Welsh Government wants Wales to become the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe.

Welsh Government wants Wales to become the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe. They have launched a draft action plan confirming how they intend for this to happen.

Here’s what the Minister’s say:

“Everyone has the right to be safe, to be themselves and to lead lives free from discrimination. Equality and inclusion are core values of the Welsh Government and our commitment to social justice means that we must do all that we can to value diversity and protect and advance human rights in Wales. As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, these values are even more central to creating a fairer, more prosperous and a more equal Wales. Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning people (LGBTQ+) (with the + representing other identities including non-binary) is at the heart of this commitment. We want Wales to be a nation, where everyone feels safe to be themselves, to be open about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics, at home, leisure or work without feeling threatened.”

The plan sets out a wide range of policy-specific actions relating to Human Rights and Recognition; Safety; Home and Communities; Health and Social Care; Education; and the Workplace: Specifically:

  • Ensuring LGBTQ+ rights are “recognised and mainstreamed” across the public sector
  • Seeking to devolve powers in relation to gender recognition and support transgender people
  • Using all the powers it has to ban “all aspects” of conversion therapy
  • Ensuring strong relationship between LGBTQ+ people and the police and reviewing the under-reporting of LGBTQ+ hate crimes
  • Designing a fully inclusive curriculum and ensuring colleges and universities are LGBTQ+ inclusive

Now, they are asking us for our opinion on the Plan by way of a Public Consultation. They want all of us to be part of the process and help make sure equality is for everyone and no-one is left behind in Wales – to further LGBTQ+ equality in Wales.

There are 10 questions that we are being asked regarding the Action Plan. They range from what resources should be made available to carry out the actions, whether we agree with the plan, and in our opinion, the key challenges which would stop the action plan being achieved.

Deputy Minister Hannah Blythyn Deputy Minister for Social Partnership says:

It’s only by uniting as a nation can we achieve real progress and deliver a fairer and more equal society in Wales.

Click HERE for the Plan and how you can get involved. The deadline for our opinions is 21st October and Welsh Government hope to publish the final plan early 2022.

 TOGETHER, let’s make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe.

I went to Uplands Market and I Bought…

In 2013 Swansea based creative regeneration agency, Urban Foundry created Uplands Market with the full support of our Assembly Member, local Councillors and the Uplands community.

Here’s some information on Urban Foundary:

 “Since 2004 we’ve been forging great ideas that change the world for the better by turning good ideas into reality, helping to sustain them, and learning what works and what doesn’t so that even better ideas can be developed in future.”

Well, Uplands Market was a great idea! I try and get there as often as I can. Here’s what I bought:

Sausages, biltong and cider from Grey Alders/curry from Goggis Cuisine/sausages from Carn Edwards Meat/fudge from Gourmet Gower Fudge and pies from Karl Davies Butchers. Click HERE for the full details on face book from today’s market.

The market stalls sell quality Welsh produce and it was great to see it busy today. The cafes were also busy which is the knock-on effect of increased footfall to the Uplands on market day. Shopping local is not only good for local traders, it’s good for the environment as reducing imported goods lowers what is called ‘food miles’

that is the distance food is transported from the time of its making until it reaches the consumer. Shopping local reduces the carbon footprint of the food.

One more bit of good news, following form the success of Uplands Market, Urban Foundary created Marina Market.

Uplands Market is every last Saturday of the month, and you can find out all about it by clicking HERE.

The Soundwaves Art Foundation Charity

This post is highlighting the incredible work that the Soundwaves Art Foundation is doing. Based in Austin Texas and led by Tim Wakefield the Soundwaves Art Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that ‘combines music, modern art, and technology by capturing the digital heartbeat of some of the world’s most iconic music in order to raise money for non-profits.’ Soundwaves Art Foundation addresses  the world’s most pressing problems and supports charities for refugee rights, social justice, music education, mental health and covid-relief.

Set up over 10 years ago  over $3.8M of art work has been sold and donated to charities around the world. Artists involve Depeche Mode, Fleetwood Mac, The Chemical Brothers and Portishead.

To make the artwork, the soundwaves of a song are coloured, distorted and manipulated to form wonderful pieces of art. The work is then signed by the artist.

I bought a print of Carly Simon’s Your So Vein, released in 1972, and it’s gorgeous.

