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An arts project based in the Aber Valley has been awarded more than £100,000 to promote community wellbeing.

The project, called ‘Undercurrents – On our Doorstep’, is run by the Aber Valley-based Undercurrents Arts Group.

They will be working with Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Arts Development and not–for-profit visual arts organisation Addo Creative as part of the project.

The £105,000 funding has come from Arts Council Wales and its Connect and Flourish programme, with additional funds coming from the council’s arts development team and the Integrated Wellbeing Network Gwent, as well as Aber Valley Community Council.

In 2021, Undercurrents received £21,000 in funding, the bulk of which went towards research on the project.

Now, five Welsh-based artists will be working with residents over the course of 2023 to connect with their local area and the issues affecting it in new and creative ways.

Two of those artists are Amanda Spence and Rhian Thomas, who are looking at how unused spaces can be brought back to life in the form of orchards, growing spaces and play areas.

Meanwhile, Jesse Briton, who has a background in theatre, will be looking at issues around women and work in the valley. He will be working with groups such as the Aber Valley Women’s Institute as part of the project.

Poet Rufus Mufasa is also involved, and will be running sessions for parents and children involving play, creativity, story-telling and the Welsh language.

The project has also seen photographer and filmmaker Jon Pountney photographing and researching the area for a number of years, producing a series of photos and activities with residents to challenge stereotypes of the area.

The project runs until the end of December 2023, with residents and community groups in the area welcome to get involved.

Aber Valley councillor John Roberts, who co-founded Undercurrents more than 20 years ago, said he was “overjoyed” with the funding, which he hopes can benefit the entire valley.

“Hopefully we’ll get something out of this and it will result in more things going on and even more money coming in, especially as we come out of the pandemic.

“All communities have struggled, but hopefully this will bring our community together and we can go again.”

Cllr Roberts said the project will involve “hands-on community work”.

For more information on getting involved, contact Sarah Pace on sarah@addocreative.com or 07715 102517.

Cllr John Roberts can also be contacted on roberje@caerphilly.gov.uk or 07828158396.