Every Child a Filmmaker
Here at TAPE, we re currently delivering a 6-session program developed by Into Film. The programme has been created to encourage young people to express themselves and their stories through film. The programme will allow young people to learn filmmaking skills from professionals and bring new perspectives to the screen.
What is TAPE?
TAPE prides itself on accessibility and inclusivity, and has been providing high quality inclusive, supportive, person led opportunities since 2008.
Check out our channel to view the work conducted by TAPE and the community, as well as their achievements over the past 16 years.
Aildanio: Part One
A film by Culture Colony about Disability Arts Cymru’s Aildanio Arts Prize!
The Film is in two parts: Part 1 exploring the arts practices of the artists, and Part 2 showcasing the Aildanio touring exhibition itself.
Aildanio: Rhan Dau | Part Two
A film by Culture Colony about Disability Arts Cymru’s Aildanio Arts Prize!
The Film is in two parts: Part 1 exploring the arts practices of the artists, and Part 2 showcasing the Aildanio touring exhibition itself.
Deborah Dalton: Line Movement – Pattern Rhythm
Candice Black
Below the Waves
Below the Waves will be TAPE’s 3rd feature film, but our first to be animated!
TAPE is currently in the ‘pre-production and R&D phase’ for Below the Waves. This means that we’re doing lots of experimenting. We will be holding a Below the Waves touring exhibition in early 2025. The exhibition will travel to different places in North Wales. It will show you all the different creative work that has gone into Below the Waves so far.
Abi Palmer: Slime Mother
20.07.24 – 06.10.24. Opening Events 19.07.24, 4-8pm
Meet the Artist: Rahim El Habachi
Rahim El Habachi is an artist, actor, writer, and director. From 2022 to 2024, he served as a Creative Associate with National Theatre Wales. Rahim has written and performed in several notable productions, including Beyond the Rainbow with WNO, The Love Thief with Sherman Theatre, and Touch as part of OUT-Rage-US. As an actor, he was featured in Cost of Living with National Theatre Wales. In addition to his theatrical work, Rahim is also a skilled belly dancer and cabaret host, performing at major events across the country. His most recent appearance was at the prestigious Green Man Festival.
Mixed Media Art Workshop
LUGWORM by Thomas Rhys Neil Leonard
The game the two characters are playing is one rooted in masculinity’s mandatory limitations on the expressions of intimacy between men. As soon as either party expresses their wants and needs explicitly, the game is dropped; it becomes ‘un-sexy’, and in the real world, even opens up the possibility of physical violence.
Repression and limitation are the context, which is communicated by their masculine expression (style of dress, mode of speech, current activity), but the interaction we see has warmth and understanding, as if in opposition to this context.
Meet the artist here
TOUCH by Rahim El Habachi
John and Michael, a couple from different racial backgrounds, face a critical juncture in their relationship as they navigate the reasons behind its breakdown. This exploration delves into power dynamics and the vulnerability of love that comes with conditions.
Meet the artist here
Meet the Artist: Emmy Stonelake
Emmy (she/they) is a Queer, multi-disciplinary artist originally from Aberdare. Their work often centres the lives of Welsh, working-class, LGBTQIA+ people and seeks to highlight the Welsh (and Wenglish) spoken by those who attended Welsh medium schools in the ex-industrial South.
Meet the Artist: Thomas Rhys Neil Leonard
Thomas Leonard is a soon-to-be graduate of the European Theatre Arts Course at Rose Bruford College. Their practice focuses on communication and autonomy in the creation of both group and individual work, spanning a multitude of themes; Happy Decay, performed in Volcano Theatre in 2019, was a self-written two hander about identity and stagnation, their current piece, Man In A Dress, is a semi-improvisational twenty minute performance about home, bodies, and isolation.
Meet the Artist: Nadia Nur
I’m Nadia Nur, a multi-disciplinary freelance artist from Cardiff. I am an Actor, Filmmaker, and Writer. Who has a passion for real stories and giving a voice to those who are usually unheard. I’m always seeking opportunities to collaborate with people and projects that align with my values. I’m hoping to continue my work, advancing in different creative areas.
Meet the Artist: Juliette Manon
Juliette is a non-binary Queer Director, Playwright and Theatre-Maker. They’re passionate about creating work that amplifies LGBTQ+ voices, women & nonbinary people’s voices and any other voice or story that is under-represented (or rather, not represented) on the Welsh stage and screen.
