The overriding theme of the session was in the value of networks and relationships to support creative industries. Alice Taylor described Cardiff University's Mapping Cardiff's Creative Economy project, and gamely filled in for colleague Hannah Bayfield to also discuss REACT (Research & Enterprise in the Arts & Creative Technology). Her presentation complete with 'Jekyll/Hyde game' video was a big hit, and the session was very ably rounded off by Sian Elin Thomas of Sian Elin Designs, a local designer who discussed the benefits and opportunities that participating in networks such as the Cardiff Arts Collective.
The second session of the day, 'The Welsh Landscape', featured Dr Paul Cabuts and Dr Ceri Thomas. both discussed the influence of the Welsh landscape on art. Dr Cabuts showcased The Valleys Project, photographs from the mid-1980s depicting life in the south Wales valleys and attempting to document many of the changes occurring during that period. Dr Thomas presented the work of two Welsh artists, Joan Baker and Ernest Zobole, heavily influenced by links to their local areas. Baker in Cardiff and the south Wales coastline, and Zobole in the Rhondda.
After lunch delegates split off into groups for the breakout sessions. The sessions on 'Introducing Illustration Studies' and the 'Artists Books collections' were full of useful ideas on how to use special collections within teaching, not to mention that they had that visual wow factor! Plenty of interesting suggestions came out of the 'Writing for Publication' workshop run by the editor and deputy editor of the Art Libraries Journal, and the 'Glamorgan Archives Volunteer Programme' showed how archives can engage with their communities. And, in the 'CILIP and ARLIS Membership Discussion' CILIP in Wales officer, Mandy Powell, attempted to bribe attendees with Haribo!
Then it was time to rush off and get ready for dinner in a castle! Delegates were treated to a wine reception in the Library of Cardiff Castle, followed by a short tour and dinner in the banqueting hall. the truly stunning surroundings, great food, and arrival of pudding [!] were a definite highlight of the conference.
Tweets from Day Two are Storifyed here.
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