Wales Smithsonian Cymru

The small country of Wales sets an example of sustainable culture that links history and tradition to the latest alternative technologies, thereby providing a focus for the 2009 Festival program, Wales Smithsonian Cymru. A spectrum of sustainability stretches throughout the history of Wales and into the future - continuing, preserving, and reviving older environmental practices as well as creating new ones. This continuum connects people within communities, regions, and nations, starting at the local level and radiating out around the globe. While doing research for the 2009 Festival program, fieldworkers sought four types of sustainability relating to traditional culture in Wales: 1) keeping the best of traditional practices; 2) recycling in the broadest sense; 3) thinking globally, acting locally; and 4) planning for a sustainable future. They documented music and dance; storytelling; occupational skills such as farming and mining; the building arts; industrial heritage; outdoor pursuits; maritime arts; textile, ceramics, and wood crafts; and cooking, gardening, and traditional medicine. The four core sustainability concepts helped the fieldworkers make connections among genres, regions, and the skills and talents of potential participants, informing the program throughout its development. The results of this collaboration were available for Festival visitors to enjoy on the National Mall.In addition to a rich program of music, dance, and oral traditions, visitors could interact with Welsh tradition-bearers to explore and experience topics such as Welsh genealogy; wood, stone, metal, clay, wool, and basketry crafts; plants and traditional medicine; maritime, sports, and ecotourism; renewable energy and sustainable building workshops (highlighting three sustainable structures); and more. Betty J. Belanus was Curator; Dorey Butter was Program Coordinator; Beverly Simons was Foodways Coordinator; and Kim Stryker was Family Learning Coordinator. A Curatorial Committee in Wales included: Teri Brewer and Gareth Evans; Peter Finch and colleagues; Eluned Haf; Angharad Pearce Jones, Rocet Arwel Jones, and Rhydian Griffiths; Tecwyn Vaughan Jones; Lesley-Anne Kerr; Dai Lloyd and Andy Williams; Ceri Rhys Matthews; Andy Middleton; Dafydd Roberts; Beth Thomas; Dan Thomas; Siân Thomas; and Moira Vincentelli. The program's Steering Committee comprised: Gary Davies, Ifona Deeley, Nick Capaldi, Keven Higgins, Paul Allen, Linda Tomos, Wynfford James, Paul Islwyn Thomas, Mike Hnyda, Andrew Green, Michael Houlihan, Eirlys Thomas, and Virginia West. The program was produced in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government. Donors included Alzeim Ltd., BioPharm, Neal's Yard Remedies, Summit (Wales) Ltd., and Caligo Inks. Additional contributions were provided by the St. David's Welsh-American Society of Washington, D.C., St. David's Society of Racine & Vicinity, the Welsh Society of Philadelphia, the St. David Welsh Society of St. Petersburg and the Suncoast, and Roger W. Hughes.

Maria Teresa Agozzino, Gareth Beech, Teri Brewer, Walter Ariel Brooks, Gareth Evans, Sarah Howells, Angharad Pearce Jones, Ceri Jones, Dylan Jones, Gwenno Jones, Howard Kimberley, Mared McAleavey, Gerallt Nash, Elen Phillips, Stephen Rees, Libby Richards, Siwan Rosser, Aparna Sharma, Siân Thomas, Kath Williams, Sioned Williams

