The British Wildlife Photography Awards is touring Wales with a free bilingual exhibition to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity. The winning images from 2009 form a memorable and powerful portrayal of Britain’s rich and varied wildlife.
The Authority’s Director of Recreation, Marketing and Communications, James Parkin said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see really innovative British wildlife photography in our National Park centres.

“This exhibition will hopefully inspire people to get out and experience the town and natural environments of our National Park, and look out for the wildlife, from birds to mammals, insects to marine life – it’s all there if you look for it.”

The exhibition, sponsored by the Countryside Council for Wales, will be starting in the National Park Visitor Centre in Tenby from the 5th to 17th of July (excluding 16th July). The next showing will be at Castell Henllys from 1st August until 15th August and it will then finish at Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in St Davids from 10th October until 7th November.

Fallow buck (Photo: Ben Hall)

Gannets (Photo: Ben Hall)

Red squirrel (Photo: Will Nicholls)

Sanderling running (Photo: Danny Green)

Seal (Photo: Alex Mustard)

Historic artwork by the renowned British landscape painter Richard Wilson is among the treasures in the next exhibition at Oriel y Parc, St Davids.

Wilson’s oil painting, Pembroke Town and Castle, is among 12 new works coming to the gallery and visitor centre run by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority next month (August).

The free exhibition, entitled The Changing Landscape, opens to the public on Saturday August 7th and features items from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. The exhibition will remain open until March 2011.

Bryony Dawkes, the Museum’s Partnership Projects Curator, said: “Oriel y Parc visitors will see some fantastic new pieces from the National Museum in this exhibition, alongside those by artists such as L.S.Lowry, Terry Setch and John Knapp Fisher which opened the exhibition in March.

“Richard Wilson is often described as ‘the father of British landscape painting.’ His work influenced the next generation of landscape artists, including Turner and Constable. Pembroke Town and Castle was painted around 1774, when the town was at the height of its importance as a centre of maritime trade.”

Other works on display include The Fisherman’s Return, by Welsh artist and poet Brenda Chamberlain, which depicts two fishermen returning to Bardsey Island after a day at sea; A Coastal Landscape, an unusual view from the north of Anglesey looking out towards the Irish Sea, by Hugh Hughes; and photography by Raymond Moore, who lived and worked in Pembrokeshire with his partner Ray Howard Jones (also represented in the exhibition).

Also included is a small oil of Ferryside by painter Edward Morland Lewis who studied with Sickert and frequently painted locations on the Pembrokeshire coast. Completing the exhibition is a new postcard series being displayed for the first time by Swansea artist Tim Davies.

The gallery at Oriel y Parc will be closed from Tuesday August  3rd to Thursday  August 5th to make way for the new artworks. The visitor centre will remain open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and the gallery will reopen during these hours from Saturday August 7th.

Prior to the formal exhibition launch in the evening, a separate afternoon event was held where the Authority’s Vice Chairman, Cllr Tony Brinsden, was presented with a sculptural piece of glass designed by local craftsman Steve Robinson, commissioned by the Friends of the Graham Sutherland Collection to mark the original opening of Oriel y Parc in 2008.

Pictured at the official launch are (left to right): James Parkin, Director of Recreation, Marketing & Communications for the Park Authority, Mike Tooby, Director, Programmes and Development for Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museums Wales, Nigel Payton, Site Attendant Oriel y Parc, Brendan Burns, Bryony Dawkes, Partnership Projectors Curator, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museums Wales and Lucinda Hall, Oriel y Parc’s Education & Events Officer. (Pic: Philip Clarke)

Brendan Stuart Burns is best known for his paintings inspired by the coastline of West Wales. His latest exhibition, Influere, is the result of his residency at Oriel y Parc and marks a continuation of an engagement with the coast of Pembrokeshire that has been his principal subject for the past fifteen years.

Brendan's residency and the exhibition Influere, have been organised as part of Celf Cymru Gyfan - ArtShare Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru's visual arts partnership programme which is generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

The artists’ studio used by Brendan has been opened to the public for the first time, allowing a glimpse into the working environment of an award-winning Welsh artist. It has been reconstructed to show both the materials used during his residency and some of his larger works, proving to be an ideal venue for school groups wanting to learn more about the daily life of a working artist in Wales.

This event will be hosted by the Friends of the Graham Sutherland Collection. Entry is free but places are limited. To reserve a place, please contact Oriel y Parc on 01437 720392.
 

This years entries all came from Pembroke Dock Community School and were based on the theme ‘Christmas in Pembroke Dock’. The standard of entries was incredibly high but, after much deliberation, the pictures below were chosen. The winning entries will be made into Christmas cards and distributed to the children to send to their closest friends and relatives.

The work - completed whilst at Oriel y Parc as part of Brendan’s year-long residency – will be on display from Saturday 14th November to the 14th March 2010. It will also feature alongside selected pieces of artwork that have inspired him from the National Collection.