Here’s the song:

It was one of my favourites when I was growing up, and it still is.

And here’s the print:

My money was donated to MusiCares which is working to help the music industry recover from the coronavirus pandemic:

“Musicares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world.”

I had it framed in the Gower Art Gallery in Mumbles. Gower Art Gallery not only frames your artwork, it also sources wonderful Welsh Art, Welsh gifts, homewares and accessories.

When you’re in Mumbles next call in. I bet you will buy something wonderful! Click HERE for the website.

I Went to Swansea Market and I Bought….

Swansea Market is an award winning indoor market. The market includes fruit and vegetable stalls, butchers, cafes, fast food, fishmongers and clothes stalls.

“Throughout the years, Swansea Market has stood the test of time thanks to support of our customers, and the pride and passion of our traders who are so happy to be back. Times may have changed, but the warm welcome you’ll find at Swansea Market will always remain, because at Swansea Market a smile from the heart can never be masked.”

Click HERE for the market’s website.

Blue Lines by Massive Attack turns 30.

What an album, their debut album. Released on their Wild Bunch label April 8th 1991, it was regarded as being the first trip hop album.

I love the tracks that were chosen to be sampled, and how the samples were worked. Sampling is ‘the reuse of a portion of a sound recording in another recording. They comprise elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sounds, or entire bars of music, and may be layered, equalised, sped up or slowed down, repitched, looped or otherwise manipulated’ – thanks Wikipedia.

Three tunes that were sampled are:

Five Man Army Dub by Lewin Bones Lock released in 1982:

Lowrell – Mellow Mellow from 1979. I used to dance across the floor to this in my local nightclub. Used in the track Lately:

And William DeVaughn Be Thankfull for What You’ve Got, relased 1974:

30 years later Massive Attack release the Eutopia EP. Featured are three videos comprised of visuals, music and spoken word/teachings. The topics covered are tax havens, climate emergency and the ever increasing  gap between the rich and the poor:

A review of Soul Clap’s new album WTF (World Transformation Force) for Cardiff’s Buzz Magazine

To coincide with Earth Day, an annual event to demonstrate support for Environment Protection, Soul Clap are releasing their fourth album “WTF (World Transformation Force) on Brooklyn based record label Fool’s Gold. I reviewed the album for Buzz Magazine:

Buzz Magazine is Wales’ leading independent entertainment, lifestyle, and cultural guide with previews and reviews on the arts, film, food+drink, literature, music, events, gigs, travel and Welsh culture. Click HERE for the website and HERE to listen to the album on Soul Clap’s Soundcloud page. Below is one of my favourite tracks from the new album:

Oh and just for good measure, here is a great track from Soul Clap in 2012 sampling a classic old school track by NRG from 1992, featuring Mel Blatt:

Enjoy 🙂

Renovation and Restoration of the Palace Theatre Gets The Go Ahead

Tramshed Tech has signed an agreement with Swansea Council to restore and conserve the Palace Theatre. The planning application has been submitted and you can find out more on the Council’s website HERE.

The plans include transforming the six floors into modern workspaces for young and growing businesses, especially those in the tech, digital and creative sectors. The iconic building will  accommodate workspaces for more than 130 people and will provide a class-leading digital service for the city.

The building’s structure will be maintained with the retention and restoration of original historic features and the reinstatement of other historic features.

Works include the reinstatement and restoration of the auditorium balustrading. A section of tiered seating would be retained to form social seating and presentation space, with the ability to accommodate small scale events and the interior will retain the existing floors that look down towards a stage – as theatre audiences once would have done. Where possible the workspaces will overlook the original auditorium.

It is hoped that the Palace’s renovation will help make it a focal point for small to medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.” Sounds great!

Classic Comedy Cuts

How about the video about the infamous Fenton the dog in Richmond Park. The rest they say is history.

Del Boy showing how to be cool – Only Fools and Horses from 1989…. comedy gold.

Black Adder explaining the perils of asking for directions in Wales. Blackadder The Third – 1987.

The Fall of Fatty, Twin Town. A film about my home town. Released 1997. This is so funny.

Hope you laughed, to be continued….

