The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre and Newport Live are delighted to once again be running their Share the Love project in Newport and the surrounding areas this February.
During February The Riverfront will be creating and distributing art and care packages to individuals and groups within the community. The public can also get involved and nominate someone they would like to receive a pack, more information on which can be found on the Share the Love webpage.
In addition to this there will be an exhibition at The Riverfront from artist Kate Mercer titled ‘Make do and Mend’ throughout the month of February and March. 'Make Do and Mend' is a series of patchwork quilts which explore ideas of wrapping, warming and protection. Specifically, these patchwork quilts are made from recycled cotton fabrics, repurposed into something that warms and comforts those they wrap around. Enveloping others with words through textiles, photography and performative acts these quilts are an exploration of domesticity and needlework in art.
The Riverfront are inviting the public to get involved in the exhibition by sending in images or writing based on the theme which will be showcased next to Kate’s work in the Mezzanine Gallery. Submissions can be dropped off at The Riverfront or emailed to sally-anne.evans@newportlive.co.uk.
Throughout the month of February The Riverfront are committed to delivering one random act of kindness a day to individuals who visit the art centre.
Sally-Anne Evans, The Riverfront’s Community Arts Development Officer comments:
‘Share the Love was such an important project for us last year while the building was closed. Like many others, at times we felt isolated and lonely being unable to open, see our colleagues or our audiences. We wanted to do something to cheer up as many people as possible and we loved receiving all the artwork and reading all the wonderful poetry people sent in.
This year, now that we are back open, we wanted to do something to thank our visitors, give something back to them and ultimately make them smile which is where our idea for a Random Act of Kindness month comes from. Its our thank you to our audiences for supporting us. Pop in to The Riverfront during February and you might be in for a random surprise on us!’
Initially launched on St Dwynwen’s Day during the lockdown in early 2021, Share the Love was created as Newport Live and the Riverfront wanted to help everyone stay happy and well, and share love and kindness throughout the Newport area.
The project involved sending out wellbeing packs to support people who were isolated to help them feel more connected, get creative and focus on mental and physical health. The public were also asked to take inspiration from the work of CONSUMERSMITH, ‘May Love Be What You Remember Most,’ which resulted in The Riverfront receiving a range of wonderful artwork and poetry submissions which were displayed in the building’s ground floor windows.
Share the Love is a project that is being run by Newport Live's Art's and Community Sport & teams and has been made possible thanks to the donations received from our members and customers as well as funding from Newport City Council. You can find out more about Share the Love at newportlive.co.uk/ShareTheLove.
To find about more about how you can support charitable trust Newport Live and projects like these by visiting newportlive.co.uk/SupportUs.