HERITAGE MEETS INNOVATION Carpentry and Stonework Stuart Fry, 1950-, Beulah, Wales David Jenkins, 1959-, Newtown, Wales Selwyn Jones, 1963-, Betws, Wales Ray Smith, 1944-, Cardiff, Wales Ty-Mawr Lime Ltd., Brecon, Wales Energy Blanche Cameron, 1969-, Machynlleth, Wales Helen Nelson, 1974-, Swansea, Wales Matthew Slack, 1961-, Machynlleth, Wales Wayne Thomas, 1960-, Swansea, Wales Adam Thorogood, Machynlleth, Wales Siân Francis Williams, 1971-, Swansea, Wales Farming and Textiles Cefyn Burgess, 1961-, Deganwy, Wales Eifion Griffiths, 1954-, Haverfordwest, Wales Ariel Grant Hughes, Trelew, Wales and Patagonia, Argentina Chris Jones, 1967-, Ammanford, Wales Christine Mills, 1961-, Llangadfan, Wales Keith Rees, 1949-, Llandysul, Wales Metalwork Angharad Pearce Jones, 1969-, Garnant, Wales Iona McLaggan, 1966-, Merthyr Mawr, Wales Matthew Tomalin, 1945-, Brecon, Wales Slate Howard Bowcott, 1956-, Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales Dafydd Davies, 1950-, Rhiwlas, Wales John Neilson, 1959-, Llansilin, Wales Dafydd Roberts, 1956-, Tregarth, Wales LANGUAGE AND ARTS IN ACTION Animation Gerald Conn, 1960-, Cardiff, Wales Sean Harris, 1965-, Llangynog, Wales Creating Books Julian Thomas, 1952-, Borth, Wales David Vickers, 1949-, Newtown, Wales Music and Dance Catrin Ashton, 1979-, Conwy, Wales Ceri Ashton, 1983-, Conwy, Wales Gareth Bonello, 1981-, Cardiff, Wales Christine Cooper, 1983-, Tenby, Wales Crasdant -- CrasdantRobin Huw Bowen, 1957-, Aberystwyth, WalesAndy McLauchlin, 1960-, Bangor, WalesStephen Rees, 1963-, Llanllechid, WalesHuw Williams, 1959-, Pontypool, Wales Linda Griffiths, 1958-, Aberystwyth, Wales Arfon Gwilym, 1950-, Llanllechid, Wales Lisa Healy, 1988-, Aberystwyth, Wales The Hennessys -- The HennessysDave Burns, 1946-, Cardiff, WalesFrank Hennessy, 1947-, Cardiff, WalesIolo Jones, 1955-, Cardiff, Wales Siân James, 1961-, Trallwng, Wales Ceri Rhys Matthews, 1960-, Pencader, Wales Chris O'Connor, 1973-, Cardiff, Wales Mark O'Connor, 1976-, Cardiff, Wales Only Men Aloud! Cardiff, Wales Parti Cut Lloi, Banw Valley, Wales Wyn Pearson, 1972-, Holywell, Wales Sild -- SildMartin Leamon, 1974-, Ystalyfera, WalesSille Ilves, 1981-, Ystalyfera, Wales Gai Toms, 1976-, Tanygrisiau, Wales Sioned Webb, 1960-, Caernarfon, Wales WNO MAX, Cardiff, Wales Musical Instrument Workshop Bryan Blackmore, 1959-, Llangwm, Wales John Evans, 1947-, Llanfihangel-ar-Arth, Wales Trefor Owen, 1951-, Cricieth, Wales Poetry and Storytelling David Ambrose, 1950-, Wick, Wales Gillian Clarke, 1937-, Llandysul, Wales Gwyneth Glyn, 1979-, Cardiff, Wales Ifor ap Glyn, 1961-, Caernarfon, Wales Jon Gower, 1959-, Cardiff, Wales Esyllt Harker, 1947-, Llandovery, Wales Ceri Wyn Jones, 1967-, Cardigan, Wales Mab Jones, 1977-, Cardiff, Wales Aneirin Karadog, 1982-, Pontyberem, Wales Daniel Morden, 1964-, Abergavenny, Wales Sharon Morgan, 1949-, Cardiff, Wales Clare Potter, 1972-, Pontypridd, Wales Welsh Language Iona Hughes, 1974-, Cardiff, Wales REIMAGINING HOME AND COMMUNITY Ceramics and Basketry Helen Campbell, 1956-, Carmarthen, Wales Lowri Davies, 1978-, Cardiff, Wales Caitlin Jenkins, 1976-, Ewenny, Wales Susie Vaughan, 1948-, Llansoy, Wales Plants and Medicine Tim Bevan, 1959-, Llanarthne, Wales Gareth Evans, 1958-, Swansea, Wales Alison Nash, 1964-, Aberystwyth, Wales Kristina Patmore, 1983-, Llandeilo, Wales Taste of Wales Anthony Evans, 1976-, Llanelli, Wales Angela Gray, 1961-, Cardiff, Wales Geraldine Trotman, 1952-, Cardiff, Wales Gareth Johns, 1961-, Machynlleth, Wales Ana Chiabrando Rees, 1975-, Gaiman, Wales and Patagonia, Argentina Hazel Thomas, 1957-, Drefach, Llanybydder, Wales Woodworking Emyr Davies, 1963-, Swansea, Wales Mike Davies, 1944-, Cwmbran, Wales WALES AND THE WORLD Walter Ariel Brooks, 1974-, Cardiff, Wales Carwyn Evans, 1979-, Cardiff, Wales Carlos Pinatti, 1961-, Cardiff, Wales Beth Thomas, 1953-, Cardiff, Wales Family Activities Mary Lloyd Jones, 1934-, Aberystwyth, Wales Welsh Roots Beryl Evans, 1966-, Aberystwyth, Wales Cyril Evans, 1962-, Aberystwyth, Wales Catherine Tudor Jones, 1981-, Aberystwyth, Wales Menna Morgan, 1974-, Aberystwyth, Wales WORKING AND PLAYING OUTDOORS Along the Water Karl Chattington, 1959-, Aberdare, Wales Siân Dorling, 1959-, Penarth, Wales Roger Hall, 1948-, Penarth, Wales David Jenkins, 1959-, Swansea, Wales Dylan Jones, 1969-, Cardiff, Wales Keith Jones, 1968-, Caernarfon, Wales Thomas Jones, 1984-, Conwy, Wales The Outdoors Eric Jones, 1936-, Tremadog, Wales Emma Newsome, 1984-, St. Davids, Wales Eleri Thomas, 1978-, Ystradgynlais, Wales Chris Wright, Llanfairpwll, Wales Sports Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Cardiff, Wales