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Whats on

Refugee Week 2016: Cardiff events

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There’s some strange synchronicity in this week being Refugee Week, given all the awful news of the past few days.

Refugee Week is what this post is about, but in case you haven’t read them, please read the following two pieces:

Also, in case you’re feeling all het up about all the terrible xenophobic trash so much of our media has been talking, a protest has been arranged for this Saturday:

Protest: after the referendum, defend all migrants – Saturday 25 June, 12 midday, Aneurin Bevan statue, Cardiff city centre

refugee_week_2016

Cardiff, an intercultural city?

Monday 20 June, Oasis Centre Cardiff (Facebook event)

Cardiff City of Sanctuary, in partnership with the Welsh Refugee Council and Oasis Cardiff, invites you to a celebration of Cardiff’s migrant communities and the local people who welcome them into the city.

An evening of lively performances and insightful discussion on the contribution of migrants to the city and how Cardiff can design effective local strategies for migrant integration.

Where: Oasis, 69b Splott Road, Cardiff, CF24 2BW
When : Monday 20th June,
Time : 6:00pm-8:00pm

All are welcome to attend, network and consider important questions for our local community:
• How do we achieve successful integration in local communities?
• What is happening in Cardiff to help migrant communities to reach their potential?
• Where next for the city? Where next for Wales?

A free dinner, cooked by local refugees and asylum seekers, will be provided for all attendees.

Migrants from all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Please contact Althea at the Welsh Refugee Council for more information: althea@wrc.wales

 

Photography Exhibition about Calais Refugee Camp

June 17 – 25, Cardiff MADE Gallery,  open Weds – Sat 10am – 6pm

Self-taught photographer and long term volunteer in the notorious “Jungle” Refugee Camp in Calais, Megan Howell, raises profound questions about the violence affecting the refugees who live in Calais through this exhibition.

The photography exhibition “Voices” challenges the use of such inflammatory tactics with a presentation of photographic footage shot largely during the most violent phase of evictions in February and March 2016. Megan spent three months in the camp during which time she twice witnessed thousands of its residents being internally displaced as a result of, often violent, evictions carried out by the local authorities. When describing her time working in the camp, Megan says that “the most shocking aspect was the violent and oppressive manner in which the refugees were treated by the authorities. In my opinion the tactics of the CRS are extremely heavy-handed and they frequently escalate benign situations unnecessarily to the point where the use of force is able to be legitimised.”

It is highly likely that the camp will one day be completely dismantled suggesting the possibility of repeated eviction processes. Highlighting the violent nature of these evictions is, therefore, an important part of the campaign to secure the rights and freedoms of the refugees living in Calais. The camp is under the near constant guard of the heavily armed French riot police – the CRS – who carry batons, rubber bullets and tear gas grenade launchers as well as keeping a water canon on standby.

“When Megan showed us her photographs and told us her story, we immediately recognised the potential for this exhibition to play a pivotal role in achieving aims of Refugee Week Wales 2016.” – Lindsay Wright – Refugee Week Wales Co-ordinator

 

Refugee Week celebrations at the Wales Millennium Centre

Join the WMC as they present work as part Refugee Week Wales, exploring the challenging and moving stories of migration and resilience in a rapidly changing world. The Centre has been working with Oasis Cardiff, WOW Women’s Film Club, Louise Osborn, young and aspiring performers, community volunteers and Music Without Borders Cardiff to bring together a collection of projects and showcases free for you to get involved in.

The Refugee Wales exhibition will be on throughout June and our film event and must see Weston Studio performance of Blackbird, will take place across the Refugee Week weekend of 25 and 26 June.

Refugee Week at the Wales Millennium Centre

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More info: Welsh Refugee Council – Facebook  /  Cardiff City of Sanctuary

And don’t forget to vote in the EU referendum on Thursday (the right answer is ‘Remain in Europe’, in case you weren’t sure).

Peas!

We Are Cardiff
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The City

There is love here

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Monet's San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk
Monet’s San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk

A brave, compassionate, intelligent woman was murdered for her beliefs yesterday. She spent her life fighting for change through democratic, peaceful debate – not violence.

We give a shit about the same issues that Jo Cox gave a shit about. Maybe this is part of why her assassination, which happened only 200 miles away from us, feels like a very personal attack on our country’s belief that change comes through discussion, not war.

But our democracy is more fragile than we think. When someone can end democratic discussion in such a simple and brutal way, the fundamentals of our world start to change. In the words of the Guardian, “the slide from civilisation to barbarism is shorter than we might like to imagine.”