They’re a member of the Sherman Theatre’s ‘Unheard Voices’ Writer’s Group and Theatr Genedlaethol’s ‘Young Playwright Programme’ (2021-23). Their current projects include being co-Artistic Director of their new theatre company: Cwmni Cwiar and developing their first play.
JUNCTION/CYFFORDD project
Platforming Welsh, LGBT+ and Global Majority Stories
JUNCTION/CYFFORDD is digital filmmaking project established to platform Welsh, LGBT+ and Global Majority people and their stories.
BRENIN by Emmy Stonelake
Who’s the real King of Wales?
When two Drag Kings with the same name decide to come together to battle it out, their masculinity is put to the ultimate test.
BRENIN is a comedy short film that revives the notion of ‘Welsh Royalty’ as it’s never been seen before. Set against the backdrop of Caerphilly town in South Wales, a new kind of monarchy is coming to rekindle what previous Kings left behind at the Castle.
Meet the artist here
DEE & MAL by Juliette Manon
Juliette’s story follows Dylan (Dee), a student who is spiked on a night out. After a couple of hours of intermittent passing out and vomiting, and despite the interruptions of an angry TERF, Dylan is finally rescued by Mallt (or Mal to their friends). This story is for all of the Dylans and Mals who feel or have felt unsafe in nightclub bathrooms.
Meet the artist here
GALBEED by Nadia Nur
Guled finds the sea calling him home. Frightened, he begins another journey with RED that leads to an unexpected moment of vulnerability.
Guled is a first-generation immigrant and Queer man. He finds that the sea keeps calling him to come home. We delve into his inner world, where RED, our faceless figment leads him into a dance where Guled will question who he is and where his acceptance lies. A story told through spoken word and movement to explore themes of Queer guilt, love and tension, longing for home and cultural acceptance.
Meet the artist here
Leila Bebb
Our Artist of the Month for June is Leila Bebb!
“I live in Swansea and have a studio in Elysium near my flat. I work in a variety of ways including drawing, painting and knitting. I am inspired by the landscape, life drawing and by animals such as gorillas and fantastic birds. I am influenced by the work of Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock. I make life drawings and landscapes using pen and paper. I love colour and In my studio I work from the drawings using acrylic paint or coloured and textured wool for the knitted pieces. The work is often abstract in nature. I am also a dancer, and a writer and I divide my time between writing, dancing and working in my studio.”
Leila currently has work featured in the International Textile Exhibition: Remembering The Past: Creating The Future at Queen Street Gallery, Neath. The exhibition features over 80 textile artworks from 13 different countries and will be running from 17th May – 15th June 2024.
Teyrnged i integreiddio | An ode to integration
MLArt: Melissa Rodrigues, Laurentina Miksys and Joel Morris
31 May – 06 July 2024
Exhibition opening: 5 – 8pm, Friday 31st May 2024
In a world shaped by migration and the complexities of identity MLArt proudly presents an exploration of diversity. Against the backdrop of our society this exhibition delves into the threads of multiculturalism inviting viewers to reflect and connect.
As artists we approach the idea of ‘otherness’ with empathy and curiosity telling stories that celebrate the unique narratives shaping our shared humanity. Through a variety of mediums and perspectives we contemplate what it means to belong. Our universal pursuit of acceptance.
From depictions of heritage to heartfelt reflections on displacement and resilience each artwork serves as a testament and as an ode to integration and to the transformative power of art in fostering understanding and unity. As visitors explore the gallery space they will be encouraged to engage with the artwork and challenge assumptions as well as appreciate the beauty found in diversity.
An “Ode to integration” offers a reflection on how our global community continues to evolve and adjust. Join us as we celebrate the richness that comes from embracing our differences and embark on a journey towards a better future.
Caitlin Flood-Molyneux
Caitlin Flood- Molyneux is an award-winning contemporary artist, raised in Haverfordwest and a graduate of the MFA programme at Cardiff School of Art. Her artistic practice investigates the way we attach emotion and memory to images from popular culture, using mixed media techniques to express subjective experiences of hardship. Her work is both deeply personal and universal, as it charts key moments of her life; a private and enigmatic visual story with which she invites the viewer to forge their own connection. She has exhibited widely across the UK and internationally and has shown work at Christie’s Auction House in London. She is also a very experienced workshop leader. Through her work – as artist and educator, Caitlin aims to empower and inspire creatively curious people with arts to see artmaking as a tool for personal growth and wellbeing. For her, art has always been a way to process difficult feelings and she has enormous belief in its therapeutic power.
