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Talk to Coco presents five queer creatives breaking barriers and sparking change. Discover their inspiring work in art, beauty, activism, and storytelling.

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It’s Pride Month! The month where we get to celebrate and show love to some amazing queer creatives. It all started back in the 1960s with the Gay Liberation Movement in New York City, and now it’s grown into a month-long festival that embraces the fabulousness and diversity within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

But let’s remember that Pride Month is about more than just rainbow flags and corporations jumping on the bandwagon. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on the real challenges and issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people every single day. That’s why we’re stepping up to give a platform to queer creatives and artists who are making a difference.

To curate this list, we’ve teamed up with Talk to Coco, a non-binary queer creative and mental health speaker. Together, we’ve handpicked five LGBTQIA+ artists who deserve your attention and support. These individuals are using their talents to inspire and uplift the community, so get ready to show them some love!

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Ashton Attz (@attzs_)
Painter + Illustrator

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Meet Ashton Attz. Brilliant black painter and illustrator based in London. Ashton’s work knows no limits and has caught the attention of big brands like Converse, Adidas Originals, Costa, and Ralph Lauren. Their bold and colourful art celebrates everyday moments and features diverse characters set in a vibrant rainbow utopia. Ashton’s art is all about queer visibility, equity, positivity, and mental health, and they’re spreading that message far and wide.

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Scott McGlynn (@scottmcglynnofficial)

Actor + podcast host + activist + beauty guru

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Talented actor, beauty guru, and the host of Celebrity Skin Talk. Hailing from Cardiff, Scott is on a mission to promote healthy and affordable skincare for everyone, breaking down gender barriers along the way. In 2022 he convinced Superdrug to stock makeup in the men’s aisles, smashing the stigma men face when buying cosmetics. Beyond his campaigning, Scott hosts an IGTV show where he dives in on all things beauty and skin with celebrity guests. And guess what? Scott is about to make his big-screen debut in a feature film. Talk about a rising star!

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K Bailey Obazee (@drybabe)

Creative director + DJ

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Dubbed London’s coolest librarian, K Bailey Obazee, also known as DryBaby, is a creative director, DJ, and founder of PRIM, a library and digital platform dedicated to celebrating black queer stories. Their passion for promoting black and African writers led to the creation of the queer Black book club called Okha. Collaborating with Burberry and Now Gallery, K Bailey is bringing the joy of reading and storytelling back to the community.

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Ro and Nana
(@ro.frimpong + @notnanalise)

Podcast hosts

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The dynamic duo behind the Two Twos Podcast, “the podcast we ALL needed so bad” according to Coco. These London-based, black queer women are making us laugh and sharing their real-life stories. With over 150 episodes released, their podcast covers topics like sexuality, starting families, being gay and Muslim, and so much more. Ro and Nana are bridging the gap between different communities, creating understanding and laughter along the way.

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Mari (@Mythsntits)

Illustrator + painter

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A Welsh queer illustrator based in Cardiff. Mari’s mission is to celebrate queerness in Welsh culture by shining a light on the forgotten figures of mythology and history. Through colorful and humorous illustrations, Mari brings the current queer scene of Wales to life, captivating us with prints, tattoo flashes, and t-shirts that carry a powerful message.

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Coco Reece (@talktococo)

writer + poet + activist + non-binary creative

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And let’s not forget the person who helped us curate this incredible list, Coco Reece. Coco is a black, queer, non-binary, neurodivergent artist and the founder of Talk to Coco, a safe space for people to talk, share their experiences, be heard, and have their feelings and thoughts acknowledged. Through their work, Coco strives to battle stigmas and stereotypes, championing differences and superpowers. Collaborating with brands such as Amazon, Yahoo and Jukebox Collective to advocate for self-love, self-acceptance and mental health.

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So there you have it! These SIX creatives are making waves in their respective fields, and they deserve all the love and support we can give. Let’s celebrate their contributions and continue to uplift queer voices during this Pride Month and beyond.

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This weekend, all eyes are on Wrexham as the 12th edition of Focus Wales 2023 takes place. From 4th to 6th May, the festival will feature a variety of workshops, music panels, art events, and even a film festival. With over 250 artists performing in more than 20 venues throughout the city, this festival is one of the top gatherings in the music industry today. Attendees can expect to see the best in Welsh music as well as talented artists from around the world. 

To help you make the most of your experience, we’ve curated a list of ten Welsh and Wales-based artists we recommend seeing live.

