Arts and Business Cymru Awards 2023

Cartrefi Conwy’s ‘This is Me’ project in collaboration with Oriel Colwyn is among the creative and far-reaching collaborations shortlisted for the 2023 A&B Cymru Awards.

 

Winners will be revealed on the 23rd March 2023.

View a full list of shortlisted collaborations: https://abcymruawards.com/#1

About the project

As part of the ‘This is Me’  project Cartrefi Conwy tenants became celebrities for the day. The project was the idea of Paul Sampson, Curator of Oriel Colwyn. In partnership with Nerys Veldhuizen, Cartrefi Conwy’s former Older Persons Engagement Coordinator their vision was to give older tenants the chance to shine in the spotlight and tell their story.  The participants were photographed in their own homes by renowned portrait photographer Niall McDiarmid. These portraits were not just a photograph but were part of the tenant’s story. Each photograph included an item that was precious to the tenant. These portraits formed part of a storybook to bring the photographs to life.

Shine a light

Paul Sampson, Curator of Oriel Colwyn said: “We wanted to shine a light on the life stories of senior community members and showcase some of their incredible stories. The goal was to highlight how much they have contributed to the community that we live in today and how much they still continue to contribute to society.”

Nerys agreed that it was time for older members of the population to have an opportunity in the spotlight.

She said: “Too often when people get to a certain age they become invisible to younger eyes. People are so concerned with their own lives and activities that they can forget that the older generation still has a vital role in helping make a community thrive and that they still have interests, hobbies, dreams and ambitions no matter what their age.

“We called the exhibition This is Me because it was their chance to show who they are, what they are about and demonstrate what is important to them.”

The title was inspired by the hit This is Me song from the blockbuster musical The Greatest Showman which Paul said was “extremely apt” given that Oriel Colwyn is housed in a classic theatre.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the Culture Step funding and we are hugely thankful to Arts and Business Cymru for getting firmly behind the project.