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Read our latest Welsh Festivals news.
Cardiff University is highlighting how it supports young people in Wales as part of its presence at one of Europe’s largest touring youth festivals.
The University has teamed up with the Urdd National Eisteddfod, which takes place in Cardiff Bay from 27 May to 1 June, as part of its commitment to Welsh language and culture.
The University will host a series of talks, discussions and activities on the ‘Maes’, or Eisteddfod site, as well as supporting some of the most high-profile events.
Activities at the University tent include a talk on preventing homelessness among young people, a discussion about Welsh in the workplace, a question and answer session with new Welsh journalists, and an insight into life as a medical student.
There are also several hands-on activities for younger visitors such as puzzle and riddle solving, creating medicines and exploring artefacts from a Cardiff hillfort.
In addition, visitors to the tent can find out why honey bees are inspiring the next generation of Welsh scientists, guess how many bottles of blood are in a child’s body and explore how dentistry can help people smile, eat and talk and also find out how medicines are discovered in sea creatures.
As well as hosting events and activities, the University will support the prestigious Crowning ceremony - for the author of the best prose of over 4,000 words - and the end-of-event gig.
Among the University’s most significant events, Cardiff Business School’s Dr Andrew Connell, of Wales Centre for Public Policy, will discuss how homelessness can be prevented among young people.
His talk, which takes place at the Cardiff University tent from 11:00 on Saturday 1 June, is based on Wales Centre for Public Policy research into the issue that has influenced Welsh Government.
Other highlights include:
- Exciting opportunities to find out more about the award-winning CAER Heritage's new Hidden Hillfort project centred on Caerau Hillfort in Cardiff and to handle artefacts dating back 6,000 years (Cardiff University tent; Tuesday 28 May, 09:30)
- Find out more about life as a medical student training across Wales with current medical students from the School of Medicine (Cardiff University tent; Thursday 30 May, 14:30).
- Question and answer session with graduates from the School of Journalism, Media and Culture who are starting careers in journalism at BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Cymru Wales and Golwg (Cardiff University tent; Friday 31 May, 11:00).
- The School of Welsh hosts a discussion panel about Welsh in the workplace and the importance of producing graduates in the field. The panel will be chaired by School of Welsh alumni Rhun ap Iorwerth AM and will include Eryl Jones (Executive Chair, Equinox), Nia Dafydd (Executive Producer, Boom Cymru) and recent School of Welsh graduates (Cardiff University tent; Friday 31 May, 14:30).
- Hear the story of the Welsh language in Cardiff throughout the centuries with Dr Dylan Foster-Evans, Head of our School of Welsh (Pierhead Building; Friday 31 May, 15:30).
- Find out about living and studying at Cardiff University (Cardiff University tent; Thursday 30 May to Saturday 1 June, 09:00 to 17:00).
This year’s Urdd Eisteddfod is being held in Cardiff Bay, the same location as the hugely successful 2018 National Eisteddfod.
The event is expected to host more than 15,000 young people who will be taking part in competitions including song, dance and performance.
Around 90,000 visitors attend the Urdd Eisteddfod and it is held in a different location in Wales each year.
Entry to the Maes will be free and there will be an admission fee to enter the main pavilion and prelims.
The Urdd Eisteddfod was last held in Cardiff Bay in 2009.
Cardiff University is teaming up with one of Europe’s largest touring youth festivals as it visits Cardiff Bay this year.
The partnership with the 2019 Urdd National Eisteddfod, which runs from 27 May to 1 June, is part of the University’s commitment to Welsh language and culture.
More than 15,000 young people are expected to take part in competitions including song, dance and performance.
The University will have a major presence on the ‘Maes’, or Eisteddfod site, as well as supporting some of the most high-profile events.
Cardiff University’s Dean for the Welsh Language, Dr Huw Williams, said the University was fully committed to supporting Welsh language and culture as part of its strategy.
“Part of our ‘civic mission’ is to promote and celebrate the Welsh language and ensure that we contribute to Welsh cultural life,” said Dr Williams.
