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Booktober: Piebald by Nicola Davies

Want to read more but don’t know where to start? Join the Booktober Challenge!

The challenge is to read one Quick Reads book a week during October.

This special series of short books by well-known authors offers the perfect way to delve into a book. Priced at £1, and at around 100 pages each, the books are perfect for a train trip to work, a lunchtime read or ten minutes with a cuppa. New titles are published each year to add to the series.

Piebald, is a crime fiction thriller by Nicola Davies

Moxie has a lot on her plate, caring for her little brother, Ryan, and sick mother, all in a town which the world has more or less abandoned. But life seems to take a turn for the better when a horse called Piebald and Dylan, Moxie’s long-lost dad, turn up out of the blue. But Dylan brings trouble to Moxie’s door in the shape of drug lord Sunny Spells; Moxie must get out of town to keep Ryan safe, and Piebald turns out to be more help than Moxie could ever have imagined.

Read the first chapter here:

Available now from your local bookshop.

MumFighter

MumFighter, the award-winning company’s follow up to acclaimed debut Sorter opens at Swansea Grand Theatre this October.

Tuesday, 15 October 2024 to Friday, 25 October 2024

Get your tickets here.

Chwarae’r Chwedlau: Cabaret

🪩 Chwarae’r Chwedlau: Cabaret returns for one last edition in 2024!

❤️ If you missed the National Eisteddfod this year, don’t worry; we’re bringing some of the wonderful acts from their queer programme, Mas ar y Maes, to The Queer Emporium!

🎵 Line-up includes Caitlin McKee, Tom Kemp, Betsan and Welsh Ballroom Community!

🎟️ Please buy tickets whenever you can because the support helps, selling queer Welsh nights are difficult and it helps reduce our anxiety!

Queer Parents Morning: Pumpkin Patch Trip

Saturday October 12 at 10am

Tickets: https://queeremporium.co.uk/products/copy-of-queer-parents-morning

Join us for the Queer Parents Morning this October!

Unlike previous mornings, the group is taking a trip to Twilight Pumpkins, Maindiff Court Farm, Abergavenny, NP7 8AY! Feel free to bring your kids or come by yourself!

This is a free event! We’re proud to provide a space for the community to grow. Please RSVP by booking a free ticket if you’re able, it helps us know how many people to expect!

Speed Friendshipping

Thursday October 17 at 7pm

Tickers here: https://queeremporium.co.uk/products/speed-friendshipping-3

Speed Friendshipping is back for October!

Join us on the evening of the 17th at 7pm with queer psychologist Jacob Pendrey for an evening of fun activities and a chance to meet new people in a friendly, safe environment.

We’re able to host this and all our other community events through The Queer Emporium Foundation with support and funding from The National Lottery Community Fund!

Unable to buy a ticket but still like to come? Email us at hello@queeremporium.co.uk and we’ll help you out with a pay-it-forward ticket.

Sunday Wine Club

Sunday 20 October at 7:30pm

Tickets: https://queeremporium.co.uk/products/sunday-wine-club

The Queer Emporium has a new fancy wine menu, so join us each Sunday to work through it!

Also available each Sunday evening will be a unique wine, only available that evening! Come try, taste and see if, unlike Leslie Knope, we can tell the difference between the various wines!

Book a place for free, but pay for wine on the night!

Tracey McMaster

Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members.

Our Artist of the Month for October is Tracey McMaster! Tracey McMaster is an artist who works across painting and moving image.

Image: All Fours. 2024. Oil paint and oil stick on A2 canvas.

Chappell Roan Cocktail Party

Friday October 25 at 7:30pm

Tickets: https://queeremporium.co.uk/products/copy-of-taylor-swift-cocktail-party

You might have missed out on tickets to her concert, so come to our aspiring Pink Pony Club in the centre of Cardiff to dance, sing and enjoy cocktails theme around Chappell Roan’s music! You’ll have your choice of 3 out 6 custom cocktails, with non-alcoholic options as well.

Be quick though! We only have a small amount of tickets for this one-time event…

Chwarae’r Chwedlau: Cabaret

Chwarae’r Chwedlau: Cabaret returns for one last edition in 2024! 

If you missed the National Eisteddfod this year, don’t worry; we’re bringing some of the wonderful acts from their queer programme, Mas ar y Maes, to The Queer Emporium!

Line-up includes Caitlin McKee, Tom Kemp, Betsan and Welsh Ballroom Community!

Please buy tickets whenever you can because the support helps, selling queer Welsh nights are difficult and it helps reduce our anxiety!

Beach of Dreams

TAPE is currently part of an exciting project called Beach of Dreams; we are part of a network of organisations, artists, and communities in a shared mission to explore and respond to the pressing climate challenges facing the UK’s coastal regions. 