Thumbnail: “Ambush”, Oil, Collage & Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 120cm, 2023.jpg
Cover Image: Portrait by Brynley Odu Davies.
Teulu / Family
2 March – 23 June 2024
Gallery 1
Teulu (Family) is a unique exhibition that sees 4 families from Ceredigion working with Aberystwyth Arts Centre to co-curate a major exhibition that takes inspiration and shows works from our national collections at National Library of Wales, National Museum Wales – Amgueddfa Cymru and School of Art, Museum and Galleries, Aberystwyth University.
It is a project that breaks new ground and which is trying to find new models of working that puts the public at the heart of decision-making. At its core is the aim to break down the barriers that prevent family audiences from enjoying and taking part in the arts.
Of Us
Jukebox Collective present their short film Of Us in first of its kind exhibition at the British Library.
CARCHARDAI
Bocs, Wales Millennium Centre
25-28/4
12:00 – 16:00
| təʊl | R&D film
A new multidisciplinary work for percussive and immersive soundscape by John Meirion Rea.
A collaboration with Dame Evelyn Glennie.
Offerynnau Taro/Percussion: Dame Evelyn Glennie
Cymysgu Ymdrochol/Surround Mix: Stuart Jones
Camera: Huw Talfryn Walters and Mei Lewis
Golygu/Edit: Nic Finch
Dilynio/Design: Oliver Norcott
Cynhyrchydd/Producer: Chris Ricketts
Diolch/Thanks: Jon Gower, Jennifer Stoves, Brenda-Gillian, Cheryl Davis, Richard Paine/Faber Music, Chris Stock, Matt Nolan Custom, Marie Tueje, Sarah Featherstone.
Gyda chefnogaeth Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru
Supported by the Arts Council of Wales
PARADE
“The centre of the City is where the old monuments are, but not, for the most part, people’s lives…..” Guido Guidi.
PARADE: by John Meirion Rea
A stereo audio-visual interpretation taken from an original immersive multi-media installation, commissioned by Maindee Library, and The Arts Council of Wales.
My creative work is inspired by the voices of the people of Wales. My focus has been on the melodic nature, and textures of diverse dialects and languages; particularly our native Welsh and Anglo-Welsh dialects, and how they are mirrored in, and defined by our environment.
I spent time in Maindee, Newport, where I met and listened to people’s stories, alongside cinematographer and photographer Huw Talfryn Walters. Having got to know many of those who live, work and worship there, and capturing hours of film, interviews, and responding to its sounds, I presented this vérité material both as a site-specific immersive installation: a collective experience sited in the community; and as an online portal: a more intimate ‘one-to-one’ relationship.
The truths and realities that emerge, seen collectively, convey a strong sense of place, and what it means to belong, and the reality of living in urban South-East Wales. It is a snapshot of life in Maindee, as we encountered it in 2019.
CONCRÈTE: Site-Specific Installation and performance work.
An interview with John Rea.
Concrète is a site-specific sound and musical work, inspired by the theme of ‘Revolution’ as part of Ffotogallery’s Diffusion Festival, in 2017.
I created a surround, multi-room sound work, based on the introduction of noise into the world of music, inspired by the early work of the Futurists, and Constructivists, also the utopian ideals of the early makers of synthesizers in the eastern Block.
The work was introduced as a one-off performance celebrating noise and the origins of sounscape, utilising modular synthesizers, mainpulated spoken word, archival, and specially recorded elements, presented immersively, and as a site-specific installation work thereafter.
Atgyfodi (vb revive, vb resurrect). Arthur Morris Roberts and Capel Celyn.
A section from the Atgyfodi project featuring local field recordings from Tryweryn Valley, and an interview with local farmer Arthur Morris Roberts, who witnessed Capel Celyn being drowned as a young boy.
Atgyfodi combines live performance, film and sonic installation inspired by the sound and image archives of St Fagans National Museum of History. The work features the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and Patrick Rimes and Cass Meurig on traditional Welsh instruments.
It was performed, alongside site-specific sound installations, in the Museum on October the 19th, 20th and 21st, 2018, also as part of Ffotogallery’s Sight & Sound themed Diffusion and Green Man Festivals in 2019.