“We do this in many ways already, not least in our participation in and support for the National Eisteddfod every year, but I’m delighted that we’re partnering with the Urdd Eisteddfod too.
As well as hosting events and activities at this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod, the University will support the prestigious Crowning ceremony - for the author of the best prose of over 4,000 words - and the end-of-event gig.
Aled Siôn, Director of the Urdd Eisteddfod, said: “We’re very proud of our partnership with Cardiff University this year and are grateful for their support. Support from local and national organisations are integral to the success of the Urdd Eisteddfod and as part of our partnership Cardiff University will support the Crowning ceremony, which is one of the festival’s main competitions, as well as the gig on the Saturday night.
“The gig at the end of the week has become a highlight for many of our members and, with the University’s support this year, they will once again be able to enjoy some of the best contemporary Welsh music as the Urdd Eisteddfod returns to Cardiff Bay.”
Around 90,000 visitors attend the Urdd Eisteddfod and it is held in a different location in Wales each year.
This year’s event is being held in Cardiff Bay, the same location as the hugely successful 2018 National Eisteddfod.
Entry to the Maes will be free and there will be an admission fee to enter the main pavilion and prelims.
The Urdd Eisteddfod was last held in Cardiff Bay in 2009.
A University tutor who teaches Welsh to refugees has won the prestigious Welsh Learner of the Year title at the National Eisteddfod.
Matt Spry works in the School of Welsh where he organises and teaches Welsh to refugees and asylum seekers living in Cardiff.
The lessons aim to introduce participants to Welsh language culture and life.
Matt, who is originally from Plymouth, has only been learning Welsh since 2015.
He says that learning Welsh has changed his life completely.
Could a distinct Welsh justice system improve access to justice, reduce crime and promote rehabilitation?
The future of the current single ‘England and Wales’ justice system is being called into question as variations between the laws of the two countries increase.
The Welsh Government last year established a commission to review the system’s operation in Wales.
So the timing could not be better for Professor Richard Wyn Jones, Director of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, and Welsh legal experts to consider the matter at this year’s National Eisteddfod.
Hosted by the National Assembly for Wales, Justice in Wales takes place at Societies Tent 2 on Friday 10 August from 12:00 and features:
- Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones, member of the Commission on Justice in Wales and Partner at Agri Advisor
- Fflur Jones, Partner at Darwin Gray
Professor Richard Wyn Jones has explained Wales is in an “anomalous situation” internationally, with an executive (Welsh Government) and legislature (Welsh Assembly), but no associated jurisdiction and justice system.
“The Welsh Government and a majority in the National Assembly support the devolution of justice and the establishment of a Welsh jurisdiction,” he said.
“This, as well as the establishment of the Commission on Justice in Wales chaired by the former Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, means that it is a particularly opportune moment to debate how well the justice system is currently functioning in Wales and how it might evolve and change in future.
“In the background, of course, we have the UK government decision to open western Europe’s second largest prison in Wrexham and proposals for another titan prison in south Wales. Developments with major implications for health and social services across the nation.”
The work of Wales Governance Centre is contributing to the Commission on Justice.
The Centre’s Justice and Jurisdiction is an interdisciplinary project bringing together political scientists, constitutional law experts and criminologists in order to investigate:
- the operation of the justice system in Wales
- the relationship between non-devolved and devolved policies
- the impact of a single ‘England and Wales’ legal system
The Centre recently published Welsh-specific data on the prison system which revealed the performance of prisons in Wales and where prisoners were being held.
In a special event in the Cardiff University Tent at 17:30 on Friday 10 August, Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd (Cardiff’s Students’ Union for Welsh speakers) will be officially established by Cardiff University’s Welsh speaking students.
Meri Huws, the Welsh Language Commissioner, will join as a guest speaker.
In April 2017, it was announced that a union of students would be established within Cardiff University Students’ Union to represent Cardiff University’s Welsh speaking students.
The name of this union would be Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd (UMCC).
This announcement came after a campaign led by the Welsh-speaking students of the University, and after 87% of the Union’s Student Senate voted in favour of the establishment of UMCC.