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Skunkadelic

Skunkadelic, also known as Tumi Williams, is an emcee, artist, and music educator based in Cardiff, making significant contributions to the UK hip-hop scene. With a deep, recognizable voice and skilful lyricism, Skunkadelic creates a unique multi-genre experience, blending modern soul and jazz (think The Roots and Erykah Badu) with the sounds of his Nigerian heritage, including Fela Kuti and Tony Allen. 

In addition to his solo performances, Tumi leads the funk hip-hop 9-piece collective Afro Cluster, who will also perform this weekend.

Skunkadelic | Thursday May 4th | 9:30 pm | Penny Black I Room 1
Afro Cluster | Saturday May 6th | 12:00 am | The Rockin' Chair

 

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Juice Menace

Juice Menace is a talented female rapper from Cardiff who is making a name for herself in the UK scene. She has released several impressive singles, including “Sundown,” “No Speaking,” and her latest release, “Pink Notes.” Her versatile flow, clever lyrics, and flawless performances have caught the attention of many fans. As a result, she has a steadily growing fanbase who support her every move.

 

Friday May 5th | 10:20 pm | Penny Black | Room 1
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Elina Lee

Elina Lee is a talented singer-songwriter based in Cardiff who is quickly gaining a following at just 25 years old. Her unique sound blends lo-fi, R&B, and mainstream pop, with musical inspiration from artists like Majid and Snoh Aalegra. Don’t miss the chance to see Elina perform this weekend.

 


Friday May 5th | 8:20 pm | Penny Black | Room 2
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N’famady Kouyate

N’famady Kouyaté is a Cardiff-based Guinean musician. The multi-instrumental artist has wowed audiences across the UK with his modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs and rhythms fused with Western jazz, pop, indie, and funk influences. His multi-instrumental performances are guaranteed to create incredible atmospheres and vibrations wherever he goes, charming audiences with his infectious enthusiasm and joy.

Saturday May 6th | 10:00 pm | Ty Pawb Flexible Space
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Noah Bouchard

Noah Bouchard is a talented 25-year-old alternative hip-hop artist originally from Cardiff, Wales, who currently resides in East London. Noah is renowned for his emotionally charged and introspective music, which is characterised by its poignant lyrics. Over the past two years, Noah has released several independent singles, such as Pantomime, which have garnered him a loyal fan base and introduced his unique sound to a wider audience.

Friday May 5th | 6:15 pm | Old No.7
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Sage Todz

Sage is a bilingual musician specialising in Welsh rap, hip-hop, and R&B. He is based in North Wales and began releasing music in 2020. Over the past few years, Sage has been involved in numerous exciting music collaborations. His music is a unique blend of English and Welsh language, which has made him a prominent figure in the UK’s drill music scene.

Friday May 5th | 9:50 pm | Penny Black | Room 2
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Aduja

Adjua is an alt-R&B vocalist and guitarist with Welsh and Ghanaian roots. Since 2021, she has been creating beautiful music that draws inspiration from her life experiences and spirituality. Her debut EP, “Self,” is now available on all platforms. Adjua writes and produces her own music, which showcases her dreamy voice and soulful style. If you get the chance to watch her live, you’ll be transported by her music this weekend.

Saturday May 6th | 4:00 pm | Old No.7
Saturday May 6th | 8:30 pm | The Royal Oak
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Mace The Great

Mace The Great is a highly influential figure in the Welsh Grime and hip-hop scene. He was awarded the Triskel Award at the Welsh Music Prize 2020, and was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize 2021. Mace was also selected as the first Welsh Mobo artist to perform and showcase at SXSW 2022. He is deeply connected to his hometown community of Cardiff, as demonstrated in his recent album “SplottWorld”, which pays tribute to his roots. With his extensive career and numerous collaborations, Mace is poised for a global takeover. Don’t miss out on his incredible setlist this weekend.

Saturday May 6th | 3:00 pm | Old No.7
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We met up with Patrik Gabco to talk about his performance piece, Turn Off Your TV, a movement piece commissioned for the BBC 100 exhibition at the Museum of Wales. Patrik is a movement artist, model and actor, and has a long history with the Jukebox Collective. 

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“Starting off as a student with no experience, being in the academy, and now teaching in the Academy, that’s just levelling up I think.” 

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Patrik, who has been with Jukebox for over seven years, is a veteran Academy student and now guest tutor and professional creative. Having started with Jukebox back in 2015, where he was first introduced to dance through the after-school programmes developed by Jukebox. After his successful audition, Patrik became a student in the Academy programme, where he trained for three years before becoming a young leader and then a dance tutor. During those three years, he received multidisciplinary training in dance, acting, poetry, and much more and was exposed to the world of being a full-time artist and creative.

