The Great Solva Mosaic Steps Project
Solva Care – with the assistance of the Allen Lane Foundation – set up a community-mosaic arts project that involved members of the community learning how to create mosaics, and putting the skills learnt to use by producing mosaics to decorate a set of unattractive village steps. The project aimed to demonstrate wellbeing outcomes amongst participants from the community who were involved in producing the mosaics.
Our first mosaic project started in November 2017. This page gives a taster of the project and its outcomes, and the evaluation report is also available to download.
Project Evaluation Report
Before ...
The steps leading from outside Capel Mynydd Seion/Mount Zion Chapel to the area opposite St Aiden’s Church in Solva were in need of refurbishment.
The requirements of the brief were threefold. To make the treads of the safe, replace the existing handrail and produce and apply mosaics to the risers of the steps.
Pictured are one of the artists Maddie Janes, Solva Care Trustee Jonathan Higgins, Solva Care Treasurer Bruce Payne and Highways Asset Manager from Pembrokeshire County Council Rob Evans
Meet the artists and tutors
Solva Care – with the assistance of the Allen Lane Foundation – funded the classes. Artists Maddie Janes and Penny Dafforn (pictured) ran the classes.
The project aimed to demonstrate wellbeing outcomes amongst participants from the community who were involved in producing the mosaics.
Meanwhile, on the handrail front
In December 2017, Solva’s Bluetits held a full moon swim fundraiser in the harbour. Proceeds went towards paying for new handrails for the steps.
Santa even came by boat to join in the fun!
The grand opening
In May, the Great Solva Mosaic Steps’s were officially opened to the community by Cabinet Member Councillor Phil Baker. There was a fine turnout by those who had made it happen, followed by tea and MamGu Welshcakes at Solva Memorial Hall. Thanks to everyone who made it happen – the artists Maddie Janes and Penny Calder, the Allen Lane Foundation, The Bluetits Open Water Swimmers and Pembrokeshire County Council.
The classes start!
Solva Care set up a community-mosaic arts project that involved members of the community learning how to create mosaics, and putting the skills learnt to use by producing mosaics to decorate the steps. Classes started in November 2017.
Developing skills
As well as each participant producing parts of the final step design, they also made personal projects that they took home with them.
And even more fundraising
Jane Pascoe of Solva WI handed over a cheque for money raised by their Pancake Day to Solva Care towards the Mosaic Step project. Also pictured is Trustee Sue Denman and our artist and tutors Maddie Janes and Penny Calder.
The mosaics revealed!
Also in December 2017, an evening exhibition was held in Solva’s Memorial Hall to view the long-awaited results.
Created by over 25 members of the local community under the guidance of artists Maddie Janes and Penny Dafforn, the beautiful panels echo the colours and patterns of Pembrokeshire’s land, shore, sea and sky. This was the first time that they had been seen together – and they gave local residents a chance to view them and chat to the artists and creators.
Work starts on the steps!
Early in 2018, Johnny and Raymond from our partners Pembrokeshire County Council started laying new slabs on the Pwll Melin lay-by steps ready for the installation of the mosaic panels.
Mosaic installation
Then Maddie and Penny started fixing the mosaics and grouting them in.
The Next Steps …
Following the success of the Great Mosaics Steps Project, a new series of workshops were held in 2018. Solva Memorial Hall will soon celebrate its centenary and this project, supported by Solva Care, plans to enhance its planter and buttresses in time for this event. the mosaics are now complete and installed, and the Memorial Hall has had a very smart paintjob to match.
Before ...
After ...
Registered Charity Number 1172878
