Anglesey Performing Arts Week

Often the Anglesey weather is fine and sunny at Easter so here’s hoping! You can always combine studio visits to the beach, or go for a walk either on your own, or book onto one of our popular free ones. There are plenty of excellent places to stay on the Island so make a break of it if you are from away, or if living locally find out what happens in the studio on your doorstep.

The Open Studios and Galleries Weeks event attract visitors from all over the UK. It is the biggest art event held on the Island. This year over 80 artists are taking part at 54 locations including 10 participating galleries. You may find anything from cards, prints and original works of art to buy; see anything from works in progress to exhibitions of contemporary art. Venues include studios, chapels, barns, sheds, galleries and artists’ homes. You have the chance to meet and talk with the artist, often over a cup of tea, and gain a unique glimpse of the artistic process. Don’t feel shy about visiting; all the artists are only opening their studios as they are keen to meet you. As mentioned, we are offering five free art and landscape walks. Further details of these are in the Events Section.

The event is spread over the two full weeks of Easter with some artists opening all the time and others for only a few days. To make it easier for you to plan, the studio opening hours are always 11am – 5pm on the days they are open. Also, the A5 colour Guide has a folding cover which includes a map that helps you to plan your visits and navigate the Island. It also includes details of our walking tours, details of which can also be found in the Events section.

The Guide will be widely distributed, and a PDF copy, along with additions and corrections can be downloaded from here. In the Guide, alongside each artist entry, is a calendar marked with their opening days and in the back section of the Guide, a daily schedule of all studios open on each day which enables you to plan a route to visit those open.

New this Year! With the help of our new sponsors, Menai Holiday Cottages, we are trying to promote the work of artists and galleries throughout the year. Therefore, in addition to the opening hours shown for Open Studios, some are open all year (see their website or contact for their regular opening hours), and others throughout the year by prior appointment.

We didn’t get an Arts Council of Wales Lottery Grant this year so we are extremely grateful to this year’s funders, Menai Holiday Cottages Ltd, who stepped in to make the event possible. Thanks also to Anglesey County Council, and to Arts & Business Cymru whose grant has enabled the free walking and sketching walks and workshops. The previous help of the Welsh Government, Arts Council of Wales, and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development enabled us to do much more to promote and run the event.

If you enjoy your visit then come back in the autumn to discover the performing arts talent on the Island or sign up yourself or your group to the event. The Anglesey Performing Arts Weeks (APAW) (21 October – 5 November 2017) a taste of what is to come is shown under the Performing Arts Weeks section and includes the 3rd SeeMôr film festival.