUNCIL I’d just like to thank whoever had the idea of celebrating it and making it a big event. A lot of people have been excited to see stuff on TV and radio and in magazines. It’s put it on a platform. – Eleri Mai Thomas I also wanted to mention the invaluable advice we’ve had from the British Council Argentina. Having that aspect of contact and trust, someone you could pick up the phone and ask for advice; the role the British Council Argentina played was very central in terms of understanding context and cultural differences. I spent a lot of time with Mary Godward, including an 8 hour road trip between the two Welsh communities in Patagonia. – Suzanne Hay Thank you to Lyndsey Halliday who helped promote the work of the Swansea Patagonia 150 project. Your help was much appreciated. – Survey respondent I’m very grateful to the British Council. It was fantastic they supported it and I hope they were happy with it. Wales Arts International funded a lot of my trips and that was absolutely crucial, to go several times and talk to people, get them on board, for filming. That support was absolutely key. – Marc Rees APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: WEB LINKS AND PRESS Patagonia 150, official website www.patagonia150.org 150, S4c http://www.s4c.cymru/150/ 150, National Theatre Wales https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/150 '150 years of the Welsh in Patagonia: Reflections on a Legacy', Aberystwyth University https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/interpol/research/conferences/conferences20142015/150yearsofthewelshinpatagoniareflectionsonalegacy/ 34 ‘A unique insight into the Welsh Settlement in Patagonia’, Cardiff University News, 22 June 2015 http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/114758-cynhadledd-y-wladfa ‘BBC Wales Director presents 'rich archive' to schools in Patagonia as part of anniversary’, BBC, 30 October 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/patagoniaarchive ‘Mark Bowden | Composer: We Have Found a Better Land’ http://www.markbowden.net/music/wehavefoundabetterland.html Caban, S4C http://www.s4c.cymru/caban/?p=12267&lang=en ‘Catherine ayer y hoy’, CENPAT, 21 August 2015 http://www.cenpatconicet.gob.ar/catherine-ayer-y-hoy/ Catrin Finch's Patagonia diary: 'Wales survives here through music', The Guardian, 10 Nov 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/nov/10/bbc-national-orchestra-ofwales-catrin-finch-patagonia-diary CCIC / NYCW PATAGONIA 150, Taith Côr Cenedlaethol Ieuenctid Cymru i’r Ariannin / National Youth Choir of Wales Tour to Argentina, Official Blog https://tycerddp150.wordpress.com/ ‘Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Welsh Colony in Patagonia’, Cymdeithas CymruAriannin/Wales Argentina Society http://www.cymru-ariannin.com/en/dathliad150.php Eryl Crump, ‘Campaign to send two new harps to Patagonia ahead of 150th anniversary celebrations’ Daily Post, 22 Jan 2015 http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/campaignsend-two-new-harps-8495135 Gwydion Davies, ‘£6,500 Raised for Harp For Patagonia Appeal’, Canolfan Gerdd William Matthias, 13 Mar 2015 http://www.cgwm.org.uk/posts/10/6500-raised-for-harp-forpatagonia-appeal-1 ‘DNA solves 20-year-old Patagonia bones mystery’, BBC News, 21 April 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-32385545 ‘Film remembers the other side of the Welsh Patagonian story’, News North Wales, 3 August 2015 http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/151018/film-remembers-the-other-side-of-thewelsh-patagonian-story.aspx Lyn Gardner, ‘The only way is Patagonia: the Welsh adventure to South America’, The Guardian, 30 Jun 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jun/30/patagonia-welshvalleys-south-america-s4c-150 Carolyn Hitt, ‘From Prosecco on Mill Lane to trekking around Patagonia - our Velindre adventure is here’, Wales Online, 21 Nov 2015 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/walesnews/prosecco-mill-lane-trekking-around-10474886 Prof E Wyn James, ‘Viewpoint: The Argentines who speak Welsh’, BBC Magazine, 16 Oct 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29611380 Ben Johnson, ‘The