Artists of the future set to benefit from £50,000 Glynn Vivian fundraiser

Artists of the future were given a little bit of extra help to develop their potential over the weekend thanks to experts from the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Youngsters and their mums and dads were at the YMCA in St Helen’s Road for an art workshop as part of the Glynn Vivian’s outreach programme which has seen tens of thousands of children benefit over the last few years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is being supported by the Association of the Friends of Glynn Vivian who are also leading the way in a £50,000 fundraising drive in the countdown to the gallery’s re-opening in the autumn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis Davies, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “I want to thank the Friends of Glynn Vivian for their terrific support over the years. Their work makes a huge difference to the life of the gallery and its outreach programmes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The £50,000 fund will be supporting the Gallery’s learning programmes, such as the Saturday Family workshops, which currently take place offsite once a month, and will continue in the new Gallery once it reopens.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Friends’ Glynn Vivian 2016 Fund was launched on St David’s Day and has already won the backing of Kev Johns, Mal Pope, writer and curator Mel Gooding, and local artist Glenys Cour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Campaign supporter, radio presenter and panto dame Kevin Johns said: “The Glynn Vivian is one of the great places of Swansea. In Dynevor as a teenager I came to love it, and I can’t wait to see the building reopen.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can donate by going to the Friends’ website at www.friendsoftheglynnvivian.com and making a direct card payment by electronic bank transfer, and through direct transfer via JustGiving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The redevelopment project at the Glynn Vivian includes a new lecture space as well as conservation, library, exhibition, learning and community spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There’ll also be a new collection store for the art collection and a fully accessible entrance that means more people than ever will enjoy greatly improved access to the artworks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​