Cerdlun 2008 DECLARATION

A Richly Rewarding Experience

The Friends of Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw are delighted to report that our anonymous card art fund-raising event far exceeded our expectations. We raised in excess of £40k, every penny of which will be used to improve the fabric and performance of our precious gallery.

Cerdlun 2008 succeeded thanks to the willingness of hundreds of artists, celebrities, and well wishers…..many of whom had no previous contact with the gallery, but were still happy to contribute. This was typified by the efforts made by the busiest of people…. Bryn Terfel, Connie Fisher, Trebor Edwards and the like, to squeeze a moment’s quietness from their hectic schedules and get a Cerdlun off to us. And there were clubs, like the excellent Salford Art Club, mobilised by Pat Bellotti, who sent wonderful art across the border to help our cause, and textile artists from Leeds who sent some lovely creations. And responses like, “I am undergoing chemotherapy and don’t feel well enough to do a painting, so I’m enclosing a cheque for £25”. So many heart warming gestures, so many generous folk to thank!

Opening night on Saturday 26 July was sold out by April, leaving many disappointed Friends who had left it too late to buy a ticket. It was a wonderful evening with perfect weather adding to the magic of the Llanbedrog setting. After wine and canapés, we began with an auction of ten framed contributions which raised £7k in ten minutes. Then came Jack Vettriano’s “Beautiful Dreamer”, which had been specially drawn for our appeal and secured through the initiative of Jean Bellamy. This item had been advertised in the Telegraph, telephone bids were invited and great media interest created. With bidding brisk from the floor and the phones busy on the balcony, professional auctioneer John Huw of Bryncir Mart, who breathlessly steered the price through a dizzying £20k, before an Aberdeen collector dropped out and the hammer came down at £22000…sold to a regular patron and Friend of the gallery. What a start! £29k raised inside half an hour!

We hardly had strength then to wheel in the display boards holding a year’s collection of close on 1000 Cerdlun originals before the buying party began. Two hours later, we had sold 500 pictures, signed on the back, each identified by a number which buyers then used to pay and secure the artists’ CVs. It felt like Christmas Day with a great buzz of excitement, fun and happy faces! And so it continued over the next two days of buying, when admission to the event was free and visitors came in their hundreds. What was unsold has been put back on a single display board, which is replenished while steady buying continues.

Cerdlun 2008 succeeded on several levels. Apart from raising much needed funds, it helped generate immense interest and goodwill, encouraged unprecedented media opportunities, raised the gallery’s profile and made us all as volunteers, feel pleased to be involved and proud of this special place. It was a first time exhibition experience for many artists of all ages and fitted well with our philosophy of inclusivity and our mission to inspire an interest in art and creativity. SO many messages of praise and SO many requests to repeat the event are testament to a richly rewarding experience …and we can only thank everyone who made Cerdlun 2008 such a heart-warming success.

Elfryn and Brenda Lewis, Leading Organisers on behalf of the Friends of Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, August 2008

Top

Volunteer Night Celebration:

On Monday evening the 7th of October all the volunteers at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw were invited to a get-together at the Plas. Food and refreshments were supllied by Ian and Lorna from Caffi'r Oriel. Entertaunment on the night came via the MamaMia scripts and Brenda's masks!!

This event was a chance for trustees at Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw to thank the volnuteers for theur continued support and the wonderful contributions made during this year's Cerdlun event. Friends President Arnoild Kammerling MBE said "the Cerdlun effort clearly showed that Oriel Plas Glyn-yt-Weddw has a special place in so many peoples' hearts".

Some of the pictures

Cerdlun 2008: Declaration | Original Anonymous Card Art Appeal | Caerdlun Artists