Jo’s husband said that she would want people to “unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.” So today, in respect to a woman who had a go at the Russian ambassador over the terrible way his country behaved in Syria, we are going to spread some love to our 40,000 followers to try and counter the viciousness that’s gestated in recent debates.

Some of it’s political, some of it isn’t. But we believe in pluralism – that different political, religious and cultural beliefs can exist peacefully side by side.

We also believe that while things are a mess right now, the good outweighs the bad:

Refugees are being welcomed into our city

Millions of people are fleeing their home countries because of war and crisis, and our city is doing what it can to welcome them in beautiful and creative ways. Next week is Refugee Week, so there’s lots of stuff going on.

Writer and refugee Eric Ngalle Charles has written a book about what it means to be a refugee – caught between two worlds and condemned by both. He came to Cardiff on a Zimbabwean passport after fleeing persecution in his village and being illegally trafficked into Russia. The book, Asylum, features several refugees he has met through the creative writing classes he runs at the Welsh Refugee Centre in Splott.

Oxfam are running a campaign for people to write letters of welcome to newly-arrived refugees. You can write a long letter or a short note and post it in one of the special Nation of Sanctuary post boxes at any of 23 Oxfam shops across Wales. Or if you prefer you can write a welcoming email, and send it to oxfamcymru@oxfam.org.uk. To find your nearest Oxfam shops visit: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops

An exhibition of photos by Megan Howell opened yesterday. Through photographs taken in the Jungle refugee camp over a three-month period in early 2016, it explores the nature of the State, the role of violence and the characteristics of being a refugee in Calais. The exhibition runs until Sat. 25th June. There will be a special event talk on Sunday 19th June 3-5pm in the gallery cafe to discuss the nature of conflict, as well life in the camp by people who have witnessed it first hand.

And G39 and Trinity Centre are coming together to present an event focussing on creative use of texts as part of Refugee Week.  

The Oasis Centre support refugees and asylum seekers every day, providing classes, employability workshops, dance classes, a women’s only area, mother and toddler groups and support with letters and phone calls about asylum and refugee issues.

But there are still issues with the Welsh response to the refugee crisis.  While every council has committed to resettled refugees, only 78 have been welcomed so far. The fair proportion of the UK number would be 724. Get active and push for change if you believe that’s what is right.

Our politicians want to make our lives better

Yep, some of them are awful, some are odd, or detached, or thoughtless. But from personal, daily experience, the vast majority do the job because they want to make people’s lives better. The success of this relies on the engagement of the people they represent to push them on the issues that matter.

So, find out which politicians speak on the issues you care about, know how to tell them your thoughts, and get engaged. Democracy is our best tool against violence because we all have equal influence. If you’re angry and passionate, push for change through this peaceful process.

In Wales, we have elected representatives at multiple levels. Different representatives are responsible for deciding on particular issues.

For example, if you are concerned about the number of refugees that the UK is committing to resettle, you need to talk to your MP. But if you want to find out about how our hospitals are being run, follow what’s going on in the National Assembly for Wales. For local issues like potholes, the council is responsible. Our MEPs are elected by us to make decisions on EU law and funding like the money that gets spent on programmes and buildings in Cardiff.

You can contact your councillors, Assembly Members, Members of Parliament and the Lords, and Members of the European Parliament through the brilliant writetothem.com website.

You can even start a petition to the UK Parliament or National Assembly for Wales and get your voice heard that way.

Good people are doing good things for people in crisis

Earlier this week, I visited the Trussell Trust at their food bank in Barry. They provide emergency food for people with nowhere else to turn, and they do it without judgment, prejudice or conditionality.

Last year they provided food to 85,000 people in Wales. There are 19 food banks around Cardiff , where people donate food, which volunteers sort, store and then distribute it when someone is referred to them by a professional.

Food banks don’t just provide food though – they also providing a range of new services like money advice and Fuel Banks, helping people to break the cycle of poverty.

These incredible organisations are supporting people in our own communities who don’t have a safety net. They do it for free, and with love.

We celebrate magical, mischievous, creative people like Roald Dahl

Cardiff will soon be transformed for the centenary of one of its most well-known sons, Roald Dahl. As well as being one of our best storytellers, Dahl repeatedly experienced tragedy and pain during his life. He saw the pointlessness of violence and war and chose to use his voice to lighten the world, instead of darkening it.

He was also outspoken and political; he refused an honour from the Queen and spoke about the absurdity of the diplomatic service (he famously said “I’d just come from the war. People were getting killed. I had been flying around, seeing horrible things. Now, almost instantly, I found myself in the middle of a pre-war cocktail party in America”).

