National Poet Of Wales To Read Work At History Of Travel In Wales Event

A day-conference exploring the history of travel in Wales will take place in Wrexham this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The conference, which will take place at Wrexham Glyndwr University on Saturday November 19, will also feature the National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn, who will be reading from his work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event is organised by Mary-Ann Constantine and Elizabeth Edwards, of the University of Wales, as part of a series of events accompanying the exhibition ‘Movement, Landscape, Art’ at Oriel Sycharth, Wrexham Glyndwr University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Running until 16 December, the exhibition explores modern-day responses to the eighteenth-century Flintshire travel writer, Thomas Pennant, known as the ‘Father of Cambrian Tourism’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Art historians and literary experts will present talks on travelling the Welsh coast, illustration in the eighteenth century, the story of landscape painting, and the history of sea-bathing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The conference and exhibition are part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project, Curious Travellers: Thomas Pennant and the Welsh and Scottish Tour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mary-Ann Constantine, leader of the Curious Travellers project, said: “Travel and tourism have played such an important part in the history of Welsh identity and the Welsh economy. We´re delighted to be hosting this day of talks in Thomas Pennant’s heartland in north-east Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s an honour to be teaming up with the National Poet of Wales, Ifor ap Glyn, and we look forward to hearing his work in the light of the day’s themes of art, history, and literature past and present.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two further events in the Curious Travellers series are being hosted by Wrexham Glyndwr University, on Wednesday November 23 at 6pm, and Thursday December 8 at 7.30pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Internationally renowned storyteller Peter Stevenson will lead an evening of storytelling drawing on the myths and legends of Thomas Pennant’s A Tour in Wales (23 November), while acclaimed writer, broadcaster and map expert Mike Parker will discuss whether Wales’ long association with the picturesque is a blessing or a curse (8 December). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To reserve a space at the conference email a.elias@cymru.ac.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An overview of the Curious Travellers project can be found at curioustravellers.ac.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​