News Archive

Celebrate and Investigate with St David’s Hall

25 years ago, the architects and planners cleared away the tools of their trade leaving a gleaming St David’s Hall for Wales’ music-loving nation to enjoy. This year, as Cardiff undergoes another face-lift St David’s Hall celebrates its 25th birthday and invites you to join an intrepid team of investigators and enthusiasts who will be probing the annals of St David’s Hall and shining a search light on Cardiff’s people and places over the last 25 years.

Join St David’s Hall for a series of free activities during July and August where they will show you ways to research and record local history and help them uncover the ‘Sounds and Stories’ of both Cardiff and St David’s Hall. No experience necessary, just enthusiasm.

Time Travel Made Easy
Saturday 12 July 2008, 11.00 am - 5.00 pm
The internet is a fantastic tool for finding information but do you ever find you’ve wasted hours looking for something specific without any success? Following an introduction to the "Sounds and Stories" project, you will be learning how to go about researching local history easily and productively. Historian, editor, writer and BBC Radio Wales History presenter, Phil Carradice, will be leading the way in this informative day which will include a visit to the Cardiff Central Library.

Telling Tales
Saturday 19 July 2008, 11.00 am - 5.00 pm
Did you find school history lessons a bit of a turn-off? Large text books with small writing, memorising random dates and Henry VIII? If we could have listened to Henry VIII or his contemporaries, how much more interesting and vivid history would have become. Oral Historian and playwright, Rib Davis, brings history to life with an informal and hands-on introduction to Oral History. He’ll demonstrate how to extract the most juicy stories, experiences and memories out of people and will be getting technical showing how to record these precious, personal and unique life experiences, for future generations.

Practice Makes Perfect
Friday 1 August, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Time now, to put your skills into practice and meet, interview and record the stories of the many colourful St. David’s Hall staff members, past and present, uncovering first-hand, insider-tales of the National Concert Hall of Wales….

Drop-in Days
Saturday 2, Wednesday 6 and Saturday 9 August 2008, 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
St David’s Hall throws open its doors encouraging anyone with a memory of the Hall to drop in with their memories and mementoes. Help us share and make records of their experiences.

Interested? Then contact the Arts Active office at St David’s Hall on 02920 878574 for more information and to book your free place. Suggested age range for participants 11+. Any under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult at all times.

You will be taking part in a unique celebration which forms part of Cardiff’s contribution to "Portrait of a Nation" - a national celebration and exploration of cultural identity with young people run by Liverpool Culture Company, 17 UK partner cities and the Heritage Lottery Fund during Liverpool’s year-long reign as the European City of Culture 2008.

"Sounds and Stories" has been made possible by generous support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.