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Cultural Explosion in Wales as UK takes charge of EU
27 June 05
Sensational Welsh harpist Catrin Finch greets the incoming UK presidency of the European Union with a Welsh - European Cultural Explosion this week (1st July 2005).
As the UK takes over the helm of the European Union at a time of crisis, an innovative project in Wales Creu Cyfle – Cultural Explosion will be officially launched by Catrin Finch at 10am on the 1st of July 2005 in Galeri Caernarfon. All media are invited.
Creu Cyfle - Cultural Explosion is an innovative Institute of Welsh Affairs led initiative involving a number of creative Welsh organisations including Academi, Dawns i Bawb, Gwynedd Council, S4C, and the William Mathias Music Centre. The project will concentrate on the benefits of developing cultural links between organisations in Wales and those in the ten new member states of the European Union. It will give people in Wales an opportunity to flavour a variety of European cultures. Catrin Finch said:
“At the moment there is a need to re-build relationships with others in Europe – what better way to do this than through culture. The current European political crisis highlights the fact that we need to learn more about our new neighbours.
“If the Welsh cultural industries are going to thrive in years to come, then partnership in Europe is going to be essential to us. The UK cannot compete with the likes of China and India on our own.
“No generation has had it so good as ours. Like many others I have the freedom and the privilege to travel extensively around Europe, working in many different countries - sharing and experiencing the cultures of others. Things were quite different for older generations whose lives were directly affected by the war.
“There’s plenty in our daily lives in Wales to remind us of our shared culture with our neighbours on the continent. From the Roman ruins in Caernarfon to Smetana’s music from Prague that I perform, as if it is part of my own heritage.”
Vitalia Lotuzyte - from Lithuania has come to Wales to work in Portmeirion. She is one of thousands of young people who are filling jobs that local people did not want. She left her young son behind to earn more money here. She knew little about Wales at the moment but is starting to learn Welsh. She said:
“When the borders were opened there was a chance for me to move from Lithuania. I wanted to follow those dreams promised to us. I didn’t know anything about Wales before I came. My cousin said that it was really beautiful. I’m glad I’m here to see these views and live this life. Welsh people are very kind. They have a strength in them that I like. They are proud to be Welsh and I like that too.
“I don’t know what the future holds. I would like to stay here and bring my son over… but I just don’t know how it will be in reality.”
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| Cultural Explosion Gala Concert Video |
These are the videos shown during the Cultural Explosion Gala Concert on the 19 of February 2006-06-22
Right
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| Cultural Explosion Brussels Launch |
Culture is a great means of communicating. By sharing each other’s cultures, bridges can be built that cross
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| Capital Poet launches Euro-dialogue through literature |
Cardiff Fitzalan School students this week take up a challenge by Wales' Capital City Poet Gillian Clarke to
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| Cultural Explosion in Wales as UK takes charge of EU |
Sensational Welsh harpist Catrin Finch greets the incoming UK presidency of the European Union with a Welsh -
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| A Cultural Explosion of Welsh - Hungarian Dance...more |
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| Catrin Finch to launch a "cultural explosion"...more |
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| Catrin Finch leads a "cultural explosion"...more |
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