Join us for Abergavenny’s first-ever The Festival of Us. July 11th 2026, 6pm The Priory Centre. Abergavenny.

Each year, The Festival of Us brings creative people together to celebrate an inspiring member of our local community. Our special guest for 2026 is Maryna Korolova, who came to Wales from Ukraine with her family. Maryna is the founder of Squeezing, one of Abergavenny’s much-loved cafés. In 2025, she returned to Ukraine to deliver parcels filled with donations from people across Wales.

Come and be inspired by Maryna’s story, and spend an evening drawing, painting, writing or making—at this unique and welcoming gathering.

This is a free event—just email Leighton@thefestivalofus.org to reserve your place.

Jerwood Photoworks Awards 5 Thursday 7 May – Saturday 4 July 2026 Ffotogallery, Cardiff Public Preview: Thursday 7 May, 6–8pm

The fifth Jerwood/Photoworks Awards bring new work by Roman Manfredi and Sayuri Ichida to Ffotogallery as part of a UK touring exhibition. Using expanded photography across still and moving image, sound and installation, both artists explore how landscapes shape — and are shaped by — the communities connected to them.

Roman’s series TRA inhabits a space of transition, evoking “motion without destination” and a merging of identities where “masculine and feminine converge and dissolve.” Through portraits, film and fragments made in Napoli, Roman reflects on intuitive ties between people, memory and place.

Ichida’s project 空席 (Kūseki), meaning “empty seats”, responds to Japan’s rapid population decline. With nearly 9,000 schools closing between 2002 and 2020, and hundreds more each year, she traces how abandoned school buildings quietly disappear from rural life. Her installation spans photography, collage, sound and sculpture.

Established in 2015, the Jerwood/Photoworks Awards support early‑career UK artists working with photography to create ambitious new work. Previous awardees include Joanne Coates, Heather Agyepong, Silvia Rosi, Theo Simpson, Alejandra Carles‑Tolra, Sam Laughlin, Lúa Ribeira, Matthew Finn, Joanna Piotrowska and Tereza Zelenková.

Ben Dawson is thriving in his growing journey as an artist. He shares the inspiring reactions to his work, the encouraging note from his mother that sparked his passion, and the chance to spot him kitesurfing over the sea if you look closely!