While Brendan’s art has long been inspired by the natural forms of Druidston beach, the residency has seen him exploring the area around St Davids, including Caerfai and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail, taking his painting in an exciting new direction.

Oriel y Parc Centre Manager, Diane Alwyn said “Brendan’s artwork is very tactile and is drawn from many different angles and perspectives. Why not come and discover the free exhibition for yourself. Not only will you see Brendan’s fascinating work but you will also be able to explore work from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, from artists such as Stanley Spencer and Eugene Boudin.”

Brendan Stuart Burns’ ‘Influere’ exhibition has been organised as part of ArtShare Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales' visual arts partnership scheme. Generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, ArtShare Wales aims to increase access to the national art collection via innovative collaborative partnerships with organisations across Wales.

In anticipation of his ‘Influere’ exhibition at Oriel y Parc, Brendan said: “I could never have anticipated how significant this period of work, whilst in residence at Oriel y Parc, would have been; to challenge one’s inspiration of the past 14 years, Druidston beach, and initiate a new relationship with both location as well as processes of work. Influere means, 'to flow from', which is meant to denote the influence on my work of both the St Davids landscape and the other art works from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. “

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales’ Partnership Projects Curator, Bryony Dawkes said: “We are thrilled to be able to present Brendan Burns’ new series of paintings at Oriel y Parc, which is such a great exhibition space. It presents a unique chance for visitors to Oriel y Parc to see Brendan's work not just in the place it was created, but in the broader context of his process and influence, including major works by artists that have inspired his practice both past and present.

“In addition to Brendan’s own sketchbooks, photographs and a chance to see inside his studio, pieces are included from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales’ collection, including geological specimens and a wide range of art works from figures such as Stanley Spencer, John Piper, Eugene Boudin, Frank Auerbach, Ceri Richards and Ben Nicholson. You can find out more about these artists and their collections at www.museumwales.ac.uk.”

To see more of Brendan’s work visit www.brendanstuartburns.co.uk. 
 

The gallery, owned and managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, will be closed from Monday November 2nd, re-opening on Monday November 16th, to make way for the new exhibits. The rest of Oriel y Parc – which includes a Tourist Information Centre, shop, café and education facilities – will remain open as normal.

The free exhibition features works completed by the gallery’s first Artist-in-Residence, Brendan Stuart Burns, during his year-long residency. His work will be shown alongside pieces that have inspired him from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

Oriel y Parc Centre Manager Diane Alwyn said: “When new exhibitions are installed, we need to close the gallery for a short while so we can protect these precious pieces as we remove and replace them.

“We hope people will bear with us while the exhibition is changed - and remember there is still plenty to do here at Oriel y Parc even when the gallery isn’t open.

“You can get all the visitor information you need; you can browse through our locally produced goods in the shop and try our local, seasonal produce in the café. We look forward to welcoming you and hope you will come back to see the new exhibition later in November.”

Another change which visitors might notice at Oriel y Parc is that new public toilets are being built on the nearby car park.

The original public toilets were demolished when the gallery was being built and the National Park Authority is now re-instating them.
 

Pictured with the 2009 RTPI Award for Planning Achievement in Wales are (l-r): Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Chief Executive Nic Wheeler, Head of Archaeological Heritage Phil Bennett and Director of Planning and Conservation Ifor Jones.

The Authority, which runs the gallery, visitor and education centre in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, picked up the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 2009 Award for Planning Achievement in Wales.

Head of Archaeological Heritage Phil Bennett accepted a glass crystal rose-bowl and framed certificate on behalf of the Authority during a ceremony at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, last Friday (November 6th).

The opening of Oriel y Parc, by Wales’ First Minister Rhodri Morgan one year ago, marked the culmination of the Authority’s 50 year plan for the site it bought in 1955 at the entrance to St Davids, which also includes a car park and a sustainable public transport scheme. These elements combined in the RTPI award submission, which was entitled St Davids Gateway and Oriel y Parc.

Director of Planning and Conservation Ifor Jones explained: “Oriel y Parc not only represents the physical gateway to the city and the St Davids peninsula; it is also a virtual gateway to understanding and enjoyment of the National Park landscape. After a visit to Oriel y Parc, visitors are inspired to leave their cars in our car park and hop onto a coastal bus to access the peninsula or the rest of the Park.

“Increasingly Oriel y Parc is also a gateway for understanding and responding to the challenges of climate change. The building has a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for its sustainable design and management and we raise awareness through our interactive displays and programme of family-friendly activities.”

Roisin Willmott, National Director of RTPI Cymru, said: “The project captures the RTPI’s commitment to climate change through reducing private car usage and the promotion of sustainable design. The project is also a model of good practice for the management of large tourist numbers in environmentally sensitive areas.”

The Authority’s Chief Executive Nic Wheeler added: “To have won a top Welsh national award in the planning sector against some extremely tough competition is a fantastic achievement and credit to all those involved at Oriel y Parc.”

The Authority has also received confirmation that Oriel y Parc has been shortlisted for the finals of the 2009 RTPI UK National Planning Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London in February.

