Volunteers breathe life into Carmarthen’s Art Sector

Carmarthen was awash with colour, music and entertainment over the weekend as a group of volunteers and the trader’s organisation, which was set up last year.

Trudi Petersen of Found and Seek told us a little about how the town is fighting back and trying to attract shoppers with live music and art. Trudi said that traders were fed up of not being included in things that were happening around Carmarthen. She said: “We felt very much out on a limb up here so we started a trader’s organisation and we now have 70 members. We are all doing this in our spare time. We wanted something exciting to be happening in the arts quarter. We have had partial funding from the Bid and partial funding from Local Motion. It has been well supported by the Town Council. We have had the most fantastic turnout.”

You can listen to our interview with Trudi here:

Playing live in the town were Reel Rebels a Celtic Folk trio. If that were not enough to whet the appetite there were Disney Princesses roaming around the streets along with a Roman Centurion. There were Flash Mobs, Dance Classes and Portrait painting and a host of musicians providing a treat for shoppers and visitors alike.

Listen to Reel Rebels here:

The town was hosting the Portrait Artist of the Year competition  with participants including Art students and graduates from Coleg Sir Gâr Carmarthen School of Art.

The artists will be painting well known local people. As well as cash prizes artists get the opportunity to have their work exhibited at a two week-long exhibition at the Oriel Bevan Jones Gallery in King Street.

Interview with Chris Huffton:

There is also a chance to win  shopping vouchers of £100 and £50 vouchers as part of the traders ‘Golden Ticket’ street promotion. Anyone spending £10 or more in one of the participating outlets could win.

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