14-18 NOW

14—‑18 NOW

14–18 NOW was the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. In partnership with arts and heritage partners, new artworks, inspired by the 1914-1918 period, were commissioned from 420 contemporary artists, musicians, film makers, designers and performers. In Wales, the 14–18 NOW programme reached 1.5 million people through a series of high profile and moving new artworks reflecting various aspects of the war and its social and cultural impact. The programme engaged with a number of organisations, including the Welsh National Opera who performed Iain Bell’s specially-commissioned opera In Parenthesis based on David Jones’s epic poem. Other examples are illustrated throughout this publication. Public participation was high. It is estimated, for example, that over 200,000 people visited Caernarfon Castle and the Senedd in Cardiff to see Poppies: Weeping Window by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, experiencing the power of this world-famous sculpture. Other events and installations attracted similarly large numbers. See: www.1418now.org.uk

Left: In Parenthesis, by Welsh National Opera, part of 14-18 NOW © Bill Cooper Below: Nawr yr Arwr / Now the Hero, by Marc Rees, part of 14-18 NOW © Warren Orchard