In September, the city will be taken over and transformed into a place where the laws of physics and civic predictability give way to the laws of magic, mischief and the unexpected.

Wales Millennium Centre and National Theatre Wales are calling out to the people of Cardiff, Wales and Britain to take part. 

They’re seeking 6000 performers for this landmark celebration, needing 2,000 choristers, 1,000 dancers, 50 Morris Minor drivers, 40 bald men, 13 magicians, four brass bands, three excavator drivers, a Spitfire pilot, firemen, circus artists, aerialists, rock climbers, grandparents, children and a performing mouse.

To take part in this two-day spectacular, visit www.cityoftheunexpected.wales and register your interest.

Our city takes pride in its jumble of different people

Following the barbarism of the events in Orlando, our city stood with pride of our LBTG community. We’re proud that our city crossed political, cultural and religious lines to condemn a brutal act.  And in April our city stood up to say that terrorism can’t divide people after recent attacks. We stand with pride to remember our wars. And we marched with pride to welcome refugees to our city.

People of Cardiff are proud to stand up for what they believe, because there is love here.

See? There is so much more love than hate. So much more to celebrate than mourn. “So much more that unites us than divides us.”

Big love from Hana and Helia, the We Are Cardiff Joy Monkeys xxx

PS. The featured image for this post is Monet’s San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk, which hangs in the National Museum Wales – isn’t it beautiful?

The City

6 reasons why Cardiff needs the EU

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We don’t get political very often over here at We Are Cardiff. But with the total fucking omnishambles of the latest EU debates, and all the misinformation being bandied around by the big media outlets, we thought we’d stick our oar in.

Some people think that the UK would have more money if we left the EU. But we think that financial support and opportunities available to people in Cardiff as a result of being in EU (some direct but many indirect) is a net benefit to the city by miles.

When you’re deciding how to vote on 23 June, bear some things in mind:

  • Some programmes are funded by the EU but badly managed/delivered by the UK government, Welsh government or local councils – don’t blame the EU for a local political issue;
  • Recent research has estimated that Wales’ net benefit from the EU budget is around £79 per head;
  • Wales doesn’t fully exploit the opportunities available to it through the EU – the conclusion of an Assembly committee inquiry – there’s so much more to gain;
  • Don’t underestimate the value of the EU to your everyday life; just because there isn’t an EU logo on it, doesn’t mean it hasn’t contributed in some way;
  • It’s massive, it’s complex and it has flaws – but spend some time considering whether it’s worth throwing the baby out with the bathwater before you vote to leave, or not to vote at all.

To help you decide, we thought that we’d try and illustrate how Cardiff as a city has benefitted from the EU through some specific examples, from life-saving cancer research to job creation, and from arts funding to regeneration:

  1. Our arts scene is more vibrant

Chapter Arts Centre is one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic arts centres. And it couldn’t offer everything it does without EU funding. It gets regular funding  from the EU for its activities, specific cultural funding for dance, it’s a member of the EU-supported Europa cinemas network.

The incredible Welsh TV drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll wouldn’t have been made without EU funding. Fiction Factory Films, based in Cardiff Bay, received development funding of €45,000 during script development, and then €500,000 under the television broadcast scheme for the production of the first series.

  1. The learning and work opportunities available to people in Cardiff are broader

Jobs Growth Wales was funded with £25million of EU money, and helped create nearly 2,500 jobs in Cardiff.  And 2,130 people from Cardiff have benefited from an EU-funded apprenticeship.

The ERASMUS+ exchange programme allows students and staff of Cardiff universities to study at European universities. It’s a fantastic opportunity that helps students improve their chances of employment. Over 300 Cardiff University students went on ERASMUS exchange in 2013-14.

Projects such as the 20 Twenty Leadership Programme (sponsored by Cardiff Met) helped leaders of small and medium sized businesses improve productivity, adaptability and diversity. The gender equality organization Chwarae Teg has been supporting women to advance their careers in Cardiff with the help of EU funds for years.

  1. Our research and innovation are world-leading and saves lives

 Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre was opened by the Queen last week. It has been called the “most significant advance in brain imaging in Europe in the last 10 years”.

The Maindy Park building brings together four hi-tech scanners under one roof. One of them, described as the “Hubble space telescope of neuroscience”, and is the first outside the United States. The centre is the biggest of its kind in Europe and one of the best equipped in the world. The £44 million facility received £4.5million of its funding from the EU.

Through the EU’s Horizon 2020 support, TrakCel Ltd in Cardiff is working with international partners to develop cell therapy technology that could change the way cancer is treated. It received £315,000 from the EU.

