CARAD has run a number of creative workshops and clubs over the years, some of which, like the sewing group, lasted for over 20 years. These include:
- Sewing and writing
- Photography and film
- Music and dance
- Pottery and screen printing
- Enamelling and sculpture
- Carving and hazel weaving
- Willow lanterns
- Spinning, weaving and dyeing
- In fact, most crafts and creative activities…!
Crafternoons and Warm Spaces.
In 2022, CARAD organised a town wide warm space initiative, ensuring that a warm space was available seven days a week, with something for people to do. Crafternoons has continued to provide a safe, warm and creative space over the winter months.
Artist residencies
Elan Links. Thirteen artists were given the opportunity of having residencies in the Elan Valley. We were on the selection panel and supported artists in practical ways, with their creative development and by providing them with local contacts and context for their work. Artists were largely participatory and worked with various sections of the community. Daniel Crawshaw, for example, worked with school children and local artists. Marcello Sanchez Camus with local community, Zillah Bowes worked with the farming community and Rowena Harris worked with those with physical disabilities.
Music Nights.
We held many music nights, offering the opportunity to enjoy a variety of genres: classical, folk, jazz, touring American singer songwriters, local musicians of all ages and styles.
CARAD Publishing & Recording Studio and film suite.
Our community publishing and recording studio worked with many local writers, bands, singers and groups to bring their visions to life.
Craft Fairs - promoting local makers.
India Dance Wales and Rangoli with Dolly Roy
India dance Wales came to do a performance and workshop. Dolly Roy came from India via contacts in Birmingham, to make a rangoli carpet and give a performance singing and playing the Shruti.
Sewing group / community map.
This group met for over twenty years, providing mutual support and companionship.
Children’s creative Saturday morning workshops.
Online artist workshops.
During Covid we commissioned a series of online workshops from local artists. See resources.
Celtic Storytelling.
Over Covid we held several online sessions, working with storytellers from Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall.
Exhibitions.
Local and touring artists including 3 Perspectives series where three artists interpreted a theme or had a common practice.
Young people’s drama.
Various workshops and productions were run over the years.
The Lost Harp by Peter Cox.
Around 100 creative workshops were held over the two years of the play’s development, for example a screen print workshop with X3.
Create @ CARAD was a project which ran a series of open access craft workshops.
Rural Crafts Exhibition
Current practitioners of traditional crafts display their work.