The original version is an immersive work, mixed in 5.1 surround.
Atgyfodi (vb revive, vb resurrect). Tyrone O’Sullivan and Tower Colliery
Section of the work Atgyfodi, that features an interview with Tyrone O’Sullivan of the iconic Tower Colliery – a modern Welsh hero. In the interview he speaks very personally about how he recognized men in the darkness of the pits by their voices.
I combine field recorded abstract sound, with archive and interview in this section, alongside a composed response. It is combined with the original Welsh dialect of the South Wales Valleys ‘Y Wenhwyseg’, taken from a recording from the sound archive of The National Museum of Welsh History.
Atgyfodi combines live performance, film and sonic installation inspired by the sound and image archives of St Fagans National Museum of History. The work features the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and features Patrick Rimes and Cass Meurig on traditional Welsh instruments.
It was performed, alongside site-specific sound installations, in the Museum on October the 19th, 20th and 21st, 2018, also as part of Ffotogallery’s Sight & Sound themed Diffusion and Green Man Festivals in 2019.
Funded by The Arts Council of Wales, The PRS Foundation, and Ty Cerdd.
The Queer Emporium
Shop and social enterprise in Cardiff that houses 20 small queer businesses and also hosts events!
John Meirion Rea
John is a composer and sound artist based in Cardiff. His work is deeply rooted in the culture and landscape of Wales, and in cross-cultural connections and collaborations. He is interested in reacting to place and community and searching for new multidisciplinary styles to present his work.
Cymuned Creadigol Chapter x Cardiff Print Workshop
Donna Brazier
Our Artist of the Month for April is Donna Brazier, a visual artist whose work explores themes of mental health problems through striking drawings in pen and pencil.
Creative/Producer Lab Project
The ‘Creative/Producer Lab’ was established to offer Global Majority and underrepresented creatives in Wales time, space and money to develop an idea.
Creatives will have the opportunity to:
- Practise their artistic skills
- Collaborate with other people
- Produce material that can be shared digitally
The material and ideas they generate could lead to future work, pitches and commissions, with each participant being mentored by Fio’s Artistic Director, Dr. Sita Thomas. The programme also encourages participants to develop their producing skills, with the ambition that they will grow the confidence to generate and self-produce this work themselves in the future.
Meet the Artist: Elicia Axon
Our relationship with Elicia:
Following her time on our ‘Arise – Wales Creatives’ programme in partnership with Wales Millennium Centre. Elicia developed a multimedia immersive experience centring a bathtub, incorporating film projection, scenography and sound, exploring themes of self-worth and resilience.
Elicia says: “It was a wonderful experience, I felt I had the freedom to do what I wanted whilst also having the support of some amazing creatives – I was given the opportunity to try something new without fear of failing”
We’re so pleased that Elicia had a great experience across her lab, and thank you to all involved for creating such a supportive environment in which artists could try, fail, develop and grow.
Elicia created her live performance installation to be experienced by one audience member at a time. Elicia shared it with invited guests and received valuable and brilliantly positive feedback. We look forward to continuing to support Elicia and to seeing where they take this work next!
”My favourite part of the process was seeing my vision come to life, it has been an idea in my head for months but having the opportunity to realise it was so rewarding”
Meet the Artist: Tony Cordoba
Our relationship with Tony:
We first met Tony on the production of ‘The Shoemaker’, directed by Sita Thomas, our partnership with @WNO and @OasisCardiff. Tony was a writer and performer in the piece.
Tony spent his lab creating, recording and filming a music video for a new song, ‘Rosal Sarmiento’. This Latin-American piece of music explores themes of love, resilience, resistance and loss.
Tony says: “It was amazing, really an amazing experience.’
“Getting to know people that can inspire you is priceless.”
Meet the Artist: Carmen Diana Almeida
Our relationship with Carmen:
We first met Carmen on our artist development programme ‘Arise – Wales Creatives’ in partnership with @WMC, where Carmen was part of the directors cohort.
When thinking about a creative idea Carmen would like to make a reality, she pitched the idea of a short film featuring her different drag personas, telling the story of a Spanish artist who arrived in Cardiff, and made her way, finding her creativity and passions in spaces like Cabaret at WMC. Themes of belonging, self-expression, and family were all important to this concept.