The gallery, managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, features exhibits from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

The gallery will be closed on Monday July 6th and Tuesday July 7th so that some of the items in the rolling programme of exhibitions can be changed. The gallery will re-open with its new collection on Wednesday July 8th.

However, the rest of Oriel y Parc will remain open for the duration. So visitors can eat local, seasonal food in the café, get local information from the Visitor Information Centre and buy maps, gifts and art supplies in the shop.

Centre Manager Diane Alwyn said: “From time to time the exhibits in the gallery change, and we need to close the gallery for a short while so that we can protect these precious pieces as we remove and replace them.

“We’ll still be welcoming people to enjoy the rest of Oriel y Parc as normal on the Monday and Tuesday, and of course once we re-open the gallery on the Wednesday there will be some exciting new exhibits for people to see.”
 

The meeting is on Thursday June 18th, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, at the Warpool Court Hotel, St Davids.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is a partner in the management of Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery, St Davids, along with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Those who attend Thursday’s meeting at Warpool Court will be updated about the work of the Museum. People also have the opportunity to become more closely involved with the Museum by taking part in public consultations. For more information contact:

Elaine Cabuts
Public Consultation Co-ordinator
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NP
029 2057 3204
 

Solva-born artist and film and television art director Mark Raggett will give a free talk about his career in TV and film on Wednesday 13th May from 2pm to 4pm.

His talk will also touch on his love of painting, which is featured in a new publication called Pembrokeshire Art.

The event has been organised by Pembrokeshire College for Adult Learners Week as part of a series of workshops to inspire adults to ‘get creative’.

Pembrokeshire College Senior Marketing Officer Hayley Williams said the St Davids gallery, visitor and education centre, owned and run by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, was an ideal venue for encouraging adults to learn new skills.

She said: “As well as Mark’s talk, the afternoon also includes creative taster sessions including mono printmaking and an introduction to textiles. We’d love people to come along and have a go.”

Those who take part will be given priority to further practice what they have learned at two workshops at Pembrokeshire College:

Introduction to Textiles Monday 18th May 6pm – 8pm (free)
Exploring Mono Print Making Tuesday 19th May 6pm – 8pm (free)

For more information on these sessions call 0800 716 236.
 

Caption - (left to right) Cllr Simon Hancock, Chairman of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority; Phil Bennett, National Park Authority Archaeological Heritage Manager and Rod Williams, Chairman of the Friends of the Graham Sutherland Collection

Rod is the Chairman of the Friends of the Graham Sutherland Collection and as such was involved in the development of the Oriel y Parc gallery, which includes Sutherland’s works in its rolling exhibitions.

His donation totals around 200 books. He said: “It’s a lifetime collection which spans my whole teaching and lecturing career and it covers the whole of art history.

“I have no serious use for the books now as I don’t intend to teach again, so they are just lying around the house idle. So I thought they might form the nucleus of a library for Oriel y Parc.

“Oriel y Parc is a superb facility and it is nice for me to think that other people will benefit from these books as my students and I have done over the years. And if I need them I can just borrow them back!”

Cllr Simon Hancock, Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which owns and manages Oriel y Parc in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, added: “Rod has been very supportive of the gallery since its conception and this is an enormously generous donation for which we are extremely grateful.

“This impressive collection will give Oriel y Parc an extra dimension and we hope it will prove a useful resource for anyone interested in painting and the history of art.”

The collection is currently being catalogued by Nona Rees, Cathedral Librarian, and Llywela Harris, both of St Davids. As soon as this work is complete visitors to Oriel y Parc will be able to use this valuable reference resource.

Oriel y Parc is open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm throughout the summer, admission is free.

The exhibition entitled 'Four Seasons, Two Viewpoints' includes work from well known local artist Graham Brace and landscape photographer David Wilson. The artwork can be found in the café and tower at Oriel y Parc.

Oriel y Parc Manager Diane Alwyn said: “We are keen to support local artists and increase opportunities to showcase their works, as well as encouraging visitors to explore more of the many small galleries in Pembrokeshire.”

The unique and iconic gallery, visitor and education centre, which opened in 2008, is dedicated to the exploration of landscape and the main galleries house works taken from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum of Wales’ vast collection of art and antiquities.

This particular exhibition reflects the changes in the Pembrokeshire landscape through the seasons and is especially appropriate for Oriel y Parc’s café where fresh, local and seasonal produce is used. Oriel y Parc cook, Katelyne Veisulys said: “Like our landscape, our café menu changes with the seasons and we try to use local produce wherever possible.”

We hope that this will be the first exhibition of many in the café and tower. Artists and photographers who are interested in showing their work should contact Diane Alwyn at Oriel y Parc on 01437 720392 for details of how to apply for selection.
 

The tower at Oriel y Parc, St Davids, has taken on a friendly face as the new mascot for the gallery, visitor and education centre.

