50th Anniversary Of Aberfan Marked With Viewing Of World-Famous Photographs
The 50th anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster will be commemorated this autumn in an exhibition displaying world-famous photographs taken by an American photojournalist.
Shortly after the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip which killed 116 children and 28 adults on October 21, 1966, the young New York based IC (Chuck) Rapoport came to Aberfan on an assignment and ended up staying for six weeks.
He had expected to find a village without any children but discovered that there were survivors. Documenting the aftermath of the disaster in a series of black and white photographs of surviving children, families and others in the community, his reportage work was brought to international attention in a photo essay in LIFE magazine.
Now, with support from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and the Ffos-y-Fran Community Benefit Fund, a new digital presentation of Chuck’s original images – along with many previously unseen images – is being held at The Redhouse.
The current exhibition was the idea of retired headteacher and history and arts enthusiast Suzanne Grover, Project Manager, working in partnership with Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust.
“October 21, 2016 will bethe 50th anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster – a very significant event in our Welsh history,” said Suzanne, who was born and brought up in Aberfan and attended Pantglas School.
“I and others feel that 2016 is an especially appropriate time to bring this exhibition to South Wales and that it will be a most fitting commemoration. The Aberfan Disaster not only impacted so greatly upon our local community, but also on the whole community of Wales and the world beyond.”
Aberfan – Remembrances of a Photojournalist will run from September 13-October 29, supported through £4,032 from the County Borough Council and Ffos-y Fran Intermediate Fund.
Chuck Rapoport, who now lives in California, will be attending the official opening at The Redhouse Theatre on Monday September 12 to personally present the first showing on the large screen, with an introduction by Professor Dai Smith.
There will then be daily screenings, with Chuck’s recorded narration on a loop system in The Redhouse’s Keir Hardie Room until October 29.
At the start of the anniversary week, on Monday October 17, another commemorative event will feature poetry readings and new responses to the images in a bilingual presentation by University of South Wales Professor and poet Tony Curtis and poet, author and lyricist Grahame Davies.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Leader, Cllr Brendan Toomey, said: “It is important that we mark this 50th anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster with opportunities for remembrance and reflection in new and different ways appropriate to our current communities.
“The exhibition will also enable new audiences and generations to learn about our heritage and the impact of such a disaster.”
The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund was established by local mining company Miller Argent, which donates £1 for every ton of coal sold from the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme. More than £5m has been awarded to a wide range of groups and causes since the site opened in 2007.
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