Bangor University looks forward to a busy week at the National Eisteddfod, Montgomeryshire & the Marches

Bangor University staff will be busy during the National Eisteddfod again this year, with a full programme of events on their stand on the Eisteddfod field.

Building a road to Cwm Hyfryd c1888. In the middle, wearing a white coat, stands Llwyd ap Iwan, son of Michael D Jones, who was murdered in 1909, by bandits. : Bangor University Archives & Special CollectionsBuilding a road to Cwm Hyfryd c1888. In the middle, wearing a white coat, stands Llwyd ap Iwan, son of Michael D Jones, who was murdered in 1909, by bandits. : Bangor University Archives & Special CollectionsAmong Monday’s highlights will be a ‘Te bach’ or traditional Patagonian Welsh tea, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh settlement in Patagonia.  The University Archive & Special Collections resources which illustrate the history of the settlement, will be on show, including fascinating photographs of the settlers, taken in the early years of the settlement by John Murray Thomas. The open event is at 2.30pm.

Innovation for language technologies and the media provide the focus for an event celebrating recent developments at Canolfan Bedwyr’s Language Technologies Centre at 4.00.

Gwion Lewis, barrister and presenter of a Radio Cymru series on the state of the Welsh media, presents the Annual Lecture for the journal Barn, on the topical subject of the future of broadcasting in Wales at 12.45 on Tuesday at the University’s stand.

This is followed by another debate, this time on the provision of care in our rural communities during a period of financial austerity (3.00). Debating how best to provide care to people in rural communities, and what the community’s role in this should be are Shan Ashton, Head of the University’s School of Lifelong Learning and Gwenan Prysor, Director of Social Work courses at the University.

To celebrate the Year of Light 2015, Professor Alan Shore from the School of Electronic Engineering has been invited to present the Learned Society of Wales Science and Technology Lecture. Professor Alan Shore, a Fellow of the Society, will discuss Grym Golau (the Power of Light) in the lecture in the Societies tent 2 ar 13.30 Tuesday 4 August.

Holding University reunions on a Wednesday afternoon at the Eisteddfod has become a bit of a ‘recent tradition’, and the same applies again this year. Bangor University and Normal College graduates are invited to the University’s stand at 2.00 to meet up with old friends and share reminiscences. Also on Wednesday afternoon and throughout the week, representatives of the School of History will be on hand to record former students and staff memories as part of an oral history project ‘Bangor Stories’.

Thursday’s events are provided by the University’s School of Music, beginning at 11.00 with a Pop Masterclass by Gethin Griffiths and Ifan Davies, stars of Cân i Gymru, who will be sharing insights into singing and composing pop songs.  Renowned harpist and folk singer Siân James will present the first Musica Awards. These are new awards for secondary school A level Music students.

Radio 1 and Radio Cymru DJ Huw Stephens chairs a debate on the Welsh music press (3.45), with contributions from individuals who have maintained the Welsh music press over the last 40 years.

The Arts and Dementia

Dementias is in the spotlight for two events during the week, reflecting the University’s expertise and innovation in this area. On Monday morning at 11.00 the Dementia and Imagination project, which has provided people living with dementia in Denbighshire to take part in weekly art sessions, will be  sharing the results- both some of the artistic work created as well as observations surrounding the benefits of taking part in weekly art sessions for the participants and their families and carers.  The link between music and dementia will be discussed by the Corneli Cudd/ Hidden Corners team, one of Pontio Arts & Innovation Centre's projects at 11.00 on Friday. The project has involved people with dementia, young people and students in shared experiences, and is to expand once the Pontio Building has opened its doors. Pontio is funded through the Welsh Government’s Strategic Capital Infrastructure Fund (SCIF), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Bangor University and the Arts Council of Wales.

Wrapping up the week, Welsh bands Y Galw and Swnami play live on the stand with Y Galw at 1.30 and Swnami at 2.30.

It’s likely that music will be heard emanating from the Science & Technology Pavilion during the week as well, as the University’s School of Music, along with Techniquest, experiment with the connection between music and science.

Publication date: 27 July 2015