We have been working with Jason Singh, an artist, nature beatboxer, producer, DJ, curator, facilitator and performer. He has worked with the likes of the BBC, Tate Britain, and the National Trust to name a few! 

TAPE Sound will work alongside Jason to capture sound from various sources in Colwyn Bay and the surrounding areas to be part of an immersive sonic experience. He will also be looking to capture stories and perspectives from the local community. 

TAPE is proud to be part of this coastal celebration alongside commissioned artists and local communities across the UK!

Lumiere Project

The Lumiere project is part of the Festival of Light in collaboration with the Colwyn Bay Town Council, Creu Conwy and a range of other partners. Tape is working with several local community groups, including our regular media club and art club, to create installations that will be placed in shop windows in Colwyn Bay and illuminated. Contact us to learn how you can get involved, or join us on the 28th of November for the big reveal of the installations! 

Join Booktober!

• Want to read more but don’t know where to start?
• Can’t find the time to read?
• Fancy an autumn challenge?

Pennod 49 – Cariad, Protest ac Ideoleg Mesur: Y Canu Rhydd

Episode 49

Love, Protest and the Ideology of Meter: the Free-Meter Poetry
We begin in this episode by considering something many of us in Wales take for granted, namely the difference between Welsh-language strict-meter poetry and free-meter poetry.

We suggested that there are social and ideological dimensions to this fundamental metrical difference. We concentrate on free-meter poetry composed during the sixteenth century and early in the following century and discussing the two kinds of free-meter verse provides an opportunity to consider big questions concerning the relationship (and difference) between the old and the new and the ‘native’ and the ‘foreign’. We note that female voices appear in this new body of poetry and we look at a poem which protests passionately against the deforestation of the valleys of South Wales (and which puts the blame on ‘the English’ for this ecological destruction).

Ela: Representing Bethesda’s children

At the same time as the Community Assemblies on the Climate were happening in 2022-23, our education programme included:

*Sessions about climate change;
*Visits to local climate solutions;
*Assemblies for children and young people;
*Presentations by the children and young people to the community assemblies; and
*Practical action sessions.

Here’s Ela from Dyffryn Ogwen sharing what it was like to be part of the schools’ climate assemblies, and how it was representing the children of Bethesda to the adults and having some of their ideas added into the Community Climate Action Plan.

We are now starting to roll out our education offering for the Community Action Phase of GwyrddNi – which means schools will get to take part in specific projects and take action – stay tuned!

www.gwyrddni.cymru

Rheolwr Prosiect | Project Manager

“Wild Sounds of Wales – Pilot” is an innovative 3-minute virtual reality experience that combines wildlife sounds, 360-degree footage, and original music showcasing the biodiversity of Dinefwr National Nature Reserve. This pilot project aims to inspire hope in the face of climate anxiety and will be presented as a pop-up VR installation across various locations in Wales including Bryn Seiont Newydd Care Home.

NEWS: Welsh acts Y Dail and Ynys joint winners of the Neutron Prize

The Neutron Prize, God Is In The TV Zine‘s alternative to the Mercury Prize, has announced this year’s winner. Welsh- English bilingual bands Y Dail and Ynys were chosen, the first time the Neutron has been awarded to two artists. To mark the Neutron Prize, on Thursday 26 September God Is In The TV will […]

Ffilm David Nash Coed / Coexist Nash film 2024

David Nash

Cyfraniad at | Contirbution to the

Symposiwm Coed / Coexist Symposium

35 munud | minutes

Ffilm gan | Film by

Y Wladfa Newydd | Culture Colony, 2024

**Fersiwn gyda is-deitlau Cymraeg ar ei ffordd // Welsh subtitled version on the way**


Mae’r ffilm newydd hon yn gyfraniad gan yr artist David Nash tuag at y symposiwm undydd ar 14 o Fedi 2024 a gynhalwyd yn Plas, Coed/Coexist, sy’n archwilio ein perthynas â choed ac yn ceisio dod o hyd i gydbwysedd ar gyfer ein cyfodolaeth â nhw a’r byd naturiol ehangach.

//

This new film is a contribution by artist David Nash towards the day-long symposium held on the 14th of September 2024 at Plas, Coed / Coexist, that explores our relationship with trees and seeking to find balance for our co-existence with them and the wider natural world.

Gŵyl Tawe 2024

Earlier this summer, we sent Sion Teifi Rees and Aled Victor to make a short documentary about Gŵyl Tawe and the Welsh music scene in Swansea. Featuring The Bunkhouse, Mission Gallery, Gower College Swansea and more!

Connecting Dyffryn Peris: Gwennan

This is Gwennan, who was part of the GwyrddNi Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Peris, talking about her experience and her excitement about the idea of estvalishing a ​​Dyffryn Peris Partnership.