Holidaymaker Harriet Lingard-Morgan drew the winning picture in a ‘design a mascot’ competition launched last autumn by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which owns and manages Oriel y Parc.

The tower is used for talks and adult education classes and its design appealed to the 10-year-old from London, who gave it a blue hat and windows for eyes.

Education and Events Officer Lucinda Hall presented Harriet with a framed copy of her drawing.

Harriet’s winning design will be used in the marketing materials for the programme of family events and activities at Oriel y Parc.

Oriel y Parc is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm daily and entry is free.
 

Getting ahead: Solva Primary School pupils at Oriel y Parc with the head of the dragon they and their classmates made for the St David’s Day parade.

Daffodils lined the route, along with hundreds of people who’d turned out to watch the infant and junior school children in the procession, which was led by the Air Training Corp Band, city Mayor Cllr David Chant and Ceri Price of the St Davids Peninsula Tourist Association.

Pupils from Ysgol Bro Dewi show their dragon to Mayor of St Davids David Chant (left); Ceri Price of St Davids Peninsula Tourist Association; Mayoress Sandra Chant and another Welsh dragon which joined in the procession!

Luci Hall, Education Officer for Oriel y Parc – St Davids’ new gallery, visitor and education centre – organised the parade, which started at Oriel y Parc and followed the road down to Cross Square before returning.

She said: “It’s been fantastic. The children were so enthusiastic and excited and a lot of the adults really enjoyed themselves as well. Welsh flags were handed out before the parade and people waved them enthusiastically as the children passed. We’ve already had enquiries from other schools asking to be involved next year, so we hope we’ll be able to start a tradition.”

Oriel y Parc's Education Officer Luci Hall, with a dragon and pupils from Ysgol Croesgoch and Ceri Price of the St Davids Peninsula Tourism Association

After the parade, children joined in free themed activities in the Discovery Room at Oriel y Parc.

The dragons will be stabled at the seven schools whose pupils created them: Solva, Letterston, Croesgoch, Bro Dewi, Roch, Hayscastle and Mathry.

The materials for the dragons were funded by the St Davids Peninsula Tourist Association.
 

Please visit the Picture Gallery page to enjoy more photographs from the day!
 

On Saturday February 28th the Dragon Parade will travel through St Davids, Pembrokeshire, in an event organised by staff at Oriel y Parc, the city’s new gallery, visitor and education centre.

Pupils from Solva, Letterston, Croesgoch, Bro Dewi, Roch, Hayscastle and Mathry schools have each made a dragon out of fabric and Modroc, with the help of Oriel y Parc staff. Every child has helped decorate the body of their dragon.

Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer Luci Hall said: “These are pretty big dragons. The heads, which have been made by junior pupils, are the size of gym balls and the bodies are about 6ft long. It will take six children to carry each one.

“It should be a fantastic sight. The children have loved making them and they’re really looking forward to the big day. We hope people will turn out to see them all and we’d really like people to wear Welsh costumes and join in at the back of the parade.”

The Air Training Corp Band will lead the parade, setting off from Oriel y Parc at 11.30am and following the road down to Cross Square in the city centre before returning.

Back at Oriel y Parc there will be an afternoon of free family activities with a Welsh theme, including face painting and daffodil badge-making.

The materials for the dragons were funded by the St Davids Peninsula Tourist Association. After the parade the dragons will live at Oriel y Parc for a month, before going back to the schools.

It is hoped the parade will become an annual event.
 

Guest speaker, Ken Brassil, Archaeology and History Education Officer, for Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
 

Ken Brassil, Archaeology and History Education Officer, for Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, is giving the talk. The theme is ‘Every object tells a story’ and focuses on new ways of looking at archaeology and interpretation as ‘clues from the past and cues for the future’.

The gallery is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales and all the talks are being given by National Museum staff.

Sally Moss, Commissioning Curator at Oriel y Parc, said: “Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales cares for, researches and interprets wonderful and varied collections.

“These range from entire buildings, such as the row of ironworkers houses from Merthyr Tydfil re-erected at St Fagans or rare archaeological treasures like the famous Viking sword guard found off Smalls Reef in Pembrokeshire; to world renowned paintings including Renoir’s Blue Lady, or unique Welsh textiles such as the exquisite blanket patterns preserved at the National Wool Museum.

“But the staff who work at the many sites of the museum are also ‘treasures’, with a vast store house of knowledge to share. Our Sparking Curiosity talks provide an opportunity to meet some of them and also to have a rare glimpse behind the scenes.”

The talks are in the Discovery Room at Oriel y Parc (unless otherwise stated) and last for 45 minutes. They are suitable for adults, including sixth form and college students. Tea and freshly baked cakes £2.

For more information call Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer Lucinda Hall on 01437 725082 or email lucindah@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

The rest of the 'tea and talks' programme is listed below.

Tuesday March 10th at 2pm
Moving pictures – extraordinary stories about the many loans of objects made from the National Collection to museums and galleries throughout the world by Tim Egan, Registrar, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday March 31st at 2pm
Our Cultural Corridor – from Swansea to St Davids – celebrating the industrial landscape with amazing objects from the national collections by Steph Mastoris, Head of the National Waterfront Museum Swansea.