Along the way, he developed his own signature movement style of popping and locking. Through movement, Patrik tells us he is able to express different emotions and aspects of his personality. An expression he would not have been able to unlock without the experience offered to him through the Jukebox Academy. 

Since graduating from the Academy, he has established himself as a creative to be reckoned with. Full-time model and actor, over the last year, he has been developing his own work whilst attending professional development opportunities such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a part of ACW’s Seeding for the future initiative. 

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“It shaped me. I gained experience and skill I didn’t know I had. I would never think of becoming a professional dancer.”

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At the end of 2022, with support from Jukebox Collective, he received the Museum’s Bloedd Fund to create and direct his first professional performance piece, ‘Turn off your TV’. Bloedd Amgueddfa Cymru is a fund created by Amgueddfa Cymru to support young emerging artists in Wales. 

Through movement, dance and poetry, Turn off your TV is an intimate performance delivered by Patrik, and his brother Lukas, which explores the role news plays in shaping our experience of the world, both in the past and present. It tells the story of the evolution of news over the years, and it challenges audiences to reflect on how our future might be shaped as well. “The show was inspired by what I was seeing. Like for example there is a war now, Ukraine, but there was also a war back then. So is racism, and there’s racism now. The years are so apart but it’s still here, and you can compare them.” An expression of Patrik’s hopes and dreams for humanity, he questions current global narratives and implores viewers to imagine a world where joyful news replaces tragedy and conflict. 

The piece took place in the BBC 100 exhibition at the Museum of Wales, with mentorship by Jukebox Collective Directors Liara Barussi and Lauren Patterson and renowned dancer Brooke Milliner. It was received with excellent feedback from the audiences and viewers who were able to attend the performance in person. With Patrik hoping, they walked away, inspired.

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“We need more love, more kindness and peace. That’s what’s needed.”

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Since then, Prague-born and Cardiff-based, Patrik has been focusing on building his acting career. Keeping himself busy with auditions and updating his professional profile, he says it’s challenging to find enough creative work in Cardiff. But he has plans to move to a larger city such as London and take his show on tour with him. 

Reflecting on his time in Jukebox, Patrik speaks with nostalgia and inspiration. “For me, Jukebox is a place where you get to achieve your goals and become a professional in whatever you want to do, whatever career you want to do, they will support you to achieve that goal.” Delivering guest dance sessions here and there and creative development classes in the Academy, he is moved by the new cohort of students and hopes to be able to collaborate with them on his next performance project.

It’s clear that his connection with Jukebox has shaped him to be the artist he is today and that he feels immense loyalty towards the collective, as well as a responsibility to take everything that he has learned and pass it down to the next generation of creatives. We ended our conversation with a few wise words of advice from the young artist. 

 

“If you think it’s not for you, just try it anyway, because you might fall in love with it, be good at it, and make a career out of it.”

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This International Women’s Day we celebrate inspiring creative Black British women. From textile design, and  hairstyling, to photography, and poetry. We take a look at five unique women who are renowned in their respective creative field.

All the women we celebrate today, mostly come from working class backgrounds, and have overcome systemic barriers such as gender discrimination and racism. Through their incredible work and unique perspective, they each explore and highlight the experience of British people of African and Caribbean descent.

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Althea McNish (1924 – 2020) | Textile Designer

Born in Trinidad, McNish became one of the first British textile designers to earn international recognition. Her designs, which are heavily influenced by tropical themes, are full of contrasting colours, movement and abstract patterns. And in a post-war Britain, they provided much needed life and colour. Today her work is represented in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Whitworth Museum, the Cooper-Hewitt (Smithsonian Design Museum) and many others. 

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Grace Nichols | Author and Poet

Born in Guyana in the 1950‘s. Nichols published her first poetry collection, I is a Long-Memoried Woman in 1983, which went on to win the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. In the decades that followed, her work, which is influenced by South American folktales and myths, has been central to the understanding of the Caribbean-British culture and connection. And in December 2021, she was announced as winner of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.

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Cyndia Harvey | Hair Stylist

Jamaican-born, and London-based, Harvey is one of the most renowned hair stylists in the fashion industry today. She has collaborated with global brands such as Versace, Louis Vuitton and Gucci.  Additionally, she has worked with cultural icons like Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar and Adwoa Aboah. In her 2017 film project This Hair of Mine, she explored the experience of Black British women through hair. And in 2021 she received the British Fashion Council’s Changemaker Prize for her authentic perspective, and for her continued celebration of the beauty of Black women and Black hair. 

