CELTIC music pioneers Catrin Finch and Aoife Ní Bhriain performed at the British Embassy in Paris on Friday (Mar 17) to mark the start of the Welsh Government’s Wales in France year.

The performance, supported by British Council Wales, was part of a year-long programme to celebrate the cultural, business and sporting links between Wales and France.

Welsh harpist and composer Catrin, who is originally from Llanon, is internationally renowned having been the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales.

As a composer, she has recently undertaken commissions from Ballet Cymru, S4C and the National Eisteddfod of Wales. While Irish fiddle player Aoife, combines classical and traditional music and is known as one of her generation’s most gifted violinists. Together, they play music that is influenced and linked by the cultures of their home countries.

The collaboration is a Mwldan Production and was first performed at the Other Voices Music Festival in Cardigan in the autumn of 2022, which drew them huge acclaim. They now plan to release their debut album in October, before embarking on a UK and international tour.

The British Council, together with the Welsh Government, Wales Arts International and Arts Council Wales, will also support the Wales in France year through a programme of arts and cultural activity yet to be announced. This will support individuals and organisations in both Wales and France to connect, develop relationships and create new work across 2023.

Speaking about the Wales in France programme, Ruth Cocks, Director, British Council Wales said: “We were delighted be supporting the Welsh government’s Wales in France Year through our arts and education programmes. Wales has such a special history with France with our shared Celtic identities and links between our languages, music and culture. We’re very excited to support Welsh musicians at the launch in Paris, as well as work with our valued partners, Wales Arts International and Arts Council Wales. We wish Catrin and Aoife the best of luck with their performance and look forward to an exciting cross-cultural programme in 2023.”

Previously, the British Council has supported several arts projects linking Wales and France, most recently supporting the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Orchestre National de Bretagne in a series of joint concerts in 2022.

The Wales in France programme continues the British Council’s work, building connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and language teaching. To find out more about the British Council’s work in Wales visit https://wales.britishcouncil.org/ or follow on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

A UNIQUE partnership between Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales and two National Park Authorities in Wales will see the best-selling book Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words brought to life in two fully bilingual exhibitions for the first time this summer.

Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words explores the relationship between language and the living world, and of nature’s power to spark the imagination. The touring exhibition, which is organised by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books, will bring together, for the first time the original artwork by Jackie Morris alongside the English language poems by Robert Macfarlane and Welsh language poems written by Mererid Hopwood.

The award-winning book The Lost Words uses stirring spell-songs and eye-catching illustrations to reintroduce the fading faces of nature to our vocabularies and in turn, inspire us to join the fight to reverse their plight. The Welsh publication, Geiriau Diflanedig was published by Graffeg in 2019.

The collaboration between Amgueddfa Cymru, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Authority will see words and watercolours from the book on display at Yr Ysgwrn in Gwynedd from Sunday 25 June 2023 and at Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in Pembrokeshire from Sunday 2 July 2023.

At Oriel y Parc in St Davids, specimens from the natural history collections of Amgueddfa Cymru will also be used to highlight the level of biodiversity loss and explain the work being done to try and arrest this decline.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Chair, Cllr Di Clements, said: “The Lost Words has already reintroduced nature to the language and lives of many people since its release, and it is hoped this exhibition will help amplify the rallying call of this rousing work still further.

“This unique collaboration brings together three organisations with shared aims and objectives, to promote nature, culture and heritage and highlight the issues impacting on these important elements of our everyday lives.

“It will also give people an insight into efforts being made to combat the threats that nature and the Welsh language face, as well as what steps people can take to help tackle these issues.”

Jonathan Cawley, Director of Planning and Land Management, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Authority said, “Yr Ysgwrn is home to several species featured in Geiriau Diflanedig/The Lost Words and bringing this exhibition of lost words to the home of Wales’ lost poet, widely known for his nature inspired poetry is an exceptional privilege. Bringing together the beauty of species and their enchanting names, Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words never fails to inspire and its ability to engage young people in the importance of nature recovery and fostering our cultural heritage and the Welsh language in Eryri is particularly significant”.

A series of special events and activities will be held at Oriel y Parc and Yr Ysgwrn to encourage more people to discover more about Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words and use the spell-songs to conjure their own magic memories in nature.

Nia Williams, Director of Learning and Public Programmes, Amgueddfa Cymru added: “We are delighted to be collaborating in partnership with Oriel y Parc and Yr Ysgwrn to bring this exhibition to communities across west and north Wales.

“Following the publication of Geiriau Diflanedig, this is now a perfect time here in Wales to celebrate the Welsh language poems of Mererid Hopwood alongside the beautiful illustrations by Jackie Morris. We are proud to be presenting this exhibition in Welsh for the first time.”

Abby Viner, Director of Creative Programming, Compton Verney, said: “We are delighted to be working with Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales to present The Lost Words in Wales for the first time, and what a successful partnership it’s been working with the two venues who will be showing the works, with National Museum Wales co-ordinating. We can’t wait to see the exhibition in these fabulous venues.”

Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words will be on display at Yr Ysgwrn in Trawsfynydd from Sunday 25 June 2023 until spring 2024. For more information on this exhibition visit www.yrysgwrn.com/en/visit/lost-words-exhibition.

Geiriau Diflanedig – The Lost Words will be on display at Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in St Davids from Sunday 2 July 2023 until spring 2024. For more information on this exhibition visit www.orielyparc.co.uk/the-lost-words.

CHRISTMAS celebrations will be starting early this year at Crymych Library.

On the morning of Saturday, December 10, from 10.30 am, there will be a morning of Welsh Language craft activities, singing and games for young children at the library.

There will also be a Welsh Language story time session at the library from 11.30am.

As well as the fun, there will also be a chance to meet a very special visitor, Sion Corn, before he gets busy with his Christmas deliveries.

If you’d like to join the fun, please register in advance by e-mailing bethan@mentersirbenfro.com

Hurry, as spaces are limited.

Crymych Library is located on the Ysgol Bro Preseli campus in Crymych.

The library is open for seven hours a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4-6 pm and on Saturday mornings from 10am. to 1pm. For more information, please contact the library on (01239) 832092.

This event is being organised in conjunction with Menter Iaith Preseli and is funded by the Welsh Government.