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Swansea

The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is set in the heart of Swansea, and is renowned as a centre of excellence for the visual arts. I have written two reviews of the gallery, both following it’s re-opening. The first review was for the Wales Arts Review in 2016, when it reopened after a multimillion pound restoration project, and the second for Wales’ Buzz Magazine on reopening following the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions last month.

Some history – Richard Glynn Vivian (1835-1910) was born in Swansea and travelled the world, collecting art from every country he visited. He left his entire collection for the enjoyment of the people of Swansea, and after he died, The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery was built to house his collection.

Three exhibitions are on show until Sun 29 Nov, programmed in partnership with Swansea Pride and LGBT History Month. The Gallery is stunning both inside and out, with the impressive atrium being home to Pansy. Created by Roy Efrat and Catrin Webster, Pansy is comprised of four new works which include oil paintings and video mapping. The work explores the complex meaning of the word ‘pansy’ – the meaning of the word pansy being something I had never thought about before – that’s art for you xx

The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is free to enter, all you need to do is book, and don’t forget your mask!

Click HERE for my review for Buzz, and HERE for all the info on the gallery. It really is a wonderful space.

The Palace Theatre is finally Saved from Rack and Ruin.

Great news! Swansea Council has brought the 132-year-old Palace Theatre back home – the Council acquired the theatre early this year and the theatre is set to get a  £5 million redevelopment. 

Boarding has already gone up and inspections are being carried out by engineers from Swansea Council

 The Palace is a Grade II listed theatre on the High Street, with the definition of a Grade II listed building being ‘one of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it.’ Occupying a distinctive triangular shape, it was in public use for over 100 years and has two steep balconies which curve round to the stage.  It is well documented that Charlie Chaplin has graced the stage here and the venue was the first place in Wales to show a silent picture. Amazingly it survived the Blitz of the Second World War, when much of Swansea City was destroyed during the ‘Three Night Blitz.’

More recently, Welsh legend Anthony Hopkins made his first stage appearance here in 1960 and Morecambe and Wise and Ken Dodd also performed here in the 60’s. The Palace Theatre finally became the Palace Nightclub in the 1970’s. The Palace was a very popular and successful gay nightclub for many years, and following on from this, many more successful club nights were hosted here. With the 2 balconies looking over the dancefloor, it really was a unique venue, and many people hold very special memories of nights spent here.  

The Palace finally shut its doors in 2006 and  was sold to a property company in London for around 300,000.

It has been in a dangerous state of disrepair ever since, with the vegetation taking over the building little by little. It has been painful to watch and the future looked bleak/ non-existent. As the years rolled by, we continued to watch the weeds grow out of this beautiful building. A victim of urban decay.

In 2015 Swansea Council made £75,000 ‘emergency funds’ available to the owners to carry out work on the theatre. Works included making the building watertight, removing the vegetation and the loose brickwork.  Advice was also provided to the owner on applying for a grant from the WG Vibrant and Visible Places programme. Unfortunately the emergency works that were carried out were not enough to stop the ongoing ingress of water. Indeed, one report stated that a million-pound investment ‘would not touch it’. The photo below was originally published in a Wales On Line article from February, found HERE

As concerns for it’s future continued to rise, A ‘Friends of the Palace Theatre’ facebook page was set up for those interested in saving the venue. It now has over 3000 members, and you can find it HERE  

Rock bottom was hit in 2018 when the theatre was described as being “at the hub of the city’s street sex trade”, after residents of High Street complained that they were no longer able to walk past the building in safety.   The future continued to look bleak for the Palace as failure to maintain the building led to more and more disrepair. Could it really get any worse for our beloved Palace?

The answer is yes, when in September 2019 the fire service were called out to the theatre amid reports of smoke at the building, emitting from the ground and fourth floor windows. Thankfully the fire was put out before the building burnt to the ground.

 Finally, following the fire, some great news…… Swansea Council announced its intention to purchase the building and it was brought back into the fold early this year.

A specialist design team, which includes structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, has now been appointed to preserve the building. The plan is to transform the building into offices with space provided for small scale performances and conferences, creative business and small to medium enterprises and start-ups.

Great news!

The community are being asked to share memories on the Facebook page and businesses are being asked for ideas on how they would run/manage the Palace.

Click HERE for the Facebook page and HERE to go to the Welsh Government page for business ideas and to record an interest.