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Barbara Walker | Artist

Birmingham-born and based, Walker is known for her drawings and paintings, which are often drawn directly onto the walls of galleries. Through her work, she explores issues of class and power, gender and race. She has been described as “one of the most talented, productive and committed artists of her generation” by art historian Eddie Chambers. And in 2019, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to British Art.

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Nadine Ijewere | Photographer 

London-born and of Nigerian and Jamaican descent. In 2019 (at age 26), Ijewere became the first black female photographer to shoot a cover for Vogue in its 125-year run. Her work primarily explores the subjects of identity, diversity and underrepresented faces. Today, she continues to work with international publications such as i-D and WSJ. As well as renowned brands such as Dior, Stella McCartney and Hermes. And in 2021, she published her first book, Our Own Selves, a celebration of women of colour and her esteemed career so far.

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Jukebox Collective Agency cast dancers and provided movement direction (Liara Barussi) for the latest Greenpeace UK Campaign. Featuring dancers Sharifa Butterfly, Haseeb ‘Chilly’ Hearn, Duran Abdullah, Mikael Rivieri, Patrik Gabco and Ellie Harlulow

This is no ordinary cover: Don’t Stop is a contemporary fable about being young in the world today. The song is a call to action for people worried about their future and the state of the planet, and a rallying cry for those who dream of a better tomorrow. Together we can stand up to the fossil fuel industry. Add your name now: https://act.gp/3qIN8o6

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Credits:

Production Company: Lammas Park @lammas_park_productions

Director – Samona Olanipekun @samona_o

Exec Producers – Steve McQueen, Bona Orakwue @bonaclara7, Anna Smith Tenser @smithspanna

Producer – George Telfer @gtelfs

Production Manager – Chanel Parkinson @chanellyonthetelly

PA – Hannah Lockwood @hanlockwood

Cast Coordinator – Beth Rubery  @beth.rubery

Production Runner – Tom Gimlette @tomgimlette

Researcher – Shireen Bahmanizad @shireen_bahmanizad

Researcher – Conall O’Brien @conallobrien

Bidding Producer – Nat Baring @natanatics

Lammas Park Head of Operations – Nicholas Horne

Lammas Park Production Assistant – Umashni Puvanendran

 

1st AD – Gabriel O’Donohue @_gabriel.odonohue_

2nd AD – Dave Stocks @davestox

3rd AD – Danny Zanre @dannyzanre

Runners – Colette Burke, Callum Ansderson, Shay Khelifa

 

Movement Director – Liara Barussi @liarabarussi

 

DOP – Annika Summerson @annisummerson

Steadicam / Camera Op – Jonathan Tyler @jonotyler

Focus Puller A Cam – Kate Mollins @kate__mo_

Focus Puller B Cam – Sam Ebrahim Riley @samrileyac

Clapper / Loader – Sonia Rogriguez 

Camera Trainee – Lucas Murray Reynolds

Grip – Warwick Drucker

 

Video Playback – Robbie Ross @rsvp.london

DIT – Ben Grady @colour.grady

Sound Recordist – Anthony Leung @anthonyleungsound

 

Gaffer – Salvador Lopez-Gomez @glofilmlighting

Best Boy – Jamie Hitchens @jamiehitchens

Desk Op – Noah Furrer 

Electricians – Charlie Lodge, Lee Madigan, Nathan Rubins

Rigger – Steve Daly @steve_daly

 

Production Designer – Jade Adeyemi @adeyumyum

Art Director – Fenella Evans 

Prop Buyer – Daisy Alexander 

Art Dept Assistant – Isabelle Bryan, Nana-yaw Mensah @nyk_mensah , Lucia Barsegian @luciabarsegian

 

Construction by Cous De La @cousdela

 

SFX Supervisor – Neil Gawthrop 

SFX Technicians – Miguel Ferreira, Jonathan Long

SFX by Machine Shop @machineshopsfx

 

Costume Designer – Verity May Lane @veritymaylane

Costume Assistants – Amy Thompson @a_thompson, Johanna Yohannes, Ellie Rimmer @ellie_r1

 

Make Up Designer – Maya Man @mayamanartist

Make Up Assistants – Chelsea Murphy @sculptedbychelsea, Nic Marilyn @nicmarilyn

Hair Designer – Kreszend Sackey @kreszendsackey

Hair Assistant – Viviane Melo @vivianemelomua

 

Medic – Verity Stacy

 

