RCT Artists Summer Intensive
Ydych chi'n siarad cymraeg? Dwi'n dysgu cymraeg.
The RCT Artists Summer Intensive 2025 was a two week course designed to provide a group of local, resident artists with continuing personal development. Facilitated by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Art Service, and hosted at the Park & Dare Theatre, the course brought new questions and offered new skills to my art practice.
We began with a marketing course led by Bagsy. It was a great deal of fun. We thought about and took steps to approach marketing a different way. Bagsy is a sensation of Valley’s humour and art, to find out more visit: www.bagsybags.com
We then looked at trauma informed practice with Jain Boon. Jain brought positivity to a challenging and emotional subject. We learned how we can incorporate trauma informed practice. This can mean autobiographical work, self care, understanding the statistics and Adverse Childhood Experiences, and best practice when working in the subject.
Next, we explored aspects of division in communities relating to politics, identity, and ideology. We looked at how social media plays a role in perpetuating division. As artists and creatives we were able to understand the tactics used to stoke fear, for example.
This partcularly effected my awareness as it became apparent how severe the threat of division is to the communities we live in and further afield. What became important was that, as artists, we have a role in bringing people together and offering hope. We have the tools available to counter such division.
I had a strong reaction to this aspect of the course, and spent the weekend looking at simple ways to express my own frustration. It was interesting to experiment with ideas of propaganda.
Moving into the second week, we visited Welcome To Our Woods. There we practised wood carving and got into conversations on woodland management. We were introduced to different types of trees in the area, and invited to include story telling of these processes into our own practices. This was a welcomed escape both for the mind and soul as working in nature has therapeutic effects.
We spent a fantastic four days in Welsh lessons, looking at how learning Welsh can be incorporated into our creative work. We were all speaking Welsh at different levels of proficiency, but it made for an engaging few days where we told stories, read poems, and identified nature in Cymraeg.
We spent a night at Llanwonno Woods, away from a wi-fi signal, under a dark skies area. Inventing songs to play on a ukelele, with artitsts I had only known a couple of weeks, in a magical and natural environment, was a great experience.
On the final day, we enjoyed a gorgeous buffet and attended a networking event, whilst listening to an acoustic duo called McDermott & North , who were excellent.
It was a fantastic opportunity to meet a group of fabulous creatives whose own practices were inspiring. Refreshing, I learned how they engaged in challenging subjects with purpose, enthusiasm, and humour. I also learned much more about Rhondda Cynon Taf itself, an incredible region to live and create in, which has been key to my own recovery.
To start your own journey in learning Cymraeg, visit :