Gwrando (Listening) Fund

Gwrando Information Session (scroll down to view) 

Wales Arts International, the international agency of Arts Council of Wales, with support by the Welsh Government, is marking the start of the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2022 by launching a new programme for artists and arts organisations. The aim of Gwrando (listening) is to nurture the art of listening to endangered languages and communities, and to learn about their efforts in protecting the land they inhabit.

Listening to indigenous languages through and with other indigenous languages enables deep cultural, creative and linguistic exploration. From these creative explorations we plan to build future collaborations and opportunities. This fund is seen as the first step in venturing deeper during the decade to come. Listening proposals through and with the Welsh language will be especially welcomed but is not an exclusive ask.

Through this programme we hope to learn more about the connection between language and the environment. Listening to the diverse languages of the world is as important and beneficial as appreciating the ecological diversity of our natural world. 

Purpose of the Gwrando (Listening) Fund

Gwrando is a learning journey facilitated by Wales Arts International. The purpose of the fund is to support artists based in Wales to:

• listen to indigenous thought leaders and artists around the world
• share what is learnt through facilitated learning and sharing activities within the programme
• share the creative response to their journey

We expect the supported projects to start in February 2023 and finish in September 2023.

What does the fund offer?

The fund is designed to allow space to listen and to share learning.  We are interested in who you want to listen to and why, and how you propose to share this learning.

The total budget available for the fund is £30,000.

The maximum level of support per award is £7,500.

The grant will support:

• your time in participating in up to four days of WAI facilitated learning and sharing activities such as workshops and online check in sessions with other artists and the team as safe spaces to share ideas and learning
• your time in undertaking your proposed activity, associated materials and travel costs
• the sharing of your creative response to your journey.  Part of the process will involve discussions around how best to do this.
• All local travel, meals and refreshments for arranged group meetings with WAI in person as part of the programme will be provided in addition to the grant.

We encourage audiences to engage in listening practice and recommend this 3 part video recording (Part 1 – THE CALL, Part 2 – THE RESPONSE, Part 3 – THE RESPONSE CONTINUES) of the UNcommon Wealth conversation as a starting point.

What if I have a question or would like access support?
Contact us:
+44 29 2044 1300
info@wai.org.uk
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Gwrando Information Session 

A recording of the information session held 24/11/22 and a copy of the links shared in the chat during the session:

This document also includes links to further information about the speakers and their work.

We would like to thank again to all our speakers for their contributions to the session:

• Lubna Shaheen, Ziro Festival and independent arts director and producer based in Guwahati, India 
• Leela Gilday, singer/song writer and Indigenous Artist of the Year JUNO Award 2021 winner
• Hinu te Hau Director of the Matariki Cultural Foundation and coordinator for the World Music Pan Indigenous Network 
• Dr Veronica Calarco, an Australian artist living in Wales who uses printmaking, painting and weaving to explore her interest with language and the land in which she lives and visits.
• Gareth Bonello, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who through the Welsh and Khasi Cultural Dialogues, has been collaborating with artists from the indigenous Khasi community of North East India and released a Khasi Collective album.