Clear Village is undertaking an exciting new project in Penmachno, a remote rural community in the heart of Snowdonia national park, North Wales. We will be transforming a derelict shop in the village square into a multi-use space which responds to the history and future of the village, through community-led projects, workshops and displays.
One Clear Village team member lives full time in Penmachno, and this close connection to the village itself places CV in the unique position to create a long term and non-hierarchical dialogue about how we can better connect and mutually benefit from rural and urban lived experiences. This also proposes a possible solution to the often problematic dynamics created when organisations ‘parachute’ in to communities, only to leave after temporary projects are completed.
The space has been through many iterations over the decades, from a shop to a community photography darkroom, to a temporary meeting space for local neighbourhood groups. The current owners are now working with Clear Village and Penmachno Community Trust to transform it into a space which will accommodate a programme of different activities.
The shop windows will be a space for local makers to display their products, and QR codes linking to their businesses will be accessible from the street. Clear Village will be programming a workshop series which introduces new modes of digital fabrication. They will combine these skills and technologies with those of Penmachno’s already active community of makers. The programme of activities will also take into consideration the village’s rich history of craft and industry, such as the significant roles it has played in wool weaving and slate mining.
We are still in the developmental stages of the project so watch this space!
