Celf yn y Caffi was developed by Creative Arts Facilitator Rhian Anderson, supported through the Arts Council of Wales’ Llais y Lle fund. The project set out to explore a central question:
How can we place the Welsh language and culture at the heart of community creativity, in order to encourage, develop, and sustain greater ownership and everyday use of the Welsh language?
To respond to this, Rhian designed and delivered a programme of 25 weekly sessions at Oasis Coffee Shop in Abertridwr. The sessions created a welcoming, creative environment where Welsh speakers, learners, and non-Welsh speakers alike could come together to explore the language in an open and playful way.
Since launching in May 2025, the group has grown into a supportive and vibrant community. Fluent Welsh speakers have played an important role in supporting learners to practise and build confidence, while non-Welsh speakers have engaged enthusiastically, learning greetings, building vocabulary, and increasingly using Welsh within sessions. Creative and therapeutic visual arts approaches have been central to this engagement. Each week introduced a different medium, including sewing, painting, printmaking, and upcycling, with the Welsh language embedded at the core of every activity.
The project is rooted in the context of the Aber Valley, a predominantly English-speaking community. While there is a Welsh-medium primary school locally, and many parents have experienced Welsh-language education, the language is not widely heard in everyday community life. Celf yn y Caffi seeks to gently challenge this by encouraging increased use of Welsh, while also exploring the area’s linguistic heritage. In particular, the project has prompted discussion around how the mining industry may have influenced language use, and how communities today might begin to reclaim a sense of ownership over the Welsh language.
The Calico Dress
Calico Dress by artist Menna Buss More Info…
A key highlight of the project was a field trip to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, where participants spent time exploring the grounds and engaging in sketching and watercolour work in the Glasshouse.
The visit provided an opportunity to extend the group’s creative practice beyond the usual setting, while continuing to embed the Welsh language within new experiences. A central purpose of the trip was to view The Calico Dress Cymru (Gwisg Calico Cymru) a collaborative community embroidery project and the first “daughter dress” of the internationally renowned Red Dress Project.
Led by Welsh textile artist Menna Buss, the piece acts as a “wearable time capsule,” capturing personal stories and expressions of Welsh identity, heritage, and creativity.
During the visit, the group had the opportunity to meet Menna, who encountered participants as they embroidered daffodils inspired by her work.
This informal meeting sparked meaningful conversations about future collaboration, and opened up the possibility of working together in the next phase of Celf yn y Caffi to create a new collaborative textile piece celebrating Welsh language experiences in the Aber Valley.
Term 1 - Summer to Autumn
Siol Fagu
A key element of the sessions has been the creative collection and use of Welsh words and phrases, supporting participants to memorise and incorporate them into daily life. Activities have included journalling, printmaking, textiles, and a range of crafts, all designed to reinforce language learning through creative practice. Local resident and visual artist Helen Ognjenovic-Morgan contributed to the project, supporting participants to develop their creative work and guiding the group towards the creation of a final collaborative piece.
In the later stages of the project, evening sessions were introduced, enabling wider participation from those unable to attend daytime sessions. During this period, the group worked collectively on Siol Fagu, a collaborative textile piece embellished with the Welsh words and phrases explored throughout the project. The piece stands as a celebration of shared learning, creativity, and community connection, and was exhibited as part of the Y Bowlen Werdd contemporary art exhibition at the end of March.
As the project draws to a close, the impact of Celf yn y Caffi is perhaps best reflected in the voices of those who have taken part. Participants have described the sessions as:
I had a lovely afternoon learning some meaningful Welsh words and incorporating them into art and craft activities made it even more enjoyable and meaningful. Thank you Rhian xxx“
Rhian thank you from someone who is not very artistic or creative. I have loved coming to your classes. The help and encouragement given has built my confidence. I’ve learnt so many new Welsh words and made new friends. Once again thank you xxx
Sesiwn ymlaciol ac agored i gael defnyddio fy Nghymraeg mewn ardal lle nad ydw i'n cael cyfle yn aml iawn. Diolch Rhian am ddangos bod y Gymraeg i bawb, ac mewn ffordd creadigol, croesawgar a hwyl.
I look forward to Rhians classes every week. There's no pressure, just enjoy anything that Rhian has for us plus coffee and cake and chat. What's not to like?
From someone who has never been artistic and knew no Welsh I’ve absolutely loved my Thursday classes. My Welsh is improving, colours already learnt, even framed my art work! Amazing company as well. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s so much fun. Xx
I’m always so proud of you and the motivation you have to create these amazing community art groups. Even if I don’t always have the time to join in myself, it genuinely makes me smile seeing the joy you bring to everyone who does attend. You’re doing something really special, and I’m wishing you the very best of luck 🫶🏼
Rhian creates a warm, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere that supports the development of both creative skills and confidence in using the Welsh language. Attending her sessions has been a valuable way for me to support my own Welsh learning, especially as the language is used in such a relaxed and informal setting.
Dw i’n caru Celf yn y Caffi!
Celf yn y caffi is just so lovely. It is wonderful to see people uncovering the creativity they never knew they had and chatting, laughing and learning tipyn bach o Gymraeg along the way - a real wellbeing hub. In the first session we created the sweetest little notebooks and I still use mine to add little words and phrases I pick up along my Welsh language journey. Diolch o galon Rhian.
Rhian is a complete darling & such a natural teacher oozing great advice, support & wonderful ideas…I’ve thoroughly loved & enjoyed every week 😊xxxx super relaxing, great fun & such fab company too xxx 🥰
These reflections highlight not only the growth in confidence around using the Welsh language, but also the sense of belonging and shared ownership that has developed within the group. What began as a series of creative sessions has evolved into a supportive community, where language learning is embedded in relationships, creativity, and everyday interaction.
The legacy of Celf yn y Caffi lies in these connections. Participants are leaving the project with new skills, increased confidence, and a renewed sense of connection to the Welsh language and its place within the Aber Valley. Just as importantly, the project has demonstrated that creative, community-led approaches can play a meaningful role in normalising and sustaining the use of Welsh in areas where it is less commonly heard.
There is a strong desire from participants to continue meeting, creating, and learning together. With further funding, there is clear potential to build on this momentum, expanding sessions, reaching new participants, and continuing to nurture a space where creativity and language can thrive side by side. The hope is that Celf yn y Caffi will not only continue into the coming year, but will grow as a lasting part of the community’s cultural life.
Term 2 - Autumn to Winter
Term 3 - Winter to Spring
