Mae ymgysylltiad cymunedol helaeth wedi digwydd gyda phobl y Fflint dros y deunaw mis diwethaf gan ymchwilio be ydi ystyr eu tref iddyn nhw ac yn rhoi cyfleoedd iddynt rannu eu straeon. Mae nifer o artistiaid wedi bod yn gweithio gydag ysgolion a grwpiau cymunedol sy’n cynnwys pobl o bob cefndir ac oedran, ac hefyd fe sefydlwyd ‘Siop Storiau’ ar y stryd fawr. Ymwelodd 760 o bobl â’r siop dros 11 diwrnod ac ymddiriedwyd iddi dros 200 o luniau, 20 map, gwrthrychau amrywiol a gwnaed 73 recordiad yn cyfleu straeon pobl y dref.

Mewn ymateb i’r straeon a’r arsylwadau gan y cyhoedd gosodwyd cyfres o gerfluniau mainc stori ar hyd y blaendraeth yn cynrychioli cymeriadau o’r Fflint, a chrëwyd briff y comisiwn celf o ganlyniad i’r brwdfrydedd a fynegwyd dros waith celf eiconig yn yr ardal. Derbyniwyd mynegiadau o ddiddordeb gan artistiaid ledled y byd gyda phump yn cyrraedd y rhestr fer a ddewiswyd gan banel o gynrychiolwyr cymunedol. Cynhaliwyd arddangosfa gyhoeddus yn Llyfrgell y Fflint, ac ar-lein, i roi cyfle i’r gymuned weld y cynigion a rhannu eu barn. Roedd cyfle hefyd iddynt allu enwebu ffefryn, casglwyd y sgoriau o’r enwebiadau er mwyn gwneud y dewis terfynol . Pobl y Fflint a dewisodd y dyluniad terfynol a gyflwynwyd gan Rich White.

Cafodd yr artistiaid y dasg o greu darn o waith a oedd yn annog chwarae ac yn golygu rhywbeth i gymuned y Fflint. Mae’r cynnig yn archwilio etifeddiaeth pobl leol a fu’n ymwneud â’r gwahanol ddiwydiannau sydd wedi chwarae rhan fawr o ffurfio tref y Fflint dros y canrifoedd, a hefyd etifeddiaeth y rhai o lefydd eraill sydd wedi dewis gwneud y Fflint yn gartref iddynt. Thema gref yn dod gan y cyhoedd, yn enwedig o brosiect Siop Stori’r Fflint, oedd pwysigrwydd rôl gwaith a llafur yn natblygiad y dref. Mae’r dyluniad nid yn unig yn edrych yn ôl ar dreftadaeth bwysig y dref, ond mae hefyd yn dathlu’r gymysgedd ddiwylliannol o bobl a sgiliau sy’n gwneud y Fflint y dref ydi hi heddiw ac i’w dyfodol.

Mae’r gwaith celf yn rhan o ddatblygiad ehangach Blaendraeth y Fflint, a fydd yn creu cyfleusterau newydd ar y safle i gynnwys canolfan ymwelwyr, caffi a gorsaf bad achub, gan ganiatáu i’r Fflint, fel tref fodern yng Nghymru, groesawu ymwelwyr o bell ac agos.

Extensive community engagement has taken place with the people of Flint over the past eighteen months investigating what their town means to them and giving them opportunities to share their stories. Artists have been working with schools and community groups comprising of people from all backgrounds and ages, and a ‘Story Shop’ was set up on the high street. The shop was visited by 760 people over 11 days and was entrusted with over 200 photos, 20 maps, various objects and 73 recordings were made capturing the town people’s stories.

In response to the stories and observations from the public a series of story bench sculptures were installed along the foreshore depicting characters from Flint, and the brief for the art commission was created due to the enthusiasm conveyed for an iconic artwork within the area. Expressions of interest were received from artists worldwide with five being shortlisted by a panel of community representatives. A public exhibition was held at Flint Library, and on line, to give the community an opportunity to see the proposals and share their opinions, they were also able to nominate a favourite, the scores from the nominations were collated and contributed to the final selection. The final design by Rich White was selected by the people of Flint.

The artists were tasked with creating a piece of work that encouraged play and meant something to the Flint community. The proposal examines the legacy of local people who were involved in the various industries that played a major role in forming the town of Flint over the centuries, and also the legacy of those from elsewhere who have chosen to make Flint their home. A strong theme coming from the public, particularly from the Flint Story Shop project, was the importance of the role of work and labour in the development of the town. The design not only looks back at the important heritage of the town, it also celebrates the cultural mix of people and skills that makes Flint the town that it is today and into its future.

The artwork is part of the wider Flint Foreshore development, which will see the creation of new facilities on site to include a visitor center, cafe and lifeboat station, allowing Flint, as a modern Welsh town, to welcome visitors from near and far.