The announcement was welcomed by Welsh-speaking students of the University, who saw the establishment of UMCC as the start of a new chapter for the Welsh language within the Union and the University in the capital city of Wales.
UMCC is a body that represents Welsh speakers in every aspect of their lives at the University – be it academically, socially, linguistically, politically, or with welfare matters within the Union and the University.
In addition, UMCC is a body that represents every Welsh-speaking student, whether a fluent speaker or a learner; whether a student in Cathays Campus or Heath Park; whether someone who wishes to speak Welsh every day, or use it every now and again. UMCC represents and includes everyone.
In addition to representing the University’s students from day to day during their time at the University, UMCC has numerous goals it aims to achieve over the coming years. Some of these include:
- Bridging the gap between Welsh-speaking students and the Union and University, and ensuring they do not feel isolated from the main body of students in the University.
- Ensuring that the University’s Welsh speakers receive their rights without asking and without exception, including their rights relating to the Welsh Language Standards Regulations which are in the process of being placed on the University, and within the Union in light of Cardiff University Students’ Union’s Welsh Language Policy, which was launched in 2016.
- Ensuring there is a strong, lively and diverse community of Welsh speakers within the University, and that anyone who has an interest in the Welsh language and its culture can feel a part of that community.
- Creating a proactive and productive relationship between the community of Welsh speakers and the Union and University, to ensure that students and the University can proceed on the path to linguistic equality hand in hand with each other.
- Campaigning for linguistic equality here in the capital city, and working tirelessly to ensure that Cardiff University’s Welsh speaking students can live through the medium of Welsh.
Since announcing that UMCC would be established, UMCC’s committee has been working behind closed doors to establish UMCC, and to ensure that it is a body that will be able to represent the capital city’s Welsh-speaking students effectively.
By now, UMCC is ready to be an important and influential presence within the Union and University, and is ready to contribute positively to the lives of Welsh-speaking students in Cardiff University.
To highlight, emphasise and promote this, they will have an official launch for UMCC on Friday 10 August at 17:30, in Cardiff University’s tent at the National Eisteddfod, in Cardiff Bay.
The launch will be led by Osian Morgan, who led the campaign to establish UMCC during the 2016/17 academic year, and who was UMCC’s first president during the 2017/18 academic year.
In addition, UMCC’s President-Elect, who will preside over UMCC during the next academic year, will take advantage of this opportunity to say a few words on his/her vision for the year to come. Elections for this role are being held over the coming week.
To finish the event, Meri Huws, the Welsh Language Commissioner, will join as a guest speaker, to talk about the Welsh language within Welsh universities, and about the Welsh Language Standards in particular.
UMCC President, Osian Morgan, said: “We are extremely excited to launch UMCC during the National Eisteddfod this year. This is a perfect opportunity for us to promote the exciting developments being made to the Welsh language within the University. With the Eisteddfod visiting the capital city this year, it’s very appropriate that it’s during this Eisteddfod that we will celebrate this positive development to Cardiff University’s Welsh speakers.”
Launching UMCC will not only be a way for us to promote the fact that we are now fully ready to start campaigning for the Welsh language and its speakers in Cardiff University, but it will also be a way for us to celebrate this important step towards linguistic equality in the University of the capital city of Wales.
Anyone who is interested in invited to attend the event.
The consequences of one-party dominance for political life in Wales will be examined by the political communicator of the year at the National Eisteddfod.
Professor Roger Awan-Scully, of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre, will examine why the Labour Party has won every general election in Wales for almost a century.
In every one of the last 26 UK general elections Labour has won the most votes and seats in Wales.
“The last person to defeat Labour in a general election in Wales was Lloyd George – and he had just won a world war!” said Professor Awan-Scully.
“Wales’s experience of democratic politics has long been very unusual, and arguably pathological.
“In this talk, I’ll be thinking about both the causes and consequences of a century of Labour dominance for politics in Wales.”
Professor Awan-Scully will explore why Labour’s dominance in Wales has proven so enduring, despite the reasons for the party’s rise having long since disappeared.