 Cardiff Metropolitan University has seen a significant increase in bidding activity for European funding, which supports world-leading research and development in design, advanced materials and sustainability. 

  1. Our tourism is boosted, and our environment is protected

The Wales Coastal Path – a 870 mile footpath that runs through Cardiff and around the whole of Wales-  was supported by £3.9 million of EU funds over three years. We are the first country in the world to provide such a path, and the Lonely Planet voted our coastline the best on earth.

EU funds help our city to reduce dependency on fossil fuel. Research and development into low carbon energy by the Low Carbon Research Institute, made up of Welsh universities (including Cardiff), has been funded by various EU schemes.

The National Cycle Network in Wales has received EU funding to bring new routes to people in Cardiff. 1,200 wonderful miles of the Network carried 29 million walking and cycling trips in 2011 alone.

  1. Our businesses are growing

The European Investment Bank recently confirmed £110 million of funding for the Cardiff Energy Recovery Facility. The ERF treats waste from local authorities and local businesses and diverts at least 95% of non-recyclable waste in South Wales away from landfill and generates 30MW of electricity for the national grid, enough to power around 50,000 households.

Other Cardiff companies such as Cleartech Live and Net Consulting also received funding through Finance Wales from the EU.

The Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services (CEMAS) at the University of South Wales EU funds. It supported small and medium sized businesses by helping them to develop, test and find a route to market for their mobile application products.

The Wales Co-operative Centre is not-for-profit co-operative development agency, which received nearly £1million of EU funds in 2014 to support social enterprises. Our project the We Are Cardiff Press received advice and support from the Centre to establish a non-profit publishing house to showcase writing and art in Cardiff.

  1. Our poorest communities are supported and regenerated

 The Butetown Regneration Scheme received £2 million of EU funds. It provided: a youth centre on Dumballs Road, a new Community Centre on the site of the existing centre on Canal Park, Butetown Employment and Training Centre (BEST), improvements to the Christina Street area and Better Buildings For Butetown Grant Scheme.

Cardiff Council’s EU-funded NOVUS scheme has helped over 700 unemployed people, particularly parents, back into work or learning. New programmes such as Comunities4Work, Parents, Childcare and Employment (PACE) and Healthy Working Wales have all had funding approved, and will help people in Cardiff get jobs, more money and better skills.

 

Not mentioned here are the rights of workers, the number of skilled EU citizens that we rely on in our hospitals (and everywhere else), the increased opportunities for trade,  safety and peace, travel, equality and non-discrimination, political clout around the world……

Jeez, that’s a whole other article.

Get engaged, people of Cardiff! You have the chance to vote on the most important political and economic decision of our lifetime – make it count, be informed.

 

*** We’ve tried our very best to research this piece in depth but if you spot any errors, or you want to argue with our assertions, just write a comment below.
As always, we are open to reasonable debate, just don’t be a dick and shout at us without basis. ***

Whats on

Green Man 2016 – line up frenzy!

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Belle and Sebastian? Laura Marling??

To be honest, you had me at White Denim.

Green Man 2016 line up poster

YES it’s coming round to that time again … and it’s nearly time for Green Man, one of THE BEST FESTIVALS IN THE WORLD!

That’s just our two cents. To get an idea of the joys of Green Man, watch our videos from 2015:

We reviewed the festival in 2014 and profiled festival goers in 2014 (We Are Green Man 2014) and 2015 (We Are Green Man 2015).

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If you’re going to the festival, we highly recommend booking yourself into one of the hot tubs. It’s a really lovely way to spend a couple of hours! See Green Man Nature Nurture for more details.

Buy Green Man tickets NOW NOW NOW

 

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Whats on

Festival of Voice – our guide to the venues!

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So, unless you’ve been under a rock for the past few months, you will know that there’s a new, fabulous music festival heading for Cardiff, bringing oodles of WORLD RENOWNED artists and mixing them up with all sorts of awesome Welsh talent.

festival_of_voice_banner_on_wmcI’m talking about the Festival of Voice, people! The line up is wonderful:

Charlotte Church, Bryn Terfel, Meilyr Jones, Rufus Wainwright, John Cale, John Grant, Ben Folds, Juliet Greco, Mariza, Laura Mvula, Ronnie Spector, Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares, Femi Kuti, Mbongwana Star, Hugh Masekela, Juliet Kelly, Sianed Jones, Jamie Woon, Flavia Coelho, Scritti Politti and Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Lera Lynn, Woman’s Hour, yMusic, Fatima, House Gospel Choir, Candi Staton, Anna Calvi, The Hot Sardines, Keaton Henson, Rustavi Voices of Georgia, Anne Carrere and Amartuvshin Enkhbat.

