Opportunities For Wales-based Writers, Visual Artists, Film-makers And Musicians

Developing Dylan is looking for writers and artists to deliver Dylan Thomas themed creative workshops throughout Wales

What is the Developing Dylan project?
To mark Dylan Thomas’ centenary in 2014, Literature Wales has announced a new project, funded by the Welsh Government, called Developing Dylan. Part of the official DT100 celebrations and supported by the Department for Education and Skills, this project will use the magic of Dylan Thomas’ words to inspire the young people of Wales.

Developing Dylan is looking for Wales-based writers, visual artists, film-makers and musicians to deliver Dylan Thomas themed workshops in Welsh and in English. Developing Dylan calls for writers and artists to deliver the following workshops throughout Wales:

1.     Opportunity for Writers – one hour creative writing workshops

Literature Wales is looking for a team of 40 writers to deliver one-hour creative writing workshops for key stage 2, 3 and 4 throughout Wales. Devised by Canolfan Peniarth, these workshops will be delivered in schools throughout Wales in Welsh and in English using Literature Wales’ existing Writers on Tour infrastructure.

The workshops will reflect current curriculum requirements in Wales, including those of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework. Each workshop will be specifically tailored to the relevant Key Stage, ensuring proper provision for differentiated learning and allowing children and young people the freedom to explore.

All workshops will introduce Thomas’ characters, anecdotes, themes, poetry and prose. Each school pupil taking part in the workshop will create their own poetry, rap or song lyrics. The Key Stage 4 / post-14 workshop will be specifically linked to GCSE Welsh / English Literature course requirements for creative writing. Knowledge of (or a strong desire to learn about) Dylan Thomas’ work will be essential for these posts.

How to apply?
·         To apply, send a CV and a short statement (no more than 300 words) about why you’d like to be involved in this new project by email to post@literaturewales.org with the subject: ‘One-hour creative writing workshops’
·         The deadline for applications is 9 August 2013.
·         The fee for the delivery of the one-hour workshop is £130 (per workshop, including travel expenses). Literature Wales will always attempt to match a school to a writer that is local to that area to ensure that there is minimum travel.
·         Writers will need to be available to deliver a minimum of 40 workshops per year between October 2013 and June 2014.
·         A training day for the selected writers will take place with Canolfan Peniarth in the week beginning 9 September 2013. The fee for writers for the training day is £150 (including travel expenses).
·         Please be aware that you may be asked to attend an informal interview (which could be conducted via Skype).

2.     Opportunity for Writers, Visual Artists, Film-makers and Musicians - cross art form day session

Literature Wales is looking for a team of 10 Wales-based writers, visual artists, film-makers and musicians to deliver new cross art-form day sessions in schools throughout Wales. These workshops will be themed on Dylan Thomas and will target disaffected and disadvantaged children in Key Stages 3 & 4 (ages 11-16). The Art and Design department of University of Wales, Trinity St David will create the workshop guidelines but the team of artists will be expected to develop and deliver these workshops, reflecting their field of practice. Knowledge of (or a strong desire to learn about) Dylan Thomas’ work will be essential for these posts.

The day session will focus on the development of literary ideas rather than the practice of creative writing through interdisciplinary creative processes. As such, each session will be run by a combination of two writers, visual artists, film-makers, musicians etc. Thomas’ characters, anecdotes, themes, poetry, prose and his love for cinema will be used as a starting point, but each young person will be able to engage with these through various media. Again, this session will be deliverable through both Welsh and English. The day session will be offered to 35 schools on the basis of their involvement with either/both disaffected and disadvantaged young people.

How to apply?
·         To apply, send a CV and a short statement (no more than 300 words) about why you’d like to be involved in this new project by email to post@literaturewales.org with the subject: ‘Cross art-form day session’
·         The deadline for applications is 9 August 2013.
·         The fee for delivering of the cross art-form day session workshop is £250 (per workshop and includes travel expenses).
·         These workshops will be delivered between October 2013 and June 2014.
·         A training day for the selected workshops leaders will take place at Trinity St David on 11 September 2013. The fee for attending the training day is £150 (including travel expenses).
·         Please be aware that you may be asked to attend an informal interview (which could be conducted via Skype).

3.  Opportunity for Writers – creative writing workshops 
Imagine a glittering ball of light made up of the immortal words of Dylan Thomas; partnered with the poetry and music of today’s techno-savvy schoolchildren.

As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations; Wales Millennium Centre aim to produce a work of art curated by Gwyneth Lewis and a Composer (tbc.) to tour Wales.

Wales Millennium Centre is looking for a team of 8 Wales-based writers, with a particular interest in new technology, to deliver workshops for key stage 3 pupils in participating schools across Wales. 17 schools will be invited to take part in a literature/composition project. 7 Writers will work with different groups for the students to write their own words taking themes from Dylan’s work as a starting point. The 8th Writer will work with all participating schools to work with pupils on blogging skills asking ‘what would it be like to be Dylan Thomas in modern times’.

The Ball I Threw is a Wales Millennium Centre project in collaboration with Tŷ Cerdd and Literature Wales and curated by Gwyneth Lewis

How to apply?
·         To apply, send a CV and a short statement (no more than 300 words) about why you’d like to be involved in this new project by email to post@literaturewales.org with the subject: ‘The Ball I Threw’
·         The deadline for applications is 9 August 2013.
·         The fee for delivery of the full day workshops is £250 (per day and includes travel expenses). We anticipate each Writer will spend 1 day with each group (between 1 and 4 days per Writer) with the Blogging Writer spending 1 day with each group (up to 17 days).
·         These workshops will be delivered between Jan 2014 and July 2014.
·         A training day for the selected workshops leaders will take place on Friday 18 October (the same fee as above will apply).

Workshops can be applied for collectively or can be applied for in isolation.

Developing Dylan’s official website will be launched here in July 2013. In the meantime, follow the project’s developments on Twitter: @Dylanwad100 or read the news story here.
The project is funded by Welsh Government and will form part of the official DT100 celebrations.