His session is based on his forthcoming book, Elections in Wales.
The leading political scientist, who was named political communicator of the year by the Political Studies Association, appears in the Cardiff University tent on Wednesday 8 August (13:00).
The 2018 National Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.
What is the impact of Welsh-medium education on the aspirations of young people in the south Wales valleys?
Dr Siôn Llewelyn Jones, from Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences, will examine this question in a talk at the Cardiff University tent at the National Eisteddfod on Monday 6 August (15:00).
He said: “There is an assumption that Welsh-medium schools in south-east Wales are highly successful educational institutions.
“However, there has been little research which has examined how these schools may influence young people's ambitions for the future.
“One of the findings of this research was that there were differences between the aspirations of young people who attended the Welsh-medium school and the English-medium school.
“I will be discussing to what degree attending a Welsh-medium or an English-medium school influences young people’s aspirations.”
Dr Jones’s presentation is based on the findings of research he carried out into the aspirations of pupils in the last year of compulsory education (year 11).
He added: “In addition, it is important to explore the impact Welsh-medium education may have on the aspirations of young people because the Welsh Government aims to expand Welsh-medium education as part of its strategy to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050.”
Schools have been identified by the Welsh Government as the key to the success of reaching the target.
The 2018 National Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.
Cardiff is a key driver for the creative industries in Wales but how does it compete with creative hubs across the UK and make an impact on the wider world?
Find out the views of sector leaders at the Cardiff University School of Journalism, Media and Culture annual media debate at the National Eisteddfod.
The panel features BBC Cymru Wales Director Rhodri Talfan Davies, Cardiff Council Leader Councillor Huw Thomas, Nia Thomas, Chief Executive of independent production company Boom Cymru, and S4C Chief Executive Owen Evans. It will be chaired by BBC Cymru Wales journalist and broadcaster Bethan Rhys Roberts.
The media debate, now a popular fixture in the National Eisteddfod programme, takes place on Tuesday 7 August 2018 in the Cardiff University tent.
Cardiff has enjoyed significant growth in the creative sector powered by film, TV, animation, video games and post-production activities.
Some of the country’s most popular programmes are made here, while BBC Cymru Wales is building a new headquarters in the centre of the city.
Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director BBC Cymru Wales, said: “It’s an extraordinary time for the creative industries across Wales - and there’s no doubt Cardiff is at the heart of that success.
“A vibrant network of broadcasters, production companies, freelancers, universities and facility companies has made the capital a real creative magnet which has grown significantly over the last decade and this shows no sign of abating.
“In just over 12 months, the BBC’s teams will start moving to Central Square in the city centre - creating the most technically advanced broadcast centre in Europe and a focal point of the nation’s creative industries.
“It will also be the most open and accessible BBC building in the UK - a ‘home from home’ for a wide range of our partners in the creative sector.
“Collaboration is at the heart of the city’s success, and I’m delighted to be taking part in this panel session alongside some of our key partners, including S4C, Cardiff Council and Boom Cymru.”
Cardiff is also on the shortlist to host a new creative hub for Channel 4 following a bid led by Cardiff Council.
Councillor Thomas said: “Cardiff has a strong independent scene, and with more than 70,000 university students, the creative potential of the city is vast.
“When C4 came to visit the city after we were shortlisted, we had the opportunity to show them how we are bringing together custom-designed properties to support the creative sector, all built around a new central transport hub able to connect the channel to talent here and further afield.
“Cardiff forms part of the largest cluster of independent production companies outside London. It is a city seeing remarkable growth and change, and a city which – thanks to the significant role Butetown has played in shaping our inclusive values – can be argued to be the cradle of diversity in the UK.
“Alongside that we have a city government eager to support the creative sector and a talented workforce that is amongst the youngest and most highly-skilled in the UK.”
Media debate organiser Manon Edwards Ahir, of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, said: “It’s undoubtedly the case that Cardiff’s influence is growing significantly across a creative sector of increasing economic and cultural significance.
