The new director of a renowned arts centre is urging North Wales companies to back school visits and inspire a new generation of creative talent.<\/p>\n
Samantha Rhodes, who recently took the helm at Ruthin Craft Centre, is appealing to businesses to\u00a0 help fund trips for pupils across the region.<\/p>\n
She warned that vital education work is now at risk as funding gaps grow, despite the centre\u2019s international reputation.<\/p>\n
According to Ms Rhodes, she was thrilled to be appointed director of Ruthin Craft Centre because it had always been a lode star and an \u201cinspiration\u201d during her career.<\/p>\n
Her passion for contemporary craft and the applied arts was shaped while studying for a degree in floor covering design at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, particularly during placements with studio-based rug makers and felt makers.<\/p>\n
A placement at the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool proved pivotal and after graduating she got a job as gallery assistant there, rising through the ranks and being appointed as the director in 2017.<\/p>\n
Ms Rhodes, who comes from Birkenhead, said: \u201cRuthin Craft Centre was my inspirational place because at Bluecoat we had a much smaller gallery in the middle of the city. It was everything this isn\u2019t in many ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gallery, the space, the purpose-built site here, was always a shining light to me and I am sure that a lot of local people even don\u2019t realise what an absolute gem it is.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you enter the courtyard you feel like you\u2019re in a unique place with a real sense of place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe roof has been designed to reflect the hills of the Clwydian Range and the beautiful red of the render was specifically chose to mirror the red sandstone that Ruthin is famous for.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was made to feel immediately welcome by the brilliant team here\u00a0 and I couldn\u2019t\u00a0 have wished for a better handover from my predecessor Philip Hughes, who took time and care making introductions and taking me on studio visits. He\u2019s been incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still get a feeling of excitement when I walk into the main gallery because contemporary applied galleries do not look like this \u2013 the scale, the ambition is exceptional and indeed unique.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtists and makers all say this is such a special place and the work we show permeates the fabric of the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the work is shown in this kind of venue, it elevates the work to the platform it deserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cRuthin is significant not just nationally but internationally \u2013 people come here from all over the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cVisitors travelled all the way from Japan to come and the recent exhibition of the renowned artist and sculptor David Nash which attracted more than 55,000 people in total.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Rhodes says she\u2019s excited by the challenge and the possibilities created by planning her first programme of exhibitions but is concerned the centre is unable to fund the school visits that have previously been an important part of its role.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWe get amazing support from the Arts Council of Wales as we are a multi-year funded organisation and without their support we couldn\u2019t do any of the work we do here. We\u2019re also grateful for the support we get from Denbighshire Leisure and Denbighshire County Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the wider economic situation is undoubtedly having an impact on the arts and I\u00a0 am very keen to connect with the business community in North Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are now areas within our funding that are not covered anymore including the wonderful work that Ruthin Craft Centre has done with schools across North Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe used to regularly have school groups come to visit our galleries and use the brilliant shows as inspiration as a starting point.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019d then go into the education areas and made work around the themes of the exhibitions, using the techniques on shows.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we\u2019d have artists and makers who would work directly with those students to inspire a new generation to follow in their footsteps.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to continue that amazing work and to do that we need financial support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat better way for successful\u00a0 businesses to invest in our local young people \u2013 it could be that some are the children of people who work for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about being artistic, it\u2019s about the skills that working with your hands in artistic way can bring you, including problem solving and confidence building.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people think we can do without art education but it\u2019s at your peril that we do without art education. We want to bring the education space back to life and use it in the best way possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
One local company that has already stepped up to the plate is Ruthin-based civil engineering firm Jones Bros who are long-term supporters of the centre.<\/p>\n
Ms Rhodes added: \u201cJones Bros have been incredible partners. We\u2019ve had this fantastic programme called Caffi Celf\u00a0 where Welsh learners can come along and take part in a creative workshop .<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the workshop supported by Welsh-speaking artists and supported to speak Welsh and extend their vocabulary<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0 a programme Jones Bros have been supporting over the past couple of years and they have confirmed that continuing support into 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope their example will encourage others to follow suit and enable us to reintroduce the school visits.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about businesses giving money because it can be a very rewarding experience for them too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Any companies interested in hearing more how they can support the work of Ruthin Craft Centre should contact Samantha Rhodes by emailing her at <\/strong>samantha.rhodes@dll.co.uk<\/strong><\/a> or ringing 01824 774801.<\/strong><\/p>\n