And if you need further proof of their excellent judgement and taste, they asked me to write the venue guide, which is very natty, if I do say so myself.

Festival of Voice: venue guide

Also, excitingly, we’ve got some tickets to give away to Festival of Voice shows! Keep your ears peeled, people (yes that’s a thing …)

 

Peas!

WAC
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The Arts, Whats on

Our first ever Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival: 20-25 June

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Well HOW exciting! This June we welcome the first EVER Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival to the city.

Following in the footsteps of Edinburgh, Brighton, and London, Cardiff will enjoy an annual shot of affordable theatrical delight from both new and established theatre companies, held in a range of local venues.

cardiff_fringe_theatre_festival_logo

Here’s what the Festival says about itself:

Cardiff’s Fringe Festival was borne from a desire to build on the gathering momentum of performing arts culture in Cardiff, and allow it to reach a self-sustaining critical mass. In order to draw the people of Cardiff to the theatre in larger numbers than a single production might achieve, the festival will present an affordable programme that caters to a wide range of tastes. It encourages the use of non-theatrical venues in an attempt to change the public’s perception of “going to the theatre”.

The festival will prioritise maximum accessibility for audiences and companies alike, promoting an inclusive and nurturing environment where audiences can experience work from both the rawest and most sophisticated ends of the theatrical spectrum. Artists at different stages of their career will be able to mix and learn from each other, and will not be exposed to the financial risk associated with venue hire. Venues will benefit from the publicity and footfall the festival will bring.

This unique collaboration across venues and companies will operate within a financially sustainable model that will bring both cultural enrichment and revenue to the city.

Sounds great, right? If you want to get involved, either pick up tickets for the so-far announced shows, the launch party or the post-festival closing party!

To buy tickets for the announced shows, see the Fringe Tickets page

Cardiff Fringe Theatre Festival (CFTF) website

CFTF Facebook page

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We Are Cardiff Productions

Should I move to Cardiff?

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UPDATED! As this piece is one of our most read, we’ll keep updating the main details, costs and facts. Last updated – January 2020.

I got an email recently from someone who had recently discovered the blog. I’ll call her Bethan. She sent in this very lovely email:

Over the past five or so years have fallen in love with Cardiff on my trips to visit. Following a trip this weekend I found your blog on my way back to London.

I’ve lived in London for the best part of the decade and am getting fed up with no money and a rubbish quality of life. Apologies for the slightly random email but I just wondered if you thought someone Londonified but loves Cardiff would be happy if they moved there? Or any challenges or tips you have?

My gut instinct is that I’d be very happy there as there’s so much on offer but in a much more friendly and welcoming place where you’re not bankrupted when you leave the house! Any thoughts etc would be greatly appreciated

Are you feeling like Bethan? Struggling in London, underpaid, bummed out, in need of fresh air, cheaper pints, in a city you can walk across? Then why not consider a move to Cardiff.

Here’s what I sent back to her.

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Hi Bethan!

If you’re getting fed up with being broke and having a rubbish quality of life, then I highly recommend Cardiff to you. I mean, I don’t know anything about you really, other than you have a friend in Caerphilly and you live in London, but I’m presuming you have a job you don’t mind much about leaving, and that you’re into the sort of thing we write about on We Are Cardiff, so that’s mostly what I’ve based this answer on.

YOUR QUESTIONS

I’m going to run through some reasons why Cardiff is awesome now. Also if you don’t believe me, there are STATS to support this, like the fact that the population of the city is currently growing at a faster rate than any UK city. People are moving here. Our secret is getting out!

MONEY

Cardiff has a cheap cost of living for a capital city. It’s much easier to get by on a low salary here than somewhere in London – there are lots of house shares (particularly in Roath, Splott and Canton) where you can find a double room in a beautiful old Victorian terrace (very common type of Cardiff house) with like-minded people from £300 a month to £800 a month (including bills). I did a quick search on SpareRoom using the CF24 postcode (which covers Roath – a popular, artsy location near the university and close to town) just to sense check my figures and as you can see from this Cardiff room search on SpareRoom, there are loads of options within that price range.

There was a survey published recently that gave some actual figures which back up my abstract wafflings (I’ve included it in the links below – NOTE THESE FIGURES ARE FROM 2016, I AM SEARCHING FOR UPDATED ONES!)

  • Average weekly household spend of £384.60 compared to a UK average of £426.30;
  • Disposable income per head stands at £16,520, which is below the UK average of £17,559 but up 3 per cent on 2014 levels;
  • House prices are 6.6 times the value of salaries compared to a UK average of 8.8.

