Llanfyllin Workhouse is a historic building of major importance, set in glorious Welsh countryside. It is home to a unique project: a community enterprise for arts, education, environment and heritage.
The Workhouse is owned by the Llanfyllin Dolydd Building Preservation Trust (Charity No. 1091097), which bought it in 2004 with the help of the Architectural Heritage Fund, and later the Ecology Building Society. In 2008 the Trust joined forces with the award winning Workhouse Festival to create a vibrant and forward-looking project rooted in the community.
Llanfyllin Workhouse offers (or will offer):
- an indoor venue with facilities for music, drama, film and dance
- a gallery, exhibition space and shop
- indoor and outdoor events showcasing local creativity and enterprise
- workshops and business space for rent
- educational courses in permaculture and sustainability
- courses and activities for all ages and abilities in arts, crafts and performance-related skills
- a bunkhouse and two family units, accommodating course and event participants as well as other groups
- residential and live-and-work units
- a community garden
- a Workhouse History Centre
- the annual Workhouse Festival
Anyone can join Llanfyllin Workhouse. We believe strongly in sustainable living and building; in the power of the arts to enhance and transform people’s lives, and in the lasting value of our built and social heritage. Most of our activities are run by volunteers: the more helpers we have, the more we can do.
Llanfyllin Workhouse – 2011.
2010 has been both a very successful and a hugely challenging year at the Workhouse and we are proud to still be here, planning for the next!
The vision for the Workhouse project is one of a genuinely community-owned facility, developed with the aim of becoming a focal point for events, courses and participation in creativity, arts, local economy and sustainability.
The community around the old Workhouse has a strong tradition of DIY culture, in what is a stunning and very rural farming area. The Workhouse Project is all about creating new possibilities of work, employment and expression for ourselves and our community whilst exploring sustainable and innovative ways of doing it. To date we have……
- Run a series of ground breaking Permaculture Design courses
- Opened an educational art gallery for local, established and new talent of all ages
- Provided workshop space for several innovative local businesses and artisans: Vagabondi Puppets, Sector39, Masquerade Integrated Drama, Inner-Kalm and more
- Hosted numerous film, drama and music events, for both local and touring performers
- Run three courses in yurt construction and design
- Held our first ever Green Fayre of green crafts and local trades and produce
- Played host to the acclaimed ‘Changing Lives – Going Green‘ BBC Wales TV series.
- Catalogued rare archive material on the lives of poor people in collaboration with The National Archives, and held exhibitions.
- Hosted all sorts of community activities with organisations like Education Otherwise, MENCAP, Home Carers and more.
- Held regular volunteer days and weekends
Refurbishment of the buildings has progressed significantly thanks to a small but relentless team of volunteers who have achieved remarkable results with limited funds and recycled materials.
The project has faced financial challenges over the year, and we are currently rewriting our business plan. Meanwhile we are working hard to put together a programme of events and happenings for 2011, building on the successes so far.
We are launching the Workhouse courses programme… with short courses in a range of subjects from organic gardening to stone-carving.
The Workhouse project will only continue to progress and be successful if we can keep drawing in new support and involvement, so come on down!!