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WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.
EVENT
P-ARTY
TIME!
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SOUTH WALES SECRETS #46:
Carnival Camp
The founder of the big, bold and beautiful
Cardiff Carnival, Steve Fletcher, shares his
South Wales Secret.
“Back in 1990 there weren’t any large-scale
participant projects in Cardiff, and I felt we need
some statement about funky happenings in Cardiff,”
explains Steve, the artistic director of South Wales
Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA). Twenty-four
years later, Cardiff Carnival has become a colourful
staple in South Wales’ calendar.
“This year we’re making a huge effort to be our
biggest and brightest carnival,” explains Steve.
Just like his life, Steve’s South Wales Secret is
carnival-themed: the Carnival Camp – a threeweek base camp hosting arts workshops in the
run-up to Cardiff Carnival.
“Carnival Camp is an extraordinary experience.
It’s very much what you can call a pop-up
phenomenon and it’s moved around during the 25
carnivals, happening in different places. This year
we’re at Fitzallan School in Leckwith and basically
it’s three weeks of free carnival arts workshops.
We stock this vast space: big halls, dance studios
with fabulous carnival artists who are there to help,
amazing choreographers.
“When you enter the space, it’s full of colour, excited
people, creative people and they really are from all
walks of life – so it’s one of those rare experiences
where you get to meet your fellow Cardiffians in the
best possible light. There’s a tiny village of creativity
and all human life is there.
“It’s like an Ali Baba’s cave stocked with glitter,
sequins and feathers and there’s always a sense
of wonder,” laughs Steve, “and the nice thing
about it is as we move toward the big Carnival
day, the excitement is palpable. You know, it’s an
extraordinary experience and people just rise to the
challenge year after year. It’s incredibly life-affirming!”
Info: www.swicacarnival.co.uk
SUMMERFEST
Celebrate summer with music and dance at the aptly name annual Summerfest in Pointardawe.
This year the festival will be showcasing local talent in the form of the Newport hip hop band, Goldie Lookin Chain.
The group’s current tour is celebrating their ten year anniversary and they will be showing off their bling in the
sunshine (we hope) of the Summerfest stage.
Summerfest, various venues in Pontardawe. Tickets: Individual events priced separately.
Info: www.nptartsandents.co.uk
BUZZ 010
Michael Gove might have
recently been chucked out of
the comfy seats of the cabinet,
but his reputation in the arts
community won’t be so easily
moved.
In