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If you've been living in a small dark cave of late this may be news to you to - but the 2010 Ryder Cup began in Newport today, albeit with a suspension in play due to heavy rain.

But what to do if you've made it to south Wales - or you're lucky enough to live there in the first place - and you're in no way inclined towards golf?

Newport Bridge

Well rest easy, as here are some art-inspired suggestions to while away the weekend in Newport and the surrounding area that don’t include mention of bunkers, dimpled white balls or anyone named after a large feline.

Newport Festival 2010

The Newport Festival has a whole host of events organised to celebrate the host city of the Ryder Cup. to see what's coming up over the weekend and for inspiration on what you can do in and around the city.

Over the weekend there will be a Ryder Cup Family Fanzone in John Frost Square, where you can watch the golfing action on a big screen but there will also be a young families arts area, light zone workshops and Newport Libraries storytelling sessions among other activities.

The Riverfront

Nestled, well, on the river front, the theatre has a number of exciting events coming up not just on the weekend but also after the world's biggest golfing competition has come to a close.

Photograph by Matt Wright © the artist and Ghosts in Armour 2010

The Ghosts in Armour visual arts exhibition opened last month but it runs until 23 October, so if you haven't seen it yet there’s still plenty of time left.

is Newport's annual dance festival, and includes workshops, performances, demonstrations and more.

There are dance workshops and youth theatre classes running from today, over the weekend and beyond at the Riverfront. Plus on Tuesday, the Jasmin Vardimon Company will be performing 7734, which examines man's inhumanity to man, while illuminating the human capacity for survival and the poetry of hope., and to prevent any wasted journeys.

Plus, starting from 9 October, Newport's comedy festival kicks off. A feast of funny people will be gracing the stage at the Riverfront and other venues across the city, including Shappi Khorsandi, Jon Richardson, Ian Stone, the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre and Elis James to name a few.

SuperDragons

Take a stroll through Newport city centre and you’ll soon come across one of these magnificent six foot, fibreglass dragon sculptures, which have been decorated and painted by local artists, community art groups and primary school children.

One of the SuperDragons in Newport. Photo: Toby Cameron

The dragons have been made by , and over 60 have been placed in Newport and the surrounding area in celebration of the Ryder Cup coming to the city.

about the sculptures on the Â鶹Éç Local South East Wales website, and on the SuperDragons website to track the fiery-mouthed beasts in and around Newport.

And if you venture in to the capital, why not check out some of the things we've blogged about recently, such as project/ten's new exhibition autumn#1, the seven new art galleries at the National Museum or the open weekend at the Wales Millennium Centre?

If we've missed any arts events happening this weekend in the south Wales area that you know about, do let us know below.

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