Editor – Jack Williams @__jackwilliams_

Edit House – The Assembly Rooms @the_assembly_rooms

Edit Producer – Phoebe Armstrong-Beaver

Sound Designer – Jack Sedgwick @snappajack

Audio Post – King Lear @kinglearlondon

Audio Producer – Suzy McGregor

Colourist – George Kyriacou @georgekcolourist

Post – Black Kite Studios @blackkitestudios 

VFX – Mark Stannard

Colour Producer – Holly Tidwell @holly_tidwell, Jade Denne @jadedenne

 

Camera – Panavision @panavisionofficial

Lighting – Panalux @panaluxworld

Studio – Dukes Island Studios

Insurance – Dan Woods at Media Insurance Brokers

Accountancy – Robert Okonski & Emmanuel Lindsay at Clay GBP

 

Casting Director – Coralie Rose @coralie_blamo_rose

Casting Assistants – Laura Meredith, 

Additional Casting – Jukebox Collective Agency

 

CAST:

 

Speech Givers:

Kyle Osbourne

Lili Chin

Tomorrow’s Warriors: Kyle Osborne, Emily Tran, Cassius Cobbson, Shanise, David, Tami

Lisa Smith 

Waiters & Kitchen Staff

Cameron Berryman, Izaebella Cresci, Christopher Mbaki, Jinessa Meggi, Ebony Aboagye, Oliver Manley, Kade Turner, Geddy Stringer

Party Guests:

Graham Collier, Anja Kick, Philippa Casares, Noreen Goodwin, Benji Ming, Catherine Cornwall, Huma Mohyuddin, Ellie Madden, Albert Graver, Rainier Manzano, Ruby Gascoyne, Sharifa Butterfly, Haseeb ‘Chilly’ Hearn, Duran Abdullah, Mikael Rivieri, Patrick Gabco, Ellie Harlulow, Rogerio Ghesti, Katerina Bragin, Michael Ahfong, Kesiena Banye, Beverly Connel, Jeanette Maskell, Peter Wilkinson

 

and Featuring: Will Poulter, Fraser T Smith and Avelino

 

MUSIC

Written by: Christine McVie / Universal Music Publishing Group

Produced by: Fraser T Smith / 70Hz

Original Rap verses: Avelino

Music Supervision and Consultancy: Ed Bailie and Seb Whyte / Leland Music

Music Marketing: Olivia Hobbs and Clare Wright / Blackstar Agency

 

Performed by: Future Utopia X Avelino X Tomorrow’s Warriors

With thanks to: House Gospel Choir, Benjamin Kwasi Burrell, Janine Irons, Fish Krish, Gabriel Starkey, Patricia Pascal

 

AGENCY

 

Creative Agency: Mother London

Creative Director: James Sellick @jamessellickauthor

Creative: Scott Anderson @scottanders44

Title Design: Ben McNaughton

Head of Production: Anna Murray @annasedgwick

Producers: Tommy Frankau @tommyfrankau, Nic Akinnibosun, Joseph Ogunmokun

Epilogue: Written by Scroobius Pip in collaboration with Greenpeace, performed by Lilli Chin

Special Featured Performance: Will Poulter

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In partnership with Ballet Cymru, we deliver a fusion of hip hop and ballet to school children at Mount Stuart Primary. Duets is about addressing fundamental gaps in provision for dance opportunities in Wales. Its goal is to reach out, to engage with people and families, particularly those living in poverty and low socio-economic areas in Wales and marginalised groups, and to support people to access dance, regardless of background, finances, race, belief, ability, and gender/orientation. 

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“As one of the head teachers of the primary schools where a number of our pupils have benefited from this innovative approach, I cannot praise the dedication and commitment of the staff from both companies highly enough.  It has been fantastic to see the progress the pupils involved have made, not only in terms of their dance skills but also in the development of their self-confidence and academic performance.” 

Jane Jenkins – Head Teacher, Moorland Primary School

Find out more about this exciting collaborative project from our Artistic Director Liara Barrusi below:

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Get Creative and join one of our 2023 classes. If you’re aged 7-18 years old and want to get involved in dance or music then we’ve got something for you. Scroll to see the timetable and book here…

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We’re hiring a Marketing Coordinator & Project Coordinator. If you love youth culture and want to be involved in projects at the forefront of Welsh Culture, apply here.

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We’re hiring a Marketing Coordinator & Project Coordinator. If you love youth culture and want to be involved in projects at the forefront of Welsh Culture, apply here.
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Our 2022 line up!

In 2020 we released our first in a series of posts highlighting Black Welsh Creatives. This years list begins with a fresh line up of artists we haven’t featured before – comprising of creatives both born or based in Wales.

Multidisciplinary artists who work across different mediums with current projects being released across 2022.

Find out more about all of their upcoming projects on our stories this week ✨

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