A number of organisations and individuals are continuing with the work of establishing the Dyffryn Peris Partnership. The Partnership will be a community development network that will bring practical support, local expertise, resources, additional projects and events to the area.

Residents of the area are warmly welcomed to the next community talk on the 18th of September at 18:00 at Caban, Brynrefail – email lowri@deg.cymru for more information

Cofio’r Cynulliadau Hinsawdd / Remembering the Climate Assemblies – Roger & Ronwen

In 2022 and 2023, a series of Community Assemblies on the Climate were held in five parts of north west Gwynedd to answer the question: How can we in (this area) respond locally to Climate Change?

Learn more

Earlier this year, we interviewed members of the community about their experiences of the assemblies. Here are Roger and Ronwen reminiscing about their memories of taking part in the Bro Ffestiniog assemblies.

Gardening and Growing: Aisha

Here’s Aisha, who’s lived in Bethesda for 15 years, talking about the vegetables she grows and the way GwyrddNi’s climate assemblies have changed her.

“It’s given me confidence, it’s raised my spirits… I can’t believe the opportunity I have with Ysgol Abercaseg, it’s amazing!” she says about her recent role teaching local school children about seeds.

Find out more about GwyrddNi and how you can get involved at www.gwyrddni.cymru

If you’re in Bethesda and want to get involved with growing food in the community, contact chris@ogwen.org

Stori’r Tir (Story of the Land) Dyffryn Peris – Lindsey

Here’s Lindsey, with Lowri, talking a little about Stori’r Tir (Story of the Land), a project that came from the children’s ideas in the Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Peris.

Stori’r Tir is a creative project gathering and sharing stories of our relationship to land in Dyffryn Peris.

“We are bringing the community together to capture the wisdom of previous generations, promote identity and connection to the land, creativity and the Welsh language” – see a list of the projects and events here.

Upgrading Buildings: Yr Aelwyd, Blaenau Ffestiniog – Elfed Lewis

In north west Wales, we have some of the highest energy costs and some of the lowest salaries in the UK- not a great combination with the number of old, stone buildings we have here that are hard to heat!

It’s no wonder that one of the items on every area’s Community Climate Action Plan involves bringing homes and buildings up to higher standards of energy efficiency.

Elfed Lewis is an expert on retrofit, energy efficiency and Passivhaus. He’s currently working alongside Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog to upgrade Yr Aelwyd, the old Urdd building in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The aim is to be able to show people what’s possible – and to show them that it is possible to have warm, cosy homes that are cheap to run.

Go to www.gwyrddni.cymru or email post@gwyrddni.cymru to connect, learn more or be part of this!

Cycling to Work: Margot a Pete

Margot and Pete talk about how they commute to work by bicycle in Dyffryn Ogwen.

Interested in trying out cycling, but don’t want to commit to buying a bike? Beics Ogwen, in Dyffryn Ogwen, have regular and e-bikes available for hire.

Meanwhile, if you’re in Pen Llŷn, GwyrddNi is currently supporting a new Bicycle Hub in Congl Meinciau, Botwnnog. By joining for £20 a month you can borrow one of the bikes there – contact llyn@gwyrddni.cymru to find out more!

Cwt Piclo (Pickling Shed) Dyffryn Nantlle – Trey

This is Trey, who joined the GwyrddNi Community Assemblies on the Climate in Dyffryn Nantlle, talking about how the idea for the Cwt Piclo (Pickling Shed) was born.

Trey moved to Wales 8 years ago from Mississippi, and as you can see, he has learned Welsh fluently! He has been enjoying the community gardening that takes place in Penygroes, e.g. Yr Ardd Wyllt (the Wild Garden) and Gardd Eden.

The Cwt Piclo idea grew out of conversations about what to do with excess produce, and the Cwt Piclo group has already met several times (and started pickling things!). Read Trey’r blog about it here:.

The Shed itself is currently being prepared, and more activities will be happening in the coming coming weeks – contact sion.yrorsaf@gmail.com if you want to be part of this!

Ffrindiau Pwllheli: Rachel a James

Formed in 2023 by a group of passionate community members who connected at GwyrddNi’s climate assemblies, @FfrindiauPwllheli is dedicated to preserving and enhancing Pwllheli’s natural beauty. They work closely with the community and local partners to improve accessibility to nature and promote biodiversity and climate resilience.

Their mission is to ensure a secure and prosperous future for the town’s environment, benefiting both current residents and generations to come.

In this video, Rachel and James share a little of their journey so far.

www.ffrindiaupwllheli.cymru

Bwystfilod Aflan/Unclean Beasts

Join SPAN at Small World Theatre for the thought-provoking production of Bwystfilod Aflan (Unclean Beasts) from Music Theatre Wales.