Tuesday April 7th at 2pm
The Paradise Garden – botanical illustration from the 17th century to the present, featuring some of the 9,000 examples in the National Collection by Maureen Lazarus, Curatorial Assistant BioSyb (Botany), Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday April 21st at 2pm
Buried treasure – featuring intriguing social history ‘clues’ and from the Tregwynt Hoard by Edward Besly, Assistant Keeper Archaeology and Numismatics, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 5th at 2pm
Rock stars – highlighting Pembrokeshire’s world famous geology by Tom Sharpe, Curator Palaeontology, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 19th at 2pm
Found objects – exploring the way a generation of British artists, including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and Graham Sutherland were influenced by the natural forms they discovered in the landscape by Nicholas Thornton, Head of Modern and Contemporary Art, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday June 2nd at 2pm
The Pembrokeshire landscape – shaped by man – discovering the stories that made Wales the first industrial nation with David Jenkins, Senior Curator of Industry, Amgueddfa-Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday June 16th at 2pm
Welsh Landscape – the development and future plans for the new gallery at the National Museum Cardiff by Beth McIntyre, Curator Prints and Drawings, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

A talk revealing Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales’ latest projects is the next in the Sparking Curiosity programme of 'tea and talks' at Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery, St Davids, on Tuesday February 10th at 2pm.

The gallery is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales and all the talks are being given by National Museum staff.

Mike Tooby, the museum’s Director of Learning and Programmes will give the next talk, focusing on ‘exciting and innovative projects in Wales and beyond’.

Sally Moss, Commissioning Curator at Oriel y Parc, said: “Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales cares for, researches and interprets wonderful and varied collections.

“These range from entire buildings, such as the row of ironworkers houses from Merthyr Tydfil re-erected at St Fagans or rare archaeological treasures like the famous Viking sword guard found off Smalls Reef in Pembrokeshire; to world renowned paintings including Renoir’s Blue Lady, or unique Welsh textiles such as the exquisite blanket patterns preserved at the National Wool Museum.

“But the staff who work at the many sites of the museum are also ‘treasures’, with a vast store house of knowledge to share. Our Sparking Curiosity talks provide an opportunity to meet some of them and also to have a rare glimpse behind the scenes.”

The talks are in the Discovery Room at Oriel y Parc (unless otherwise stated) and last for 45 minutes. They are suitable for adults, including sixth form and college students. Tea and freshly baked cakes £2.

For more information call Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer Lucinda Hall on 01437 725082 or email lucindah@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

The rest of the 'tea and talks' programme is listed below.

Tuesday February 24th at 2pm
Every object tells a story – new ways of looking at archaeology and interpretation as ‘clues from the past and clues for the future’, by Ken Brassil, Archaeology/ History Education Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday March 10th at 2pm
Moving pictures – extraordinary stories about the many loans of objects made from the National Collection to museums and galleries throughout the world by Tim Egan, Registrar, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday March 31st at 2pm
Our Cultural Corridor – from Swansea to St Davids – celebrating the industrial landscape with amazing objects from the national collections by Steph Mastoris, Head of the National Waterfront Museum Swansea.

Tuesday April 7th at 2pm
The Paradise Garden – botanical illustration from the 17th century to the present, featuring some of the 9,000 examples in the National Collection by Maureen Lazarus, Curatorial Assistant BioSyb (Botany), Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday April 21st at 2pm
Buried treasure – featuring intriguing social history ‘clues’ and from the Tregwynt Hoard by Edward Besly, Assistant Keeper Archaeology and Numismatics, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 5th at 2pm
Rock stars – highlighting Pembrokeshire’s world famous geology by Tom Sharpe, Curator Palaeontology, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 19th at 2pm
Found objects – exploring the way a generation of British artists, including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and Graham Sutherland were influenced by the natural forms they discovered in the landscape by Nicholas Thornton, Head of Modern and Contemporary Art, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday June 2nd at 2pm
The Pembrokeshire landscape – shaped by man – discovering the stories that made Wales the first industrial nation with David Jenkins, Senior Curator of Industry, Amgueddfa-Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday June 16th at 2pm
Welsh Landscape – the development and future plans for the new gallery at the National Museum Cardiff by Beth McIntyre, Curator Prints and Drawings, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.
 

The gallery is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales and the talks are being given by National Museum staff.

Sally Moss, the former Curator of the National Wool Museum Dre-fach Felindre (E&W), will present ‘A unique partnership in the Teifi Valley – landscape and industry’ – focusing on raising the profile of the Welsh woollen industry following its multi million pound redevelopment.

Sally, who is now the Commissioning Curator at Oriel y Parc, said: “Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales cares for, researches and interprets wonderful and varied collections.

