Glanio yn Llandrindod

Glanio is a partnership between 3 creatives - Marla King (she/her), Clara Rust (she/her) and Fin Jordão (they/them) and Impelo.

We came together to explore a creative response to the climate and ecological emergency we face, and find alternative models of performance and socially engaged art practice.

The project explores our interdependent relationship with the natural world, connection to place and creative responses to the climate and ecological emergency; looking back through memory, grounding in the present and dreaming into new possibilities for our intertwined futures together.

We will be in Llandrindod 15th September - 1st October 2023

Sharing events!

Our stay in Llandrindod will culminate in 3 outdoor performances, where the dancers will guide you along a path where rooting our interconnections with the natural world is explored. These performances will be held on 30th September 2pm, 1st October 1pm & 3:30pm. Starting at the Rock Park archway at the top of Norton Terrace (opposite The Gwalia).

Below are some pictures from Glanio ym Machynlleth to give you an idea of what you can expect, although the performances will have similar essences, due to the site-specific responsiveness of the performances each will offer something different in how they are experienced.

Photo Credit: @heleddwynhardy & @heleddwyn

Workshop Opportunities

There are a number of workshops that the Glanio Collective will be facilitating throughout their residency in Llandrindod, see below for details and click on the links to book the open workshops:

The collective will be facilitating some workshops in schools, which will be a lovely opportunity for local primary school aged children to take part in a workshop that explores connection to nature through movement and through science in a soil dive.
There will be a banner making workshop with the Glanio Collective at the local Llandrindod Youth Club, where youth club members will have the opportunity to learn more about the Glanio project and the different ways in which we can impact the world that we are a part of, then they will be encouraged to create their own banner about what they think and feel.
Impelo’s Youth dance class is having a Glanio takeover of one of their regular classes where they will get to explore movement and dance with the collective and learn more about the project.
Glanio will also be taking over Impelo’s Freelancer Friday, where local freelancers can take part in a dance and movement session facilitated by the collective. If you are a creative freelancer based in or near Llandrindod and would like to take part in this workshop please email bethan@impelo.org.uk for more information.

Meet the Collective!

Want to know a little more about the individuals that make up Glanio?

Follow this link to learn a bit about Marla, Fin, and Clara and what each of them brings to the Glanio Collective.

You can also find out more about the inspiration, intentions, and values that have and continue to help form Glanio by taking a look at their Collective Cultural Agreement.

Meet the Dancers!

Meet the dancers, who along with the Glanio collective, will be in Llandrindod this Autumn as part of the Glanio project.

In this blog you will find some information about each of the dancers, as well as their thoughts going into Glanio yn Llandrindod.

Extras

As part of the Glanio project, the collective are not just interested in creating a dance performance, but hope to have a wider impact on the way that dance touring is approached. During their residency in Machynlleth, attendees were encouraged to take public transport or car share where possible when coming to see the performances or take part in the workshops. This encouragement to be conscious of the way that you approach and access the arts is a key part of the Glanio project; attendees for the Llandrindod workshops and performances are also encouraged to walk, use public transport or carshare to join in on the many aspects of Glanio.

For those who want to learn more about a slower way of life, and approaching the climate crisis in a way that is positive and focuses on the good that we can do for the environment, others and ourselves, below are recommendations of where to learn more and ideas of where you can start, by making small changes.

Book Recommendations

A non-exhaustive list of books that discuss the environmental crises we face and how to understand and approach them in ways that are positive, creative and focus on the resilience and imagination imbued in the human spirit.

'From What is to What if: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want' by Rob Hopkins

'Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in with Unexpected Resilience & Creative Power' by Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone

'Life in the City of Dirty Water: A Memoir of Healing' by Clayton Thomas-Muller

'Nature is a Human Right: Why We're Fighting for Green in a Grey World' by Ellen Miles

‘It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World’ by Mikaela Loach

‘Spinning Out: Climate Change, Mental Health and the Fight for a Better Future’ by Charlie Hertzog Young

‘It’s Not Just You: How to Navigate Eco-Anxiety and the Climate Crisis’ by Tori Tsui

‘Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities’ by Rebecca Solnit

‘Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds’ by Adrienne Maree Brown

‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Buy second hand books here: World of Books

Podcast Recommendations

Podcasts and podcast episodes which look constructively at the ways in which we can approach the climate crisis, with some episodes that look particularly at the impacts of the dance, theatre and performance industries’ impacts upon the environment. All links are through Spotify.

Talking Moves podcast episode on environmental impacts in dance sector with Adam Benjamin and Marla King.

Climate Crisis Conversations podcast by the Climate Psychology Alliance

From What if to What Next podcast by Rob Hopkins

Emergent Strategy podcast by the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute

Green Dreamer podcast by Kamea Chayne

shado-lite podcast by Shado Mag

Outrage + Optimism podcast Global Optimism

Research

‘Six ways to change hearts and minds about climate change’

Fashion and Clothing

As part of her research for Glanio, costume designer Tegan James looked into the impacts that fast fashion has on the environment and how the costumes for Glanio might be approached differently. Below are some of the findings about the impacts of fast fashion.

The world uses an estimated 80 billion pieces of clothing every year, a 400 percent increase from two decades ago. — The True Cost
Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
Buying just one white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving 35 miles in a car. —WRAP
By 2030, global apparel consumption is projected to rise by 63%, from 62 million tons today to 102 million tons—equivalent to more than 500 billion additional T-shirts. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
75% of consumers believe that sustainability is important and one-third are willing to choose brands that help environmental and social improvement. — Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. — Morgan McFall-Johnsen (2020)
Half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. — World Economic Forum
Around 300,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in household black bins every year, sent to landfill or incinerators. Less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing at the end of its life. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
Clothing companies create more than 1 million garments every day. — Greenpeace
Fast fashion emissions will grow by 50% by 2030, if current growth continues. — Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Extending the life of clothes by just 9 months of active use would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by 20-30% each. — WRAP

The process of making the costumes for Glanio therefore, was one which tried to reduce the environmental impact of the clothing as much as possible. Some of the costumes were repurposed from the costumes made for the original iteration of Glanio in Llandrindod. Other garments used for the costumes were sourced from second-hand clothing apps such as Vinted, or were purchased second hand from local charity shops.

Buying clothes second-hand is one of the easiest ways to decrease the impacts of fast fashion on the environment as it prolongs the lifespan of garments and prevents them from entering landfill. Charity, thrift and vintage shops are a good place to start as they reduce other waste from packaging and shipping. However, using apps such as Vinted and Depop are good alternatives as they give a wider range of clothing options from sellers in the UK whilst still ensuring that clothing has a longer lifespan, and are often budget friendly as well!

There are also a growing number of slow-fashion brands which focus on sourcing durable and sustainable fabrics for their garments, as well as ensuring that there is as little waste as possible in the manufacturing process. If you would like to buy clothes from a slow-fashion brand here is a list of 36 Conscious Clothing Brands from the UK.