Date: Friday the 11th of October
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Small World Theatre, Bath-House Rd, Cardigan SA43 1JY
Price: Full £12, Under 16s £8 *

*For ticket holders who need access support to attend, we offer a free ticket for their companion, carer or personal assistant. Contact 01834 869323 to book your carers ticket.

More Information at span-arts.org.uk. Please contact info@spanarts.org to discuss your accessibility needs.

Community Banner-Making Workshop

The banner you create will represent Castle Ward and be proudly carried by participants in the Winter Fair parade on November 30.

Pennod Arbennig: Ysgrifennu am ryfel yn Gymraeg . . . yn America!

Special Episode: Writing about war in Welsh . . . in America!

This is an episode which was recorded before a live audience in Storyville Books, Pontypridd during the 2024 National Eisteddfod.

As he had just finished reading it, Richard Wyn Jones wanted to discuss his co-presenter’s latest book, Dros Gyfiawnder a Rhyddid [‘For Justice and Freedom’]. It’s a volume which relates the history of a particular Welsh community during the American Civil War, concentrating in narrative fashion on the men in the army while also considering their relationship with their home community in Wisconsin.

This story is told through the original Welsh words of these Welsh Americans, and according to Richard Wyn Jones, ‘it’s amazing’ that it’s possible to present so much of this exiting history in this manner. As a number of the story’s main characters were born in the United States and raised speaking Welsh as their first language, it’s also an interesting chapter in the social history of the Old Language. And as Richard Wyn Jones notes, the way in which they write about war in Welsh connects this material to a great deal of medieval Welsh literature which was discussed in the first series of this podcast.

Buy ‘Dros Gyfiawnder a Rhyddid HERE

Ffrwd Byw Symposiwm Coed / Coexist Symposium Live Stream

Saturday, September 14 · 10am – 4pm

Format of the day and speakers

  • 8-9am Woodland Walk with Gwyn Jones, Director and Iwan Hughes, Assistant Director followed by breakfast.
  • 10-10:15am Welcome and introductions with Daloni Metcalfe Owen
  • 10:15-10:25am Gwenan Griffith from Ecoamgueddfa. Sponsors of the event.
  • 10:25-11:10am Junko Mori and John Egan introduce the project and their work
  • 11:10-11:30am Dafydd Wynne Finch, grassland farmer and landowner will discuss his passion for increasing diversity.
  • 11:30-11:40am Break
  • 11:40am-12:10pm David Lamacraft and Cassie Crocker, Nature Connections Officer from the charity, Plantlife, will focus on the importance of Lichens and lower wood species and the role of Plantlife.
  • 12:10-12:30pm Morning sessions Q&A
  • 2:30-2:50pm Artist Manon Awst will share her creative research on local peatlands, which she is currently pursuing as part of her Future Wales Fellowship.
  • 2:50-3:10pm Landscape Designer, Dan Bristow will talk about an element of each of the two parts that create a garden: landscaping and planting.
  • 3:10-3:20pm Lea Connelly, Biodiversity Officer, Gwynedd Council
  • 3:20-3:40pm Afternoon sessions Q&A
  • 3:40-4pm Round up with Daloni, John and Junko.

*Only the talks will be live streamed

Symposiwm Coed / Coexist Symposium

Saturday, September 14 · 10am – 4pm

Free event. Full programme details and registration via Eventbrite here

Celebrating woodland and ecosystems through a variety of voices

Artists Junko Mori and John Egan, who live and work on the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales, have initiated an ambitious three-phased project titled Coed / Coexist. The essence of the project draws our attention to trees and woodland (‘Coed’ translating as trees in Welsh), seeking out wider connections, desires and reliance on these ecosystems while connecting community, creativity and environmental stewardship. The whole project aspires to celebrate the local area and the communities based in Pen Llŷn.

Working with Wales’ oldest art gallery, Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, on the coast in Llanbedrog, the artists have instigated Phase 1 to present a day long symposium on Saturday 14 September 2024.

The symposium acts as a catalyst, bringing together cultural, scientific and local narratives to share and celebrate individual interest and knowledge. The event is intended to ignite ideas for the future stages of the project, comprising an ambitious collaborative approach to showcase new creative work and include public and community engagement in and around Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in 2026.

Utilising solely fallen or felled trees from the peninsula and Winllan woods at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Coed / Coexist will invite proposals from creative people to make new work to inspire and give a platform to the craftsmanship and ingenuity of local creatives and thinkers.

The symposium will be facilitated by television and radio presenter Daloni Metcalfe Owen with talks and contributions by; Coed / Coexist project initiators and lead artists, Junko Mori & John Egan; grassland farmer and landowner, Dafydd Wynne Finch; Plantlife Charity’s, Lichen and Bryophyte Specialist, David Lamacraft and Nature Connection Officer, Cassie Crocker; artists, David Nash, Manon Awst, Deanne Doddigton Mizen and landscape designer, Dan Bristow.