“These range from entire buildings, such as the row of ironworkers houses from Merthyr Tydfil re-erected at St Fagans or rare archaeological treasures like the famous Viking sword guard found off Smalls Reef in Pembrokeshire; to world renowned paintings including Renoir’s Blue Lady, or unique Welsh textiles such as the exquisite blanket patterns preserved at the National Wool Museum.

“But the staff who work at the many sites of the museum are also ‘treasures’, with a vast store house of knowledge to share. Our Sparking Curiosity talks provide an opportunity to meet some of them and also to have a rare glimpse behind the scenes.”

The talks cost £2, including tea and buns. They are in the Discovery Room at Oriel y Parc (unless otherwise stated) and last for 45 minutes. They are suitable for adults, including sixth form and college students.

For more information call Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer Lucinda Hall on 01437 725082 or email lucindah@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

The full series of talks is listed below.

Tuesday February 10th at 2pm
Partnerships and Collaborations – celebrating the exciting and innovative projects in Wales and beyond by Mike Tooby, Director Learning and Programmes, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday February 24th at 2pm
Every object tells a story – new ways of looking at archaeology and interpretation as ‘clues from the past and cues for the future’, by Ken Brassil, Archaeology/ History Education Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales (E&W).

Tuesday March 10th at 2pm
Moving pictures – extraordinary stories about the many loans of objects made from the National Collection to museums and galleries throughout the world by Tim Egan, Registrar, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday March 24th at 2pm
Our Cultural Corridor – from Swansea to St Davids – celebrating the industrial landscape with amazing objects from the national collections by Steph Mastoris, Head of the National Waterfront Museum Swansea.

Tuesday April 7th at 2pm
The Paradise Garden – botanical illustration from the 17th century to the present, featuring some of the 9,000 examples in the National Collection by Maureen Lazarus, Curatorial Assistant BioSyb (Botany), Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday April 21st at 2pm
Buried treasure – featuring intriguing social history ‘clues’ and from the Tregwynt Hoard by Edward Besly, Assistant Keeper Archaeology and Numismatics, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 5th at 2pm
Rock stars – highlighting Pembrokeshire’s world famous geology by Tom Sharpe, Curator Palaeontology, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday May 19th at 2pm
Found objects – exploring the way a generation of British artists, including Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and Graham Sutherland were influenced by the natural forms they discovered in the landscape by Nicholas Thornton, Head of Modern and Contemporary Art, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Tuesday June 2nd at 2pm
The Pembrokeshire landscape – shaped by man – discovering the stories that made Wales the first industrial nation with David Jenkins, Senior Curator of Industry, Amgueddfa-Cymru-National Museum Wales (E&W).

Tuesday June 16th at 2pm
Welsh Landscape – the development and future plans for the new gallery at the National Museum Cardiff by Beth McIntyre, Curator Prints and Drawings, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

 

The first in a six month series of ‘tea and talks’ will take place at Oriel y Parc, St Davids, next Tuesday, January 13^th.

Kate Lowry, Head of Art Conservation at Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, will give a talk entitled Going Deeper – detailing exciting finds made when working on paintings in the National Collection.

The event is the first of the Sparking Curiosity talks at Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery, which is a partnership project between Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

The talks run every other Tuesday until June 16^th and will all be given by experts from the Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

Kate Lowry’s talk will be held in the Oriel y Parc Discovery Room at 2pm on Tuesday and lasts 45 minutes. It will be followed by tea and buns (£2). The events are suitable for adults, including sixth form and college students.

For more information contact Lucinda Hall, Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer on 01437 725082 or email lucindah@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is putting on a series of children’s activities at Oriel y Parc, which it manages in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

You can decorate and take home your own candle in Winter Waxworks; weave a magical evergreen charm for your home in Deck the Halls; make a box to contain Oriel y Parc ‘taffi’ in Tinsel and Taffi Treats and create a calendar or a lucky Calennig to give to someone you love in Calendars and Calennig. 

Oriel y Parc’s Education and Events Officer Luci Hall said: “Pembrokeshire is a land steeped in history – a land of legends, traditions and old customs, many based around Christmas time. A lot of these customs and traditions are still practised in homes today during ‘y gwyliau’, the succession of festivals which take place over the 12 days of Christmas.

“Our activities are drop-in workshops so you can join in at any time and whichever session you come to, you’ll make something special to take home for Christmas.”

The sessions are for children aged four and above and they must be accompanied by an adult. For younger visitors, there is a selection of colouring sheets and toys.

Oriel y Parc is also hosting a series of 10 talks for adults, starting with ‘The Hidden Landscape’ by Commissioning Curator Sally Moss on December 16^th at 2pm. Talks will then run fortnightly from January 13^th 2009 and all will be given by experts from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. Each talk costs £2 and refreshments will be provided afterwards from the Oriel y Parc café.

Don't forget Oriel y Parc is open daily until Tuesday December 23rd (inclusive), from 10am to 4.30pm, and re-opens again from Monday December 29th.