So! There you go on the stats. That’s enough of that.

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QUALITY OF LIFE

Well, I suppose it all depends on what you mean by quality of life, but going back to stats again, Cardiff achieved a life satisfaction score of 7.53 out of 10 (ONS data). From a completely subjective position, what that means for me is the following things (which you will see reflected throughout the We Are Cardiff content!):

  • varied nightlife (a whole bunch of pubs, clubs, bars, pop-up restaurants etc)
  • lots of artsy stuff going on (we’ve got the Welsh National Opera here, NoFit State Circus are based here, we have touring musicals and theatre on a weekly basis, there are loads of smaller scale cabaret type events all the time, circus skills workshops, hula hoop classes, open mics, writer’s groups, art exhibitions).
  • farmers markets, community gardens, a growing sustainability / green interest community
  • LOADS OF GREEN SPACES, like EVERYWHERE. The centre of town pivots around the castle and behind it, the endless green swathes of Bute Park. Nearly every neighbourhood has some super lovely park nearby
  • it’s 20-30 minutes drive to the gorgeous Brecon Beacons (MOUNTAINS!!!)
  • it’s zero minutes drive to the coast (WE ARE ON THE COAST!!!!)
  • there are castles everywhere (castle fact: Wales is actually the country in the world with the most castles – built and ruined)
  • if you like running, we have an awesome Park Run around Bute Park and Grangemoor Parks on the weekend
  • if you like cycling, the Taf Trail runs all the way from Cardiff to the source of the river Taf up in Merthyr Tydfil – you can take your bike up there on the train and cycle all the way back, stopping in pubs on the way, it is THE BEST
  • it’s very small so easy to get around on foot and bike
  • also because it’s small it’s to find  things you’re interested in and meet people / get involved in things
  • also because it’s small you bump into your friends! all the time! it’s lovely!
  • Bristol is only an hour on the train – loads of gigs and great nightlife going on there
  • if you like roller derby, we have one of the top women’s teams (go Tiger Bay Brawlers!)
  • I am in no way into sports (like, not at all) but we have LOADS of massive sports events here. I should really appreciate this more.

DRAWBACKS
I don’t think this would be a reasonable email if I didn’t also tell you about some of the drawbacks of living here.

  • the smallness can be stifling for some people. I haven’t really experienced this, I think if you grow up here it’s more of a thing than if you move here from somewhere else (I have been informed by locally born and raised friends that on Tinder that you can run out of people to swipe right!)
  • we often get overlooked for gigs because Bristol is just an easier option, especially if bands are continuing north or the other way on to London. However, Bristol is easily visited in an evening (see above).
  • you might suddenly develop massive smugness at how much better your life is here and become unbearable to all your other friends. this is normal and hopefully should die down at some point (!)

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LINKS

There have been countless reports and surveys released over the past year or so that frequently name Cardiff as the best city to live in (or one of) in Europe. I’ve included below a list of the most recent ones that might be of interest to you:

OTHER PEOPLES’ EXPERIENCES
I’m not sure how much of We Are Cardiff you’ve looked through (there are, I just realised, over 700 posts on there now!!) but there are a couple of people who have written pen portraits of themselves and have similar pasts to you (ie they’ve come from other places and now live in Cardiff)

PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED FROM LONDON TO CARDIFF!

PEOPLE WHO’VE MOVED FROM OTHER PLACES TO CARDIFF

Now then – this next story is actually completely the other way round – it’s written by a guy who is from Cardiff but moved to London during the ‘bleak’ 90s, but then came across We Are Cardiff and wrote a blog post about it based on what he remembered of Cardiff as a youngster and his feelings about it now, and also a bit about his current life in London. I thought it was really fascinating reading and beautifully written which is why I posted about it:James – ‘It’s where you’re between’

Generally speaking to get what ‘the people’ are saying about Cardiff, flick through the ‘People‘ section on the website. Also I’d like to say I don’t edit anything for content – people are free to write what they want, I don’t in anyway force them to be positive about Cardiff, and again for balance I’ll point you to Lee’s post.

I have lived in loads of different places, but love Cardiff to pieces. It’s really friendly, there’s plenty of variety of nights out and places to eat and communities to join and things to do – if you’re into the alternative vibe, you’ll find lots of that here.

Also I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. It was set up a few years back as a response to the mass of negative news reports we were seeing about Cardiff in the mass media (this was around 2010). Back then it was mostly pen portraits about Cardiff written by people that we knew – today obviously it’s a very different thing, but the aim of the blog is to showcase the variety of amazing things that go on here, and still interview people involved in the local scene. So it’s fabulous that you found it, and I’m pleased it’s making you consider a change!

