Hay Castle Trust

The major renovation project is coming to a close at Hay Castle, and the team is now looking forward to bringing the building to life for the community. The new staff team has come on board in recent weeks. Sara Bowie (Office and Retail Manager), Mari Fforde (Activities and Learning Manager), Helen Lowther (Events Manager) and Helen Furnell (Volunteer Coordinator) are all resolute champions of Hay. They bring energy, enthusiasm, and experience - as well as a long-standing love for the town - and will help shape a cultural offer that best serves the local area. With their selection, the team is nearly complete. Hay Castle will shortly be advertising for a Facilities Manager.

Central to the castle’s success in arriving at this exciting juncture have been the contributions made by numerous volunteers, who have given their time and expertise freely out of affection for the community. There are currently a number of volunteer openings to look out for, which will be attractive to those who are interested in community and culture, and who are keen to be part of a team and to learn more.

There are three great reasons to volunteer at Hay Castle - making new friends, working in an important heritage site and helping to support a community asset.

We have opportunities in the following areas:

• Castle Tours

• Retail

• Welcome and assistance

• Community/Charity events • Exhibitions

• Outside space maintenance

In return we can offer you camaraderie, fun and an opportunity to share and develop your knowledge of Hay and the local area.

Previous experience isn’t required; if you like spending time with others, have an interest in Hay and/or the heritage sector, have a willingness to learn and can get to Hay Castle easily, we’d like to hear from you.

Email helen.furnell@haycastletrust.org or call 07939 114 452 to register your interest and find out more.

The Hay Castle team is busy preparing a vibrant programme of cultural, social, and educational activities to inspire adults, families, and school groups. The spectacular spaces include a state-of- the-art new gallery, which will host exhibitions of national standing that will feature great artworks making their maiden voyage to the Wye Valley.

The new gallery will open at the end of May with Portraits of Writers, a display selected from the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery by guest curator, author, and journalist Dylan Jones OBE. The inaugural exhibition brings together a range of portraits of celebrated British individuals who identify as writers, including Simon Armitage, Riz Ahmed, Bernardine Evaristo, Salman Rushdie, Hilary Mantel, and Owen Sheers. The show will present a range of methods and approaches used by painters and photographers to capture the complex identities of writers.