History of Patagonia’, Historic UK http://www.historicuk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/The-History-of-Patagonia/ 35 Kate Maltby, ‘{150} at Royal Opera House Stores, Aberdare’, The Times, 1 July 2015 http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/theatre/article4483892.ece ‘Mimosa a Patagonia’, Liverpool Welsh Society, http://www.liverpoolwelsh.co.uk/mimosa_a_patagonia.htm ‘MIMOSA Theatre for Young People: My Land, My People, My Language: 23 May - 9 July 2015’, Theatr Clwyd https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/whats-on/mimosa/ National Youth Ensembles commission's 2015 http://www.tycerdd.org/youth-music/youthcommissions-2015 ‘New exhibition tells the story of Y Wladfa - the Welsh Colony in Patagonia’, Museum Wales, 21 Aug 2015 http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/news/?article_id=935 Parot Piws Educational Resources http://www.parotpiws.com/patagonia/main/ ‘Patagonia Trek Success!’, Velindre Fundraising, December 14, 2015 http://velindrefundraising.com/index.php?id=10&news=290 People’s Collection Wales: Patagonia http://www.peoplescollection.wales/discover/query/patagonia Karen Price, ‘Hollywood star Matthew Rhys backs major Patagonia drama’ Wales Online, 2 Jul 2014 Karen Price, ‘12 stunning paintings by Kyffin Williams which paint the artist in a whole new light’, Wales Online, 26 Feb 2015 http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culturenews/12-stunning-paintings-kyffin-williams-8728351 Neil Prior, ‘Patagonia 150 years on: A “little Wales beyond Wales”', BBC News, 30 May 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-32919137 ‘Radio Cymru's Shân Cothi reveals details of world-record attempt for BBC Music Day’, BBC, 18 May 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/radio-cymru-duet-forbbc-music-day Adam Somerset, ‘Masterly, Multi-media, Magnificence’, Theatre Wales http://www.theatrewales.co.uk/reviews/reviews_details.asp?reviewID=3415 ‘The Only way is Patagonia for Pobol y Cwm actress’, S4c, 24 Jul 2015 http://www.s4c.cymru/caban/?p=12290&lang=en Huw Thomas, ‘BBC National Orchestra of Wales first for Patagonia’, BBC News, 22 October 2015 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-34591803 Touring Patagonia with new production, Urdd http://www.urdd.cymru/en/news-press/touringpatagonia-new-production/ Holly Williams, ‘150: recounting the story of how one area of South America became 'Wales away from Wales', The Independent, 6 June 2015 http://www.independent.co.uk/artsentertainment/theatre-dance/features/150-recounting-the-story-of-how-one-area-of-southamerica-became-wales-away-from-wales-10300029.html APPENDIX 2: OTHER MATERIAL CONSULTED 36 People’s Collection Wales Presentation Fengtian Li Evaluation Report APPENDIX 3: ARTS OUTCOMES The activity supported the following British Council Arts Outcomes: ARTISTS PROSPER: Artistic practice of a broad and diverse range of artists in the UK and overseas developed by working internationally; More UK work shown overseas; UK artists develop new markets; Cultural and commercial growth for UK and international artists and creative practitioners; UK artists and arts professionals have more contact and deeper connection with international counterparts; There is more international collaboration; This continues beyond our projects. SKILLS DEVELOP; INSTITUTIONS PROSPER: Creative and cultural institutions developed overseas and in the UK, informed and inspired by one another; Improved leadership and skills in the creative sector overseas, informed and inspired by the UK; Civil society, social cohesion and freedom of expression overseas strengthened through art and culture, informed and inspired by the UK; A strengthened international dimension to UK arts programming. AUDIENCES GROW: International audiences developed for UK work, and UK audiences developed for international work, that inspires, entertains and transforms; International audiences have access to the breadth and diversity of UK arts. UK REPUTATION GROWS: By sharing best practice with the creative sector there is international acclaim for, and adaptation of, UK innovations for cultural and commercial growth. 37