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If you want to add your comments to anyone thinking about moving to Cardiff, please do so below!

All photos in this article by Doug Nicholls

The City

Marconi’s first wireless message transmitted over sea, from Flat Holm to Lavernock Point

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Today in 1897, 22 year old Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi successfully transmitted the first ever wireless messages to go over the sea, from Flat Holm to Lavernock Point.

The morse slip, that read “Are you ready?”, was sent on 13 May 1897, and signed by Marconi and his assistant, George Kemp.

They were accompanied by William Preece, Chief Engineer of the General Post Office who was also a Welshman.

Below is a photograph showing British Post Office engineers inspecting Marconi’s wireless telegraphy equipment, during a demonstration on Flat Holm island. Pretty neat, eh?

British Post Office engineers inspect Marconi's wireless telegraphy equipment

Happy anniversary, birth of radio telecommunications!

And to think it happened right on our doorstep. Why don’t you go learn some more about Flat Holm island, while we’re chatting about it?

Flat Holm and Steep Holm

(photo by Noel Reynolds)

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Whats on

Global Cannabis March 2016 – in pictures

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On May 7 in Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organised their sixth annual march through the city centre, in protest against the prohibition of cannabis for medical and recreational use.

We sent photographer Daniel Damaschin along to document the day.

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff, Wales, May 7, 2016: Cardiff CSC (Cannabis Social Club) organises the 6th Annual March through City Centre, in protest against the prohibition of Cannabis. Those participating are demanding the legalisation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. © Daniel Damaschin

All photos by Daniel Damaschin

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The Arts, Whats on

Scratch This! Cardiff scratch night launches, looking for acts …

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Scratch This! call for Artists

Roll up, Roll up! Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the greatest show on earth!

Scratch This! is a new and exciting Scratch Platform for artists, musicians and performers of all genres and skills. Our aim is to give opportunity for new and established artists to present and try out new pieces of work and be given opportunity to receive feedback from the audience in a safe and informal way.

Our first Scratch This night will be on Saturday 11th June 2016 at Cardiff Speaker Hire’s warehouse, just off Dumballs Road in Cardiff, a short walk from the city centre. The show will be presented as a walkabout/installation sideshow alley followed by a cabaret following the theme of SIDESHOW. The evening will finish with a bit of a party giving the artists a chance to meet the audience and obtain feedback.

We are looking for artists of all genres to apply to be part of our first Scratch This event. Whatever your skill – be it in performance art or otherwise we’d be delighted to hear from you. We are on the lookout for: Circus performers (ground based and aerial), artists and installation artists, musicians, comedy/spoken word, walkabout, burlesque, alternative acts and more!

Your act just needs to fit (somehow!) into our theme of Sideshow Alley and/or sideshow.

PLEASE NOTE – We do have the ability to rig aerial etc and will have experienced riggers to hand, however if your act is an aerial act or a dangerous act we ask that you provide your own apparatus/equipment and that you also send proof of your insurance.

For more information email: erniesparkles@hotmail.com

Deadline for application is midnight on Friday 13 May. APPLY NOW!

Join the Scratch This! Facebook page

Scratch_This

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Out of Cardiff

We Are Cardiff does Machynlleth Comedy Fest 2016

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Every year (at least for the past seven years), the sleepy, teeny-tiny town of Machynlleth gets taken over on the May Day bank holiday with Mach Comedy Festival. It’s a weekend of comedy, theatre, music and performance (mostly comedy) in the heart of Wales, and a really lovely weekend getaway.

Here’s the festie’s own blurb about themselves:

“When we first talked about starting Machynlleth Comedy Festival above of all we wanted to create somewhere where people came to have fun, and get away from it all, whether this be the attendees, the comedians or the festival team. It was all about taking a different approach with an aim of creating a spirit of experimentation and intimacy. We’re passionate about the thrill of seeing live comedy in intimate places, and the glorious, picturesque and enchanting town of Machynlleth gave us a wealth of interesting and unique performance spaces in which to do this.”

There was a BBC Radio 4 programme about Mach, with Henry and Josh Widdicombe, broadcast a couple of weeks ago. You can hear that here: Radio 4 at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival with Elis James

This year, we went along and caught some brilliant stuff from: Goose, Bridget Christie, Richard Gadd, Joe Lycett, George Orange, Stuart Goldsmith, Spencer Jones, Aisling Bea, Mike Bubbins, Mary Bijou Cabaret, Sparkles Hoop Troop, and on and on and on.

