Puppet Making Weekend 12th & 13th March

A fantastic weekend of puppet making was had with Helyn Latimer from Puppet Theatre Wales. Over the weekend sessions in puppet making were run for groups from our local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. The Riverside Centre was a scene of creative and storytelling activity with lots of music and many magical and mythical tales told.


The Riverside Centre is an ideal venue to hire for such events with the large hall easily holding over 30 people in a workshop setting.

We are hoping to see the girls again for future creative sessions at the Centre.

Bird Box Making 20th February

The Riverside Centre, working with Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre held a bird box making event on Sunday, 20th of February.

Everyone there, staff and visitors all said it was some of the best fun they'd had in ages! Several quality bird homes were made which should impress our feathered friends and last for years.

Pontardawe Community Tourism Ambassador Training

Tuesday 8th Feb saw the first session of the Pontardawe Community Tourism Ambassador training run at the Riverside Centre by staff of the Valleys Regional Park. The course is the first of two sessions to train local people to be the first point of contact, or ambassadors, to tourist visitors to our locality.


It was attended by people from both Arena Pontardawe and the Swansea Canal Society and it was clear how much local knowledge we have between us. It was good to learn how to view our locality through the eyes of the visitor and how to plan a day of activities in keeping with the interests and capabilities of people visiting the area. The second session will be run in late Feb/early March to complete the training.

Picture by kind permission of Gareth Kiddie

Sounds of the Valley Launch 4th February

Sounds of the Valley was launched at the Pontardawe Arts Centre last Friday 4th February. To see more images of the launch night please see our GALLERY

Arena Pontardawe commissioned artists David Marchant and Marlo Flores to work with schools, individuals and user groups at the Glantawe Riverside Park, Pontardawe to record their responses to the environment; its history, culture and landscape, both natural and man made to create a work combines sound, dialogue, music and visuals in a thought provoking collage.

The film was officially opened by Andrew Davies AM and we were delighted that the Mayor of Pontardawe, Jean Bowen, was able to attend. The film was shown once through, then a second time with live performances by some of those involved with the project. DVDs of the film are available to purchase for £3.

An exhibition of the ‘Sounds of the Valley’ - a multi-screen audio-visual installation continues in Oriel Lliw Gallery, Pontardawe Arts Centre 7-19 February.

An Arena Pontardawe project with support from Y Gronfa Wledig.

The Fox's Tale Puppet Show 6th Feb

Thanks to everyone who came last Sunday for the wonderful puppet show to mark the beginning of spring. Helyn Latimer, from Puppet Theatre Wales, once again captivated the young and old with a delightful story about a fox and his friends and the adventures they have during a year.

Youngsters then had a chance to make a plant pot out of recycled newspaper and plant up a sunflower seed to grow on.

RSPB Bird Feeder Day

Children and adults alike gathered together to make feeders for hungry birds on 23rd January at the Riverside Centre, Ynysmeudwy. Making a joyful mess with lard, peanut butter and seeds, each person made several feeders to take home. Pictured, Maggie Cornelius RSPB and Rowan and Bethany Dutton.

Riverside Gateway Commission

Last week, from the 13th to the 15th of January, members of the public were invited to the Riverside Centre to have their say on what artist they wanted to produce a Gateway feature for Glantawe Riverside Park, funded by Groundwork Trust. Submissions were made by 5 artists whose proposals are summarised here. If you would like to make comments about the work, or cast a vote for your favourite, send them to mailto:riverside@arenapontardawe.com before the 24th of January.

David Lloyd

3 green oak sleepers, carved on all sides, to depict the surrounding nature. Community participation is required on precisely what kind of design, and also in the actual carving, sanding and oiling.

"New Moon Boat" reflects a new beginning, the start of a voyage and a gateway to the Riverside Park. Made from Portland stone and Bronze and marked by cast animal tracks, there would be an opportunity to work with the local community in its production

Paul Kincaid

Made from locally sourced Devonian red sandstone, Paul aims to combine elements of industry, the landscape, and the river valley. Community participation is encouraged in the development and the splitting, carving and coring.

Sarah Tombs

Made from locally sourced stone. The pyramid shape chosen to reflect the mountains and Pontardawe church spire, the spiral plume on top made from reconstructed stone, to represent the circular life of the river

Lyndon Mably

"Dyma Ni" welsh for "here we are", made from steel to reflect the industrial heritage of the area. The M to represent Pontardawe Bridge, the A to reflect the tower of St Peters, and the N to hint at crenulations of Llangiwc