This Artist-in-Residency scheme is a collaboration between Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales and The National Trust. Aberdulais Falls is a National Trust property which lies within a steep, glaciated gorge on the banks of the River Dulais, near its confluence with the River Nedd and to the north of the Roman town of Neath. Sarn Helen, the roman road, passes along the banks of the Nedd not far from the site.

The spectacular waterfall provided an important source of power which together with local timber for charcoal, good sources of coal and navigable waterways, has been used to drive the wheels of industry for the last 500 years. The first industrial process to have occupied the site and one of the earliest sites for metal processing, was a copper-smelting furnace established by Ulrich Frosse in 1584. In the following years the waterfall was used to power an iron forge, corn milling, a tucking mill (cloth) and tinplate manufacture.

In the 1700s many artists toured Wales as part of the ‘Grand Tour’ which recorded many of the beautiful sights of Wales. Aberdulais Falls was part of this recognised ‘Tour’ and was painted by fifty separate artists including JMW Turner in 1795/6.
From the early 1830s until 1890 a tinplate works was located on the site, initially powered by water but later by coal brought in on nearby navigable waterways. Aberdulais is the only survivor of a small water powered tin works, a pre cursor to the larger works at Velindre and Trostre. Welsh tinplate was exported throughout the world and allowed the international transportation of foodstuffs e.g. Canadian salmon. After the closure of the tin works the site continued to be used for a variety of small industrial uses and gradually fell completely out of use.

Aberdulais was acquired by the National Trust in 1980. The works are a Scheduled Ancient Monument and remedial works to consolidate the remains have been ongoing since the 1980s. In 1991 a project commenced to once again use the power of water, funded by the National Trust, European funds, Government funds and major industries in the Swansea area. This hydropower project installed a waterwheel to generate electricity for the property and for export to the National Grid, and a fish lift to allow migration up river. A series of lifts and interpretative material were also installed, making the Falls one of the most accessible National Trust properties for wheelchair users. It is possible for all to reach the weir at the top of the Falls and to view the river and wooded valley beyond. Since the National Trust has owned the property there has been a marked increase in wildlife on the property including otters, herons, salmon and sewin.

The property today hosts some of the few remaining buildings of the old village of Aberdulais, the village being largely removed to facilitate the construction of the A465, valleys link road. The Old Works Library and former tin workers school is now a tearoom with a small kitchen, classroom, meeting room and lavatories. The old works stable is an information centre with an exhibition space showing maps, objects and photographs etc.

Aberdulais Falls is dominated by the power of water. It formed the glacial gorge and as a fundamental resource has been used to power industry in the past and today. The combination of important archaeological remains and its location in a delightful, enclosed, wooded gorge has given special significance to Aberdulais and has made it one of the most visited and revered waterfalls in South Wales.

In January this year, the property was awarded a substantial grant to build a new Visitor Centre, Education & Resources room and Tourist information Centre at the entrance to the site.
The main phases of the project are:
Refurbished library and stables open to the public - Easter 2006
New Visitors Centre open – August 2006
Finish overall scheme including final landscaping – March 2007

The site will close to the public for a period of time so an element of the Residency will be outreach work elsewhere in the community, schools, colleges etc as well as specifically defined periods of time on the site itself (this all depends on the construction work and associated Health & Safety concerns).

Aims The aim is to enrich the experience of Aberdulais Falls in an innovative, creative and enthusiastic way and to further engage with the local community; to work with local people and visitors of all ages and abilities to enable them to make a positive and lasting contribution to the site. Themes and ideas for the project may well arise from its historical legacy and the immediate environment and locale, in particular water and its overwhelming and dramatic presence. It is possible that a collaborative artwork may well be incorporated into the final development of the new Visitor Centre and/or the landscaping of the overall site. This may well take the form of interventions within the structure of the building eg. etched glass, carved wood or stone, bronze inlays in the new pavers, etc. or it may be a film or films which can be shown in the Visitors Centre.

Timescale The Residency will be for six months and is expected to start in March 2006. There is flexibility in the number of days per week worked but these days must be agreed upon in advance. This residency is also open to the possibility of a jobshare between two artists.

The artist/s will have extensive experience of originating and facilitating a wide range of collaborative arts projects. An engagement with the culture and natural history of the area will be a necessary starting point and some knowledge of the Welsh language could be useful. They will be self-motivated, energetic and good with people. This residency is open to all artforms but bear in mind the expectation of some form of lasting legacy from the project, maybe a video or book documenting the process for example.