Pupils from 11 schools in Denbigh and the surrounding area have been learning more about the Welsh language, and local culture and history through an art project.

The project was funded by GwE (the regional education consortia) and led by Ffion Hughes from Ysgol y Parc on behalf of their school cluster, in collaboration with Denbighshire Leisure Ltd’s Community Arts team.

The Welsh Language patterns developed during these sessions were then shared between the schools to improve standards in Welsh of both the staff and pupils across the cluster.

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The schools that took part in the project were: Ysgol y Parc, Ysgol Frongoch, Ysgol Pendref (all Denbigh), St Asaph VP School, St Brigid’s School (Denbigh), Ysgol Bodfari, Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog, Denbigh High School, Ysgol Esgob Morgan (St Asaph), Ysgol y Faenol (Bodelwyddan) and Ysgol Trefnant.

The exhibition is currently on display at Denbighshire County Council’s marquee on the Eisteddfod yr Urdd maes.

Pupils worked with professional artists Eleri Jones and Catrin Williams over a period of three months between January and March 2022. 

Catrin Williams explored the wonderful buildings of the historical town of Denbigh, with pupils then creating fantastically colourful townscapes with Denbigh as their inspiration.

Councillor Gill German, deputy leader and lead member for education, children and families, said: “This is a fantastic project that has given pupils from a number of schools where Welsh is not their first language the chance to get actively involved in the Eisteddfod in a creative and engaging way.

“The work is really inspiring and I would urge people visiting the Maes to call in at Denbighshire County Council’s marquee and see the work on display”.

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Sian Fitzgerald, community arts manager with Denbighshire Leisure Ltd’s Active Communities team, said: “When working with Eleri Jones the pupils looked at images of historical figures that have contributed in many different ways to the continued use of the Welsh language. They looked at figures from the Celts to Dafydd and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and Owain Glyndwr, to historical Denbighshire figures such as playwright Twm o’r Nant, novelist Kate Roberts and wrestler Orig Williams.

“The children and young people created individual collograph print plates of portraits of Denbighshire people, as well as some portraits of themselves. These were then applied on top of images of Denbighshire buildings created by the pupils who worked with Catrin, to create the finished works of art that you see here today”. 

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In Denbighshire, community arts projects are managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd’s Community Arts Service. 

For more information about projects in Denbighshire, contact Jo McGregor on 07799 582766 / jo.mcgregor@denbighshireleisure.co.uk or Sian Fitzgerald on 07717540857 / sian.fitzgerald@denbighshireleisure.co.uk.