Ffiesta am Byth!

4 –  6 October 2024

Part of SWANSEA ARTS WEEKEND and WE ARE ALL ARTISTS.

As part of a vibrant celebration of the arts in Swansea City, Volcano is creating a pop-up Latin American public space in and around our HQ in Swansea High Street.

With a new weekend installation of art and activities, Volcano encourages residents and visitors to Swansea High Street to picture the city and its public spaces as colourful places for people of all ages to enjoy varied aspects of life – rest, pleasure, music, dancing, eating, drinking, chatting. Inspired by real and imaginary places in the world, a painting by a little-known artist from Nicaragua, the Brazilian artivist JR, and a terrible 80s Lionel Ritchie pop video, artist Bourdon Brindille and his team create a brilliant, evocative setting for a weekend of free activities including family art workshops, dancing, live music, fate games, dressing up and portrait photos. Plus cocktails, mocktails, and coffee!

PROGRAMME

Entry is free to all events.

FRIDAY 4 OCT
FFIESTA BAR – opening night with music from GARY PHILLIPS.  Open from 6pm. Music from 8pm. 
Gary will be playing Latin American guitar music: Rhumba, Bolero, Son and Salsa from Cuba; various types of Tango from Argentina; Bossa Nova and Samba from Brazil… and other bits and pieces…
There’ll be some Latin American cocktails available alongside the usual choice of beers, wines and soft drinks.

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER
Lots to do all day and evening. We’ll be open from 11am to 11pm, with coffee served in the morning and cocktails in the evening. 
LATIN AMERICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS with RUTH IBARRA & ANA QUIJANO 11am–1pm and 2pm-4pm
PHOTO PORTRAITS BY ABAYOMI SHOGBADE 11am–1pm and 2pm–4pm
TRY-A-TANGO Argentine Tango for beginners with URBAN TANGO NIGHTS  1pm-2pm and 2:30pm-3:30pm
FATE GAMES – open all day. Try your hand at one of our Dia de los Muertos inspired challenges and win small prizes!
PINATA! 4:30pm. For kids! Gather round and take turns to try and smash the Pinata. Grab some of the goodies when it goes!
MUSIC & DANCING WITH IBEROLATINXPRESSION 7pm – 9pm Swansea’s own Latinx Dance group will present some of their performances – you can join them in an informal Salsa party if you like!

SUNDAY 6 OCT
THE FFIESTA CAFE is open 10am to 1pm. Relax with a coffee, a pastry and some chilled Latin sounds.

Food and Drink
There will be some Latin American goodies to purchase from stalls on Saturday. Affordable coffee and tea is served all day and we have a fully licensed bar. Squash is free for kids. You are also welcome to bring coffee and snacks from other cafes (such as the wonderful TANGLED PARROT just opposite) to enjoy in the Ffiesta setting, but please don’t bring alcohol from elsewhere.

More about Swansea Arts Weekend
4th – 6th October. A vibrant celebration of the arts in Swansea City, featuring live music, dance performances, visual arts exhibitions, and workshops across various venues. Highlights include: 

• Olympic Fusion: The Matsena Brothers will be leading a performance combining dance, music, and sport in response to the introduction of breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The performance will take place on Saturday 5th October in Museum Park, Swansea. 
• We Are All Artists is a programme of exhibitions, events and activities produced by anchor arts venues located between Swansea train station and Swansea Marina; known as the “Station to the Sea” route after the 2014 – 2018 Volcano/Coastal Housing/ACW project of the same name. The venues include Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Volcano Theatre, Elysium, GS Artists and Mission Gallery. These events take place between the 4th and 6th October on Alexander Road, Swansea High Street, and Gloucester Place.
• Swansea Fringe – A festival of music and comedy in venues across the city centre 3 – 5 October.