Describing a memorable moment of the process, Carmen said: “The first meeting with Sita was absolutely brilliant! It felt like she was really getting my ideas and she was 100% confident that I had the potential to make something meaningful with it. It filled me with confidence and passion for the project!”
Meet the Artist: Tijesunmi Olakojo
Our relationship with Tijesunmi
Teejay graduated from our pilot year of our artist development programme ‘Arise – Wales Creatives’ in partnership with @WMC this April as a director. Teejay decided to spend her residency with Fio developing and writing her own short monologue for film. In her creative response to the stimulus of the topic of ‘resilience’, and how we go through difficult times and emerge with new creative stimulation, Teejay chose to explore this through the lens of a black African actor. She created a character called Eva, who has just come off stage having performed her sold-out one-woman show to her adoring audience. Through the process of the monologue, she takes off the layers, the masks she puts on, the facade.
We are so thrilled that Teejay believes more in herself now. One of the main aims of Fio’s Creative/Producer Lab is to provide individuals with space, support and mentorship to realise their potential, their visions, and be their brilliant selves! Teejay is an absolutely stellar all-round creative, writer, actor, director and so much more. Watch out world!
Teejay states: “This is an incredible platform that has given me an opportunity to showcase my skills, talent and ability in a society that constantly overlooks us because of our race, gender, skin colour, immigration status, etc. I’m forever thankful.”
“I have discovered that there’s more I can offer in terms of my skills and abilities. I also believe more in myself now. My level of self confidence has definitely increased” TIJESUNIMI OLAKOJO
DeDe Vine – Carmen Diana Almeida
Lead Creative, Performer – Carmen Diana Almeida
Creative Director – Sita Thomas
Producer – Tumi Williams
Lighting – Audiocave Cardiff
Venue – Wales Millennium Centre
Thanks to the Arts Council Of Wales & Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Wales Millennium Centre for their continuous support.
Rosal Sarmiento by Tony Cordoba
Lead Creative, Writer/Composer/Musician – Tony Cordoba
Creative Director – Sita Thomas
Musician/Performer – Gabe Oyaide-Nicholls
Dancers – Wendy Tartarai, Briland Ostriku & Idrissa Camara
Producer – Tumi Williams
Recording & Mixing – King’s Road Studio
Rehearsing Studio – Music Box Studios
Props – Celtic Prop Hire
Venue – J1 Studios
FACADE by Tijesunmi Olakojo
Lead Creative, Performer/Writer – Tijesunmi Olakojo
Creative Director – Sita Thomas
Make-up Artist – Sharon Kostini
Producer – Tumi Williams
Lighting – Audiocave Cardiff
Props – The Safe Foundation, Cardiff
Venue – Wales Millennium Centre
Happy Medium by Elicia Axon
Lead Creative, Writer/Performer – Elicia Axon
Stage Manager – Danny Muir
Filmmaker – Aled Wyn Thomas
Props – Celtic Prop Hire
Venue – Chapter Arts Centre
Creative Director – Sita Thomas
Producer – Mehdi Razi
Argraffu Celf / Art Printing
A session for adults, using household materials.
Celf a Chrefft Hanner Tymor / Half Term Art & Craft
Family art printing sessions
a limestone glossary
An audio-visual introduction to ‘a limestone glossary’ by Julie Upmeyer and Mari Rose Pritchard. Hear the artists in discussion about the book and their ongoing project ‘Void Fraction’ – an artistic exploration of limestone, limestone quarries and their by-products.
Traditionally a glossary is an alphabetical list of terms specific to a particular subject or field, a glimpse into an internal language. ‘a limestone glossary’ keeps this function at is core, while exploring the possibilities of a glossary as a visual experience. The glossary encompasses English, Welsh and Turkish-languages entires.
Supported by Wales Arts International as part of the International Opportunities Fund.
Twenty Tales
Twenty Tales is a vision of movement and sound that transcends culture and generation. Twenty dancers unite in a collective experience to evoke human emotion through rich physicality that celebrates virtuosity, rhythms, dynamics and powerful music by the renewed composer Mercan Dede. The unique combination of contemporary, folk, and traditional dance makes this work timeless and deeply connected to ancestral roots.
Choreographer: Mario Bermúdez
Assistant Choreographer: Catherine Coury
Composer: Mercan Dede
Costume Design: George Hampton Wales
Lighting Design: Chris lllingworth
Producer: Jamie Jenkins