The Arts In Carmarthenshire

A county of countryside, market towns, industrial towns and valleys communities that fairly fizzes with cultural activity.

We at Carmarthenshire County Council seek to ensure that all residents and visitors are able to engage with valued arts and cultural experiences as participants or audiences.

The Council has enthusiastically recognised the cross divisional role of culture in it’s social, educational and regeneration programmes. Within the County’s Leisure Services, the Arts Development Services provide the dedicated arts provisions and support for several venues, arts strategy and arts sector development

Our venues include Theatrau Sir Gar, comprising of the Lyric, Elli and Miner’s theatres and cinemas in each of the three main towns of Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford; Oriel Myrddin Trust Gallery in Carmarthen, Dylan Thomas Boat House, St Clear’s Craft Centre and, outside of venues, developing the arts in the community.

We are currently within the last 23 to be considered for the Big Lottery Fund Living Landmarks Scheme. The ‘Works’ project proposal for Llanelli is for a cultural and media ‘village’ serving the region. Other projects we are currently exploring in partnership with the Arts Council Wales are improvements to the Lyric Theatre and St. Clear’s Craft Centre both of which have recently returned to County management.

The completely refurbished Oriel Myrddin opened on March 3rd 2007 with an exhibition by Cornelia Parker. Funding for the gallery’s capital redevelopment was drawn from Arts Council, trust and Objective 1 funding.

http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=42&docID=-1

Carmarthenshire is also the home to several arts organisations that provide services to artists, promoters and makers in the area and wider afield. These include the regional offices of Audiences Wales and the Arts Council of Wales, the office of Arts Care and the production base of Theatre Genedlaethol. The vigorous Carmarthenshire Arts Forum represents the arts sector and the network of Mentrau Iaith often provides for welsh in the community through cultural activity. LLAIS is the voice of the county’s various youth theatres.