Winner of the Wales Smithsonian Cymru Photography Competition Announced

Welsh Assembly Government, New York, July 16, 2009: The winner of the Wales Smithsonian Cymru photography competition is Christopher Levy of Washington D.C. His winning photograph is entitled ‘Caitlin Jenkins at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’ and it portrays the hands of the Welsh potter Caitlin Jenkins as she works at her wheel on the National Mall during the recent festival in Washington. The competition was judged by the celebrity photographer Cambridge Jones who hails from Wales. On choosing the winner Cambridge Jones said: ‘This photograph stands out as it creates its own narrative within the frame, almost turning the potter’s hand into individual characters. It frames the extended and taut finger to give us a feeling as well as the detail. The photograph also makes very nice use of light.’ Christopher’s prize will be a photography session with Cambridge Jones who has photographed many famous people including the Queen of England, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Billy Bob Thornton and P Diddy. Cambridge will take the portrait of a person chosen by Christopher who will receive a signed framed copy of the photograph. Christopher Levy is 49 and works for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C. He said, ‘I am delighted to have won the competition. I’m very excited about my session with Cambridge Jones and I’m looking forward to learning from such a renowned photographer. Two of my passions are travelling and photography. My favourite places are the UK and Australia and I've travelled all over the UK, including two visits to Wales. After attending the Smithsonian Folklife Festival I've decided to return to Wales next year.’ The Jenkins family have been making pots in Ewenny, Wales, since 1610. Thirty-three year old Caitlin Jenkins is a ninth-generation potter, trained at Ewenny Pottery by her father Alun Jenkins. She studied at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff and the Royal College of Art in London. Now she works with her father at the pottery, continuing the tradition of making hand-thrown earthenware ceramics for use in the home. Further information on Cambridge Jones: www.cambridgejones.com

Wales at the USA Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Pictures property and courtesy of Caribousteaks

Wales and Welsh culture are a featured nation at this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC. - rugby, lovespoons and beer on the USA national Mall!

A pub on the National Mall!

Tag rugby lessons on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle, the original museum building, now an administrative building

World Famous Llangollen Festival takes centre stage at Smithsonian Festival

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will this year be taking centre stage in Washington D.C as one of the 160 organizations, musicians, poets, scholars, artists and craftsmen representing Wales as the Guest Nation at the two week long Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington D.C. 24 June – 5 July.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which takes place every year and attracts over one million visitors from the USA and overseas, will welcome Wales as the featured Nation providing visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about Welsh culture. As representatives of Wales’ festivals, Llangollen will be an integral part of the Wales and the World Pavilion where they will be telling the unique story of Llangollen and the Welsh Eisteddfodic tradition on which it is based.

The International Eisteddfod’s presence in Washington will highlight the parallels between both events as the International Eisteddfod’s Executive Director, Mervyn Cousins explains, “It is a great privilege to be part of such a major world festival with similar aims as ours. In the same way as the Llangollen Eisteddfod aims to promote world peace through music and dance, the Smithsonian Festival aims to do this by showcasing the best the Guest Nation has to offer to the rest of the world and we are very proud to be here representing Wales’ festivals. Llangollen is where Wales and the World meet and therefore this is an ideal opportunity for us to take Llangollen to the world!”

During the two-week festival, that takes place between 24 – 28 June and 1 – 5 July senior Llangollen personnel will lead various presentations. The talks will range in their themes from how the Eisteddfod came into existence 63 years ago, through to the Festival’s commitment to sustainable development and the environment, to how a small town in North Wales was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize!

Betty Belanus, Curator of the Wales Smithsonian Cymru program expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration: "Having visited the Llangollen area during my extended research stay in Wales in 2007, I was very impressed with the beauty of the area as well as the obvious positive impact the International Eisteddfod has had on the town and environs. The idea of an International Eisteddfod illustrates the warm welcome that I have always felt in Wales. Although I have never had the pleasure of attending the event, its vision of promoting peace through mutual cooperation is much like that of our own Smithsonian Folklife Festival. We look forward to hosting the representatives of the International Eisteddfod who will be participating in the Festival, and we hope that visitors will be inspired by the global reach of Wales through finding out about events such as the International Eisteddfod. I believe that the depth of pride and determination of the Welsh people will shine in our event, through one on one interaction with the participants from all around Wales, including Llangollen.”

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has collaborated with the Welsh Assembly Government to select the best that Wales has to offer. First Minister, Rhodri Morgan said: "No longer will Wales be Europe’s best kept secret. The Smithsonian is one of the world’s biggest cultural festival events and we have a unique opportunity to raise our profile in Washington and right across North America. Visitors to the festival will be able to learn more about our traditional and contemporary cultures and we hope that inspires them to visit, study or invest here."

Volunteer Summer Internships at the Wales Smithsonian Cymru 2009 program of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

A message from Betty Belanus:-

I would like the members of Americymru who are at university or know a young person who might wish to know, about the opportunity to participate in our internship program this summer. A similar announcement has been made across Wales for students there, but we would also like to make stateside (and Canadian) students aware of the opportunity. Unfortunately the internships are not supported by stipends (we wish!) but we get many applicants anyway, and I would like to consider those with Welsh connections first, as I know they will have some prior knowledge of the culture and might be interested in the opportunity to learn more.

As soon as our Festival Volunteer Coordinator comes on, I will send along information for the broader opportunity to volunteer for the event as well, this should be available in a month or so.

The following is a brief description and information for obtaining more information:

Volunteer Summer Internships at the Wales Smithsonian Cymru 2009 program of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

University or post-graduate students with a strong interest and/or background in Welsh culture are encouraged to apply for unpaid internships at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage to work with the organizers of the Wales program for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Period of internship is negotiable, to include at minimum the two weeks of the Festival, June 24 - July 5. Duties may include helping set up displays, working with participants to obtain supplies and materials for demonstrations, helping keep Festival schedules updated, and other duties to be discussed with the Festival staff. For more information about the Center and the Festival, see www.folklife.si.edu For more information about internships, or to obtain the link to the on-line application, please contact Arlene Reiniger, Intern Coordinator, at reinigera@si.edu Deadline for stateside interns is March 15. Welsh-based candidates have been solicited directly from Welsh unversities, but if additional students based in Wales would like to be considered, please get in touch ASAP, as visa requirements and other necessary arrangements take longer to process for overseas students.

Temporary Position of Participant Assistant for Welsh Program at Smithsonian Folklife Festival

From member Betty Belanus:-

"The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will feature Wales this summer. The temporary Festival position of Participant Assistant is listed below. Please note, the closing date is listed as past, but we are seeking fluent Welsh-speakers based in the U.S. due to potential visa problems for Welsh-based candidates and therefore the position will be open until filled as stated. We urge suitable candidates to get applications in as soon as possible. This position is based in Washington, D.C. and the starting date is negotiable. For more information about the event, see www.folklife.si.edu and click on Festival 2009; for application procedures, click under Opportunities/Employment. If you have specific questions about this position, please contact Betty Belanus at BelanusB@si.edu or by calling 202/633-6582.

2009 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Vacancy Announcement Number: SFF-2009 Opening date: November 24, 2008 Closing date: January 09, 2009 or until filled

Participant Assistant ○ 04-13-09 07-17-09 IS/GS 6 $17.81/hr. salary

Participant Assistants ‑ Assistants help the participant coordinator in making logistical arrangements for event participants; help prepare correspondence for participants. Make travel, housing and other arrangements. Spanish Language desired for one position. Welsh Language desired for one position."