Best parts of the weekend? Nick Helm doing an impression of Josh Widdicombe (who couldn’t make the festival because he was recording a sitcom in London). Also Ed Gamble comparing the showcase that wouldn’t end.

No spoilers – go see their Edinburgh shows! But in the meantime, here’s our photo essay from this year:

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It was a grand old weekend. Check it out for next year!

Machynlleth Comedy Festival website

@machcomedyfest

Mach Comedy Fest Facebook

Mach Comedy Instagram

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The Arts, Whats on

Zombie sailors … scorched decks … ghost ships in Cardiff on Sunday 15 May …

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On May 15, a ghost ship – replete with freshly married couple and zombie sailors – will be docked in Cardiff Bay … all inspired by Samuel Coleridge’s poetic monolith, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Does the title ring a faint bell? You probably studied this back in school at some point, and can’t really remember what goes on. Know what though? Doesn’t matter. This year the Coleridge in Wales Festival is bringing Coleridge back to life, here in Wales, and you need to get involved!

Oh, and did I mention ZOMBIE DECKHANDS? DOOMED LOVERS? A proper old school historic sailing ship??

coleridgeinwales

A quick Q&A:

Who’s Coleridge?

Old school English poet/writer dude. Wrote in the late 1700/early 1800s. Pretty much considered part of the canon of British literature. That’s the vibe.

Why Wales?

In 1794, Coleridge quit university and decided to walk across Wales instead. Wise man. The landscape and people are credited as being massive influences on all his work.

Still with me? Fancy helping with some wedding prep and then hanging out on a ghost ship? Here are the details about the day:

An historic sailing ship is coming into Cardiff Bay. On board is an old sailor: the Ancient Mariner. He will come ashore. A wedding is about to happen. There will be a bride preparing, a groom waiting and wedding guests getting ready. The Ancient Mariner interrupts the wedding preparations. He takes the guest on a journey…

Come along dressed as if you were going to a wedding. Bring family & friends and enjoy the music, poetry and spectacle – that’s it!

 

from 10.45am – Music & poetry across Cardiff Bay at the Norwegian Church, The World of Boats Cafe (next to Dr Who Experience), Senedd Steps and Wales Millennium Centre
Come along to discover more about this compelling tale, adventure, spectacle and celebration. Coleridge’s poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner is one of the finest poems in the English language and it begins with preparations for a wedding – you, your family and friends are invited… wedding invitation

12.00 noon – Ship of the Ancient Mariner departs Penarth Marina
The ship will be dressed by students from Cardiff Met University and at midday she sails from Penarth Marina heading for Cardiff Bay.

– at the same time 20 young people set out to walk across the Cardiff Barrage to Cardiff Bay representing 200 sailors who die in the poem because the Ancient Mariner unthinkingly destroys a living thing, the albatross.

12.30pm – Ship arrives in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay
See the medieval sailing ship sailed by a ghost crew.
Witness the Ancient Mariner figure coming ashore in Mermaid Quay.

12.50 pm – Ancient Mariner figure arrives at the Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay
Coleridge’s great poem begins with a wedding guest being stopped by the Ancient Mariner. In the Cardiff Bay celebrations the wedding groom’s party is represented by members of The Sanctuary project from Newport. The bride is represented by Cornish bard, Welsh singer and artist Ani Saunders and friends. Come along as if dressed for a wedding… wedding invitation

2.50 pm – Music and words on the steps of The Senedd, National Assembly for Wales

1.30pm: Public party at the Wales Millennium Centre
Call into to hear leading Welsh musicians as the Wales Millennium Centre hosts a party to celebrate the launch of the Coleridge in Wales festival.

2.50pm – Ancient Mariner leaves for the National Museum
The figure of The Ancient Mariner leaves Cardiff Bay by small boat, travelling up the River Taf, on a short journey to the National Museum of Wales, Park Place, Cardiff.
At this time of day there are regular buses from the Millennium Centre to the Museum, and trains from Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Queen Street for anyone wishing to travel to see the Ancient Mariner figure at the National Museum.

3.45pm: Ancient Mariner at the National Museum of Wales
The Ancient Mariner figure arrives with the wedding party at the National Museum of Wales, Park Place to see the newly displayed engravings of Rime of the Ancient Mariner by major artist David Jones.

More about Coleridge in Wales:

In Wales Coleridge began for the first time to engage passionately with the wildness of nature. The tour confirmed his career as an artist. Famous lines from Rime of the Ancient Mariner were inspired by climbing on a hot day the mountain Penmaenmawr in North Wales.  Caves and landscape in his great poem Kubla Khan are linked to Devil’s Bridge near Aberystwyth.

Coleridge in Wales website

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