On 15th May 2024 Ruthin Arts Network organised a social event for creative people in the Ruthin area. The main aim of the event, which was held at The Feathers pub in Ruthin, was to strengthen the artistic community in the town.
The inspirational evening, was attended by musicians, writers, basket weavers, dancers, actors, directors, playwrights, song writers and more. Music by the folk-rock band The Amazing Clouds started the evening off followed by poetry readings from Patrica Sumner (local author and poet), Diana Sanders (local musician and poet) and Tim Baker (playwright and theatre director). Tim also treated the audience to a reading of the first part of Under Milk Wood in Welsh. The rest of the evening was given over to networking, socialising, and discussing the various artforms represented by local people.
With recent arts funding cuts the need to create a strong creative community is important. Most of us have had our lives enriched by the arts and the benefits of arts in the community are many. Abba summed it up simply in their lyrics ‘without a song or a dance what are we?’ But if we look at the benefits in more depth, we realise that the arts have numerous benefits to us as individuals and to our society. They are a medium for communicating ideas and self-expression. They provide therapeutic benefits such as occupational therapy and music in hospitals. They can chronicle history, comment on political events and preserve cultural heritage and crafts. They bring cohesion to our villages and towns in the form of theatre groups, book, art, craft making clubs etc.
In short, the arts have the power to inspire us, open our minds and bring a sense of well-being and belonging.