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Hunting down your old doors for Eisteddfod art project


June 26, 2019 - 1178 views

Do you have an old wooden door going spare?  Are you planning trip to the tip with a door in the near future?  

If so organisers of this year’s National Eisteddfod in Conwy county would love to hear from you, as your door could help them deliver an ambitious art project.

So why not have a rummage in the shed, garage or attic and see what’s lurking in the deepest darkest corner? 

And if it’s an unloved and unwanted wooden door, let them know, and they will come and collect the door as part of the AGORA project.

Marc Rees, the internationally renowned art installation and performance creator and curator, is looking for a hundred wooden doors of all shapes and sizes to help him to realise the dream of creating a unique piece of public art and temporary building which will host all types of events and activities during festival week on the Eisteddfod Maes.

“The idea is to celebrate one of Llanrwst’s most extraordinary historical facts.  In 1947, the Town Council contacted the United Nations to claim their seat on the Security Council, stating that Llanrwst was an independent state within Wales. 

"The submission failed. But it’s such an important part of the town’s history, and we want to honour the audacity of the submission by constructing a temporary parliament on the Maes, like a People’s Pavilion.  We’re working with architects Jenny Hall and Tabitha Pope and want AGORA to be one of the main attractions on this year’s Maes.”

Marc is known for creating an artistic response to places and communities, in an often unusual and challenging way.  And the AGORA design and structure will definitely create excitement at the festival site on the outskirts of Llanrwst.

“The fact that the building will be created from local doors donated by the people of Conwy County is an integral part of the project.  The building, this ambitious piece of public art, will belong to the people of Conwy County, and will represent them, exactly as a parliament should represent the rights of the people.

“We need a hundred wooden doors to create and build AGORA, and we’re grateful to everyone who have already donated their doors – but we need more.  Your door could make a different and help us to reach our goal.  So please get in touch so we can build something together and open up new possibilities.”

If you have a door to donate, contact  iwan@ffiwsar.com.  The Eisteddfod are looking for any kind of wooden door, old or new, painted or unpainted and of all sizes. The only kind of door that can’t be used is a fire door or fully glazed doors. 

This project has received funding via the Tourism Product Innovation Fund (TPIF) and supported through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government, the Fund aims to encourage new innovative product ideas working in partnership which will have a greater impact and attract more visitors.

This is part of a larger tourism project to promote the Eisteddfod to a wider audience and includes four events in Llandudno, Conwy, Betws-y-Coed and Llanrwst, and is part of the Year of Discovery 2019 celebrations in Wales.  

These initial developments allow us to create a foundation for the project and a piece of public art which will be pivotal to the scheme over the coming weeks.

Further details about the AGORA project will be announced soon.  The Conwy County National Eisteddfod is held on the outskirts of Llanrwst from 3-10 August.