2017 Exhibitions

Merthyr Tydfil hosted the first Celebration of Welsh Contemporary Painting. This exciting new exhibition put Welsh painting and painters at the centre, celebrating the work of current and significant artists, together with work from two schools projects and local artists. In addition there were opportunities for people to participate in a wide range of activities to encourage many more people to experience the process of “making” for themselves, part funded by the Arts Council Wales.

The intention was to become a bi-ennial event and that other public galleries and organisations would want to join in the future.

 

The idea for this event was the “brain child” of Pete Goodridge who had spent many years unsuccessfully trying to persuade galleries, arts organisations and individuals about the need for a bi-ennial event celebrating the work of the amazing range of current painters within Wales. When Glasbury Arts and Cyfarthfa Castle picked up the idea and worked with him over the preceding three years, he was so excited that what he had described as "a dream", would become reality on the 7th July 2017. It was therefore particularly sad when his death at the beginning of June was announced, because it meant he would not see his dream fulfilled. All of those who enjoyed working with Pete on the project immediately decided to dedicate the event to his memory.

 

The event was broadly divided into two parts; exhibitions and community activities. The exhibitions were held at Cyfarthfa Castle, and Redhouse, coordinated, in partnership with the galleries staff at Glasbury Arts. The exhibitors include a selection of some of the finest painters from across Wales, a number with national or international reputations:

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Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Brendan Burns

Charles Burton

John Darlison

Kate Freeman

Veronica Gibson

Mary Lloyd Jones

Sally Matthews 

Martyn Jones

Gustavius Payne

Shani Rhys James 
Alan Salisbury

Joanne Smith

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Redhouse

Ken Elias

Students from The College Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil School Children (Dowlais & Cadraw)