Cymerau launches a year of artist-led projects to explore our relationships with water.

Cymerau (a three-year project) will launch the creation of Map Dŵr (Water Map) in Borth, June 20th. With help from local artists, this map will reflect some of the many water stories in and around Borth and Tal-y-bont. These stories will be shared at seasonal events throughout the forthcoming year.

The launch will be fun day for all ages, beginning upstairs at the Victoria Pub, from 1pm onwards. Films will be shown, and artists will talk about their work, with refreshments served. In the afternoon there will be family activities on the beach, with songs from the local choir and a giant urchin floating on the sea.

Starting this summer, artists will lead various projects around Tal-y-bont and Borth to engage communities in activities and discussions about water. These artists have been carefully selected and funded by Cymerau to provide unique and interesting ways to relate to water; whether it’s exploring our relationship with a particular river, beach and bog, or considering the changing landscape. It's an opportunity for residents of the Dyfi Biosphere to think about what it means to be an ecological citizen.

The work will be carried out in a variety of creative ways, for example, through youth theatre, film, poetry, music and outdoor performances. Cymerau artists will interact with the waterscape of the River Leri, Cors Fochno and Borth and with the people who visit, live or work in these places. They will also be running workshops with groups, collecting stories and information from individuals, and stopping to talk about water during their encounters in the landscape and at gatherings in the villages.

This is part of a UK-wide academic study, 'Hydrocitzenship' (2014-17), which combines academic research with community participation and creative activities. Locally, Cymerau is a partnership between Aberystwyth and Bangor University and community partners Creu-ad and ecodyfi. We are being advised by experts in hydrology, climate change and participatory arts. We are also talking to policy-makers and organisations working on the ground.

The Autumn program starts with a street installation in Borth, portraying the effects of sea-level rise on communities across the world; an exploration of Cors Fochno through film and music; Welsh ballad workshops in Tal-y-bont and shed-building at Borth Community Gardens!

Further information:

This project has been funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the Connected Communities programme. This programme aims to build powerful collaborations between researchers and communities to generate distinctive research insights on the changing role of communities in sustaining and enhancing our quality of life and to produce legacies of value for both future research and for communities. The programme is led by the AHRC in partnership with other Research Councils and a range of other organisations.