Entry is free and you can visit our galleries to see treasures from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales; you can enjoy a bite to eat in our café - which serves food that is locally sourced and produced - and buy some last minute gifts or post-Christmas goodies in our shop. We also have full Tourist Information facilities.

The activities are listed below. 

Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st December

10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Tinsel and Taffi Treats

Monday December 22^nd and Tuesday 23^rd

10am-12pm: Winter Waxworks

2pm-4pm: Deck the Halls

Wednesday December 24^th to Sunday 28^th – CLOSED

Monday December 29^th

Calendars and Calennig

The £3.5million gallery, visitor and education centre – showcased in a promotional DVD online at  http://www.orielyparc.co.uk/ – will unveil its first exhibition on the same day. It will feature treasures from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.
 

Works by Picasso, Lowry and Rembrandt are among the pieces on display, along with the works of Graham Sutherland whose art will form a permanent part of the gallery’s rolling exhibitions.
 

Work by Pembrokeshire artist Alison Hayes – the only artwork to be displayed that is not part of the national collection - will also be shown in the gallery, capturing the essence of life on both Skomer and Grassholm islands.

Oriel y Parc is owned and managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

Chairman of the Park Authority Cllr Simon Hancock said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the First Minister on this special day for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park residents and visitors.

“What we have developed here in St Davids is a first class facility which we hope will inspire people to go out and discover the unique landscape of their National Park for themselves.”                                         

Speaking of the new building, which received £1.6 million of EU Objective 1 funding through the Welsh Assembly Government, the First Minister said: “St Davids is the jewel in the crown of Pembrokeshire, which ranks among the top counties in Wales and the UK as a magnet for tourists.

“Oriel y Parc is another gemstone that will attract even more tourists. It will help those tourists to appreciate the beauty of the landscape of the county and will hopefully encourage them to return time and again to go exploring and uncover more hidden gems. 

“There will be world class art on display here, both by way of the visiting exhibitions and the scintillating interpretation of the Pembrokeshire coast and landscape in Graham Sutherland’s paintings that will be on permanent display. It is a very unusual marriage between a National Park and a National Museum. You’ve got to see it to believe it!”

Paul Loveluck, President of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, added: “Oriel y Parc provides us with a wonderful opportunity to reach out to new audiences and enables many more people to be able to access and enjoy the exciting collections held by National Museum Wales.

“This is a wonderful example of partnership working, allowing people to experience the best of art and landscape in one very unique setting.”

Pupils from Ysgol Dewi Sant will perform on guitars a specially commissioned piece by Pembrokeshire musician and composer James Crisp as part of the opening ceremony.

As well as the gallery, the centre includes a National Park Tourist Information Centre, a 50 seat café selling local produce and an education centre with a Discovery Room and Artist’s Studio.

The building’s first artist in residence, Brendan Stuart Burns, will work in the studio every Thursday until December 18^th. For more information on Brendan’s work visit his website at http://www.brendanstuartburns.co.uk/.

Oriel y Parc also recently joined the ranks of Wales’ greenest buildings. The centre was awarded a ‘BREEAM Excellent’ rating for sustainable design and construction. 

The green technologies which helped achieve the excellent rating include a ground source heat pump, a rainwater harvesting system, sedum and turf roofs, photovoltaic roof cells and solar panels.

The centre, owned and managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, has been awarded a 'BREEAM' Excellent’ rating for sustainable design and construction.

The green technologies which helped achieve the excellent rating include a ground source heat pump, a rainwater harvesting system, sedum and turf roofs, photovoltaic roof cells and solar panels.
 

Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Cllr Simon Hancock receives the BREEAM Excellent rating certificate from Martin Townsend, Director of BREEAM at BRE Global, at Oriel y Parc, St Davids. Back row (l-r) are the Authority's Projects Officer Philip Roach; Andrew Phillips of Carreg Construction and Steve Webster of TPS Consult.

Chairman of the National Park Authority Cllr Simon Hancock said: "We’re extremely proud to have achieved this rating. It demonstrates our commitment as an Authority to improving our energy efficiency through sustainable environmental design and management.

"Our efforts don’t stop with the building itself, we also manage the gallery, visitor and education centre to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The centre is full of ideas for activities which can be found locally or by taking the buses from the car park. We’re also reducing waste, recycling and composting."
 

Martin Townsend, Director of BREEAM at BRE Global - which administers BREEAM nationally, presented Cllr Hancock and the Authority’s Projects Officer Philip Roach with the certificate of excellence on Friday October 3rd.

Mr Townsend said: "We are delighted to present Oriel y Parc with a BREEAM Excellent rating. The development scored particularly highly in the management and transport sections of BREEAM and the rating overall reflects a real commitment to environmental achievement."

French students learn about organic dairy and potato farming at Little Pencoed Farm, near Cresswell Quay

The 16 to 18-year-olds of Lycée Agricole Privé du Nivot looked at the agricultural landscapes of the National Park and found out how the National Park Authority works with landowners to look after them.