“Cardiff has succeeded in establishing a strong reputation in the sector at home, but is it making the most of international markets? And are the benefits of this creative growth being felt elsewhere in Wales?
“Our expert panel of sector leaders in Wales will offer real insight into the enormous potential of the industry and how Cardiff can exploit the opportunities available.”
Eisteddfod visitors are invited to come along to hear the views of our panel and put questions to them.
This year’s Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.
Why does Cardiff’s Heath suburb have two competing Welsh names: Y Waun and Y Mynydd Bychan?
And when did one of the city’s best known thoroughfares swap its Welsh name, meaning a muddy patch of land, for a grander sounding English name?
These and other questions will be answered by the head of Cardiff University’s School of Welsh in a talk about Cardiff’s place names, at the National Eisteddfod.
Dr Dylan Foster Evans, one of the panel of experts who recently drew up a list of standardised Welsh place names, said the names used often depended on the relationship between the two languages at the time.
“Historically, the two languages have ebbed and flowed and place names attest to that, giving rise to interesting forms such as Penhill - where ‘pen’ and ‘hill’ share much the same meaning,” he said.
“Some names taken from Welsh have been knowingly replaced, such as Plwca Lane - plwca meaning an area of muddy land - being changed to Castle Road, later City Road.
“Others that were long used by Welsh speakers but not given official status, such as Heol y Cawl – Wharton Street in the city centre - are now recognised by the authorities.”
Dr Evans is delivering the Hedley Gibbard Memorial Lecture, organised by Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru - the association of Welsh translators and interpreters.
Translation, adaptation and displacement: The relationship between Welsh and English place names in Cardiff takes place in the Societies 1 tent from 13:00 to 13:45 on Thursday 9 August 2018.
“Some historical Welsh names, such as Y Mynydd Bychan (the Heath), were more or less forgotten, so much so that in the mid-20th century a new Welsh name was created for the area by translating Heath as Y Waun,” said Dr Evans.
“Later on, the original name came back into use, gradually replacing Y Waun. But it’s not to everyone’s taste.”
One recent development is Welsh names being created for places such as Grangetown that do not have historic Welsh names. The late historian Dr John Davies coined the name Trelluest, which is now gaining popularity.
“Although without official status, such names are increasingly evident online and on social media,” said Dr Foster Evans.
“And with new suburbs being built as we speak, the relationship between the two languages in place names is more important than ever.”
This year’s Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.
Cardiff University researchers will reveal the results of a study into National Eisteddfod visitors’ satisfaction levels and experience at the festival.
The research, based on the views of over 1,200 visitors at the 2017 Eisteddfod on Anglesey, also examined how people travelled to the festival and their travel plans for this year’s event in Cardiff.
The results will be unveiled by Dr Andrea Collins, from the School of Geography and Planning, and Dr Nicole Koenig-Lewis, from Cardiff Business School, at the daily Eisteddfod press briefing on the Maes at 11:00 on Tuesday 7 August.
Similar research is being carried out into the value and impacts of the 2018 Eisteddfod. This year the study will also examine whether visitors have been encouraged to travel to the Eisteddfod in a more sustainable way.
Eisteddfodgoers are invited to the Cardiff University pavilion - situated near the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay - to find out more about the research project and how to get involved in this years' study.
The research, a collaborative project with the National Eisteddfod, is conducted jointly by Cardiff Business School and the School of Geography and Planning.
The National Eisteddfod, which is committed to ensuring that the festival is as sustainable possible, is working with partners to reduce its environmental impact.
Eisteddfod Chief executive, Elfed Roberts, said “The work done by Cardiff University last year was extremely useful, and has helped us immensely in some of the preparations for this year’s event and in looking to the future.
“It will be very interesting to see how this year’s results compare with last year’s responses, especially in light of the fact that this year’s event will be different to previous eisteddfodau, with the use of permanent buildings and temporary structures in an urban environment rather than in the traditional semi-rural setting.”
Dr Collins said: “A key focus for the Cardiff Eisteddfod is to encourage visitors to plan ahead and travel in the most sustainable way possible.”
This year’s Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.