Community Heart Productions

Community Hearts approached Gwynt Y Mor Community Fund for support on the ‘More Plastic Than Fish’ project a coastal / marine debris art initiative that enables young people to create awareness raising art from beach litter. The project enabled the collection of plastic from beaches across North Wales via litter picks and beach clean ups and put it through a washing process to be used for artwork. Workshops and activity days that enable young people to work alongside a youth worker and an artist to learn, grow and achieve. Artwork created will be digitalised and save in readiness for creating a ‘More Plastic Than Fish’ art exhibition at the Conwy Culture Centre.

Throughout the duration of the project there were 8 litter picks; Llandudno, Talacre and Rhyl

Sunday 2^nd February – Llandudno 2020

15^th-16^th February - Talacre

Saturday 22^nd February – Llandudno

Saturday 21^st and 28^th March - Rhyl

Saturday 4^th April - Llandudno

Friday 8^th May – Llandudno

Beach cleans were successful and attracted between 18 and 42 people each time. The beach cleans were a great way to remove plastic from the shore but also served as a great intergenerational platform to bring people together.

In total 129 bags of litter were removed from beaches Plastic was washed for art work and unusable products were disposed of appropriately via recycling centres. 63 individuals attended more than one beach clean up and 68% of these were under the age of 18.

52 young people have been involved in art workshops and this took place before COVID 19 and lock down restrictions become an issue.  Intergenerational art activities were popular and 21 young people participated.

A 12 month Instagram account called ‘More Plastic Than Fish’ was created and it attracted 28k followers and a huge amount of interest. Due to the pandemic the digital element of exhibiting art work became the focus.

Beach cleaning has started again know that restrictions have been lifted. Some of the young people are now focusing on cleaning near the River Dee and the Dee Estuary.

Gwynt Y Mor Community Fund were delighted to be able to assist with funding the project and are proud to see the project thriving.