Celebrating public artwork and recent improvements in Porthmadog

Members of the Porthmadog community came together at a recent event to celebrate a series of improvements in the town.

The event was held at the Glaslyn Byw’n Iach Centre in the company of town council members, school children, the artist Howard Bowcott, and other contributors to celebrate the recent investment made possible as part of the Llewyrch o’r Llechi scheme – a cultural investment programme funded by the UK Government and administered by Cyngor Gwynedd related to the designation of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site.

The investment includes:

• Resurfacing roads and pavements,
• Installation of smart benches,
• New bins,
• Adding 9 holes to the Golff Giamocs area.

Central to the celebration was the opportunity to appreciate the striking public art created by local artist, Howard Bowcott. Howard was commissioned to create a series of four unique sculptures reflecting the industrial and social heritage of Porthmadog. The sculptures are located in the harbour area near the Maritime Museum, the town centre park, the train station car park near Glaslyn Byw’n Iach Centre, and on the Cob Crwn path where it joins with Stryd yr Wyddfa. The art combines slate elements to tell local stories in a contemporary and engaging way.

Each sculpture includes elements of historical research, contributions from school children, and symbols representing the deep connection between Porthmadog and the slate industry. Through this combination, the work gives a visual voice to community history and inspires residents to take pride in their heritage.

Councillor Medwyn Hughes, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Economy and Community, said:

“The four sculptures created by Howard Bowcott reject the usual approach to public art, combining creative design with local history. They give a fresh perspective to the town, opening new doors to learning about our slate industry and its effects on the local community. I would also like to thank the Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Eifion Wyn for their valuable contribution to the project.”

Councillor Gwilym Jones, Local Member for Porthmadog (West), added:

“It has been a pleasure to be part of the ‘Town Regeneration Project’ in Porthmadog, which used funding from Social Prosperity Fund grants. The four separate artworks by Howard Bowcott in different parts of the town will be physical entities that allow visitors and locals to learn about the town’s history and identity. The park improvements will also be an attraction for everyone visiting the town centre. Finally, I would like to thank Cyngor Gwynedd staff for their work and enthusiasm for the project, as well as the children who contributed to the artworks. I hope this will be something visible in the town for many years to come.”

Councillor Nia Jeffreys, Local Member for Porthmadog (East) and Leader of the Council, said:

“I am very proud that Cyngor Gwynedd has used funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to improve the appearance of Porthmadog Town.”

“The Harbour in Port is absolutely central to the story of Slate and the World Heritage Site – a heartfelt thank you to the pupils of Ysgol Eifion Wyn for their excellent work on these sculptures that celebrate the history of our special town.”

Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Eifion Wyn were also welcomed at the event, building on a recent school visit by a LleCHI LleNI project officer. The LleCHI LleNI project is a scheme to connect a wide range of people with the Slate Landscape by using the UNESCO designation as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration, including interactive and creative activities in schools.

For more information, visit: www.llechi.cymru