Rebecca Evans, of the Park Authority’s education team which organised the visit, said: "We were pleased to welcome such keen and interested students. They were particularly interested in finding out about the agricultural landscapes here and about local food production.

"They compared their experience here with their knowledge of land management and food production in Brittany and they’ll do follow-up work and prepare presentations for assessment on their return home."

After talks on the Park’s various landscapes the 25 students and their tutors visited examples, including the walled town of Tenby; the coast and its military land use at Manorbier; the Preseli Hills and the Gwaun Valley and the organic dairy and potato farm, Little Pencoed Farm, near Cresswell Quay.

They also visited the Authority’s Oriel y Parc landscape gallery in St Davids; Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort; Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre and St Davids Airfield.

Also on the itinerary was a tour of Caws Cenarth to see cheese being produced; a visit to St Dogmaels’ new heritage centre to look at local food production and a trip to Pembroke Castle.

Catherin said: "I would really like some recipes that local families have been cooking for years using seasonal ingredients, grown, picked or sourced locally. Recipes that hold cherished childhood memories would be fantastic so if you have stories relating to your recipes I'd love to hear them."
 

Oriel y Parc Cook Catherin Griffiths wants your help to cook up more mouthwatering treats using local produce

The best recipes and stories will be used in the book, along with the name of the contributor. Catherin will also cook up their suggestions in the café at Oriel y Parc landscape gallery, St Davids, and contributors will be invited to a blind tasting session.

If you’d like your recipe to be considered send it to Catherin Griffiths, Oriel y Parc, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, or email it to her on cathering@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk
 

The St Davids landscape gallery, visitor and education centre has set the challenge as part of The Big Draw, a UK-wide scheme run by The Campaign for Drawing.  

Oriel y Parc is running a series of art and craft events from Saturday October 25th to Friday October 31st to mark The Big Draw and the mascot design competition will run alongside them. The winning design will be professionally drawn and used to promote Oriel y Parc’s Discovery Room. The winner will receive a framed copy of their drawing.

Oriel y Parc Education and Events Officer Luci Williams said: "Our theme for The Big Draw is Hidden Landscape and we have activities taking place throughout Oriel y Parc – so we’ll be decorating biscuits in the café and doing all sorts of arts activities in the visitor centre and the Discovery Room.

"We want people to draw like they’ve never drawn before! Anyone of any age is welcome, it’s not just for children. Anyone who comes to Oriel y Parc during half term week will have chance to enter the mascot competition, we’re looking forward to seeing people’s designs."

Oriel y Parc is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm* daily and The Big Draw art and craft events run from 11am to 4.30pm. Most of the events are free, with a small charge for the remainder.

* From November 1st Oriel y Parc opening hours will be 10am to 4.30pm daily.
 

Artists of all ages are welcome to join in The Big Draw.

All tied up: (l-r) Neil Salter of NSE Electrics; Philip Roach, Projects Officer for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority; Kate Turner of NSE Electrics; Diane Alwyn, Oriel y Parc Manager; Steve Webster, BREEAM assessor for TPS Consult; Cathy McLean, Director of RICS Wales and National Park Authority Member and St Davids city councillor John George.

The partners involved in the construction of the £3million gallery, education and visitor centre in St Davids were issued with a National Park tie to be worn at meetings. A £10 charity forfeit was paid each time anyone forgot to wear it.

The Authority’s Projects Officer Philip Roach, who oversaw the building project, said: "With any new project a range of people are brought together for the first time and forming an ‘instant team’ can be tricky.

"The ties idea meant everyone signed up to a common objective and had some fun at the start of every meeting. Fortunately, people paid up when they forgot their ties and so we were able to hand over £510."

Cathy McLean, Director of RICS Wales, is involved in charity work for Marie Curie Cancer Care. She said: "On behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care I am delighted to accept the cheque and pass on considerable thanks to the participants in the tie challenge. Not only have they provided a fantastic building at St Davids, they will help cancer sufferers in Wales with the ‘proceeds’ of their fines."

The companies who teamed up with the National Park Authority in the tie challenge were: Smith Roberts Associates; Ramboll Whitbybird; Mildred Howells; Integrated Design Partnership; Carreg Construction; TPS Consult; Francis Catering Equipment and NSE Electrics.

Representatives from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales will welcome visitors for afternoon tea.

The £3.5million gallery, visitor and education centre – showcased in a promotional DVD online at http://www.orielyparc.co.uk/– unveils its first exhibition on the same day. It will feature treasures from the collections of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

Works by Picasso, Lowry and Rembrandt are among the pieces on display, along with the works of Graham Sutherland whose art will form a permanent part of the gallery’s rolling exhibitions.

Oriel y Parc is owned and managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

Chairman of the Park Authority Cllr Simon Hancock said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome the local community to Oriel y Parc for this open evening. We hope the event provided people attending with an insight into the buildings, displays and exhibitions.”

As well as the gallery, the centre includes a National Park Tourist Information Centre, a 50 seat café selling local produce and an education centre with a Discovery Room and Artist’s Studio.