Events
Event listings for Sustainable Wales and the Green Room, Arts, literature, music and community events in the South Wales area
This is the third novel in the three times Wales Book of the Year winner; Robert Minhinnick’s ‘Sea Holly’ series, based on the resort of Porthcawl.
Fabric, Wool and Haberdashery Fundraising Sale,
click to enlarge
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June 10.30 – 4pm, SUSSED, Porthcawl, 4/5 James Street CF36 3BG.
Calling all crafters, quilters, creatives and lovers of sewing and knitting.
Charity Sustainable Wales is fundraising to support SUSSED our ethical community shop. We are holding this fabric, wool and haberdashery sale either in James Street, weather permitting, or in The Green Room above SUSSED, Porthcawl CF36 3BG.
Can others help raid attics, clear cupboards and donate fabrics, wool, cottons and haberdashery items and bring donations to SUSSED in advance. The event is a chance to reinvent, recycle, reduce waste and support the green agenda.
Fairtrade coffee, tea and refreshments will be available.
An evening of innovative and experimental poetry at Sustainable Wales' 'Green Room' with John Goodby
The Green Room - Friday 31 May 8PM
Professor John Goodby is a poet and critic, author of "Under the Spelling Wall", a major study of Dylan Thomas's poetry, and an editor of Thomas's Collected Poems
He is also, with Lyndon Davies, editor of "The Edge of Necessary -- an Anthology of Welsh Innovative Poetry 1966-2018."
John will introduce and read selections from this pioneering anthology, and from his own poetry collections.
Open mic and more, to follow. All welcome.
Above SUSSED, BYOB
4/5 James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG
tel: 01656 783962
Follow us on twitter:
@1thegreeneroom
@suswales
A Story of Saint Non
with Tracy Evans
An evening of stories, histories and reflections inspired by St. Non, the mother of St. David, and the Pembrokeshire cliffs where she gave birth.
You can also complete the ‘rural transport issues’ survey by Wednesday 17th using either of the following links:
English:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/N52Z982
Cymraeg:
FRIDAY, MARCH 29. 8pm.
P.C. EVANS at Green Room, Sustainable Wales, 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3EP
All welcome! Croeso cynnes i bawb!
On the last day of the Brexit process, Sustainable Wales is delighted to feature a EU-wide event.
Originally from Abercynon, PC. Evans describes himself as a “citizen of nowhere”.
Now based in Amsterdam, Paul will read his own poetry, written whilst living and working in that city’s Red Light district.
A strong open mic will feature Gerry Ray, with poetry about his life in Spain; while Paul Woodford, will provide a Brexit film.
Of course, there will also be pro-Brexit voices heard in this popular literary gathering. In 2016 the Bridgend constituency voted 54.6% to 45.4% to leave the EU.
Robert Minhinnick will read poems published during his tenure as editor of the international magazine, ‘Poetry Wales’. Free copies will be presented to all who pay £4 entrance.
A warm welcome to all / Croeso cynnes i bawb.
Further details: 01656 773627
For full information and menu see the dedicated page.
Chris Meredith
8pm. Friday, March 1.
Above SUSSED, 4-5 JAMES ST. PORTHCAWL CF36 3BG
Sustainable Wales’s ‘Green Room’ returns from its winter break with a reading by poet/novelist, Chris Meredith. To be followed by an Open Mic for local writers.
Chris will be reading from his recently published volume of short stories, ‘Brief Lives’ (Seren), which will be on sale. The book is described in the ‘Western Mail’ as “a moving, mature kaleidoscope of human experience”.
He will also read poetry, including some Welsh language verse.
Chris is the author of ‘Shifts’, available in the Seren ‘Classics’ series, available in the SUSSED bookshop. His most recent collection of poetry is ‘Air Histories’.
https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/christopher-meredith
Christopher Meredith is the award-winning author of four novels and three collections of poetry and also translates Welsh to English. Prizes include an Eric Gregory Award, the Arts Council of Wales Young Writer Prize and the Fiction Prize for his first novel, Shifts. His second novel, Griffri, was shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award. His collection of poems, The Meaning of Flight, was long-listed for The Book of the Year Award 2006. His most recent novel is The Book of Idiots (2012). He has given readings all over Britain and Europe as well as in Israel/Palestine and the USA. Born and brought up in Tredegar, he was a steelworker and a schoolteacher before becoming a professor of creative writing at the University of Glamorgan. He lives in Brecon. His latest poetry collection Air Histories, was published in June 2013, and has since written a collection of six short fictions, titled Brief Lives, which was released in June 2018.
Purchase Christopher Meredith’s work at the event or via his publisher, the excellent Seren: https://www.serenbooks.com/author/christopher-meredith
£4. Everyone welcome. Croeso cynnes i bawb.
Green Room Poster
PORTHCAWL REGENERATION DISCUSSION
Porthcawl-based charity, ‘Sustainable Wales’, is holding a Public Meeting at 7pm, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, at the Y Centre, John Street, Porthcawl, CF36 3AP, titled ‘The Regeneration of Porthcawl’.
Guest Speakers include:
BCBC councillor Charles Smith
Porthcawl Town Councillor Alex Harris
Jessica King, Cenin Renewables
Simon Baston, DS Holdings
Chairs: Richard Thomas, Margaret Minhinnick.
The purpose of the talk is to examine plans for the future of the resort, stressing the importance that regeneration is based on principles of sustainability.
Brief questions from the floor are invited, and an informative occasion expected!
All welcome.
Download the poster: as a picture jpeg or here as a PDF
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 at 8pm, charity, Sustainable Wales, hosts poet MARGOT FARRINGTON. Click to enlarge images in this post.
Margot will give a reading of her work and sign copies of her books. These include Rising and Falling, Flares and Fathoms, and Scanning for Tigers.
Margot Farrington is a poet, writer, and performer. Trained in theater—her earliest love—she has read and performed widely as poet and as storyteller, garnering praise both for her work and for dynamic readings and performances. The author of three full-length poetry collections, her prior book was “Scanning For Tigers” (Free Scholar Press, 2014), her fourth collection "The Blue Canoe Of Longing" is forthcoming. Other writing includes essays, interviews, and reviews of poetry and art. Visual works include collage—pieces she has exhibited in galleries. Among her awards are fellowships in poetry from Norton Island, The I-Park Foundation, The Clocktower, and grants from NYSCA/DEC and the Athena Foundation. She is a two time Pushcart Prize nominee, most recently in 2015. As writer-in-residence, she has worked in urban and rural environments, serving diverse populations. She has also taught workshops at libraries, literary centers, schools, and prisons. As juror, panelist, curator, and coordinator, she has been involved in many literary endeavors. Farrington is founder and director of Writers At The Eyrie, the Brooklyn based residency program she launched in 2014 www.writersateyrie.org Born and raised in New Jersey, Farrington later moved to New York. Since the 1980s she has lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and in Treadwell, NY. (Image: Tony Martin)
For a full description of awards and activities click here
A short film will be screened that celebrates Tony’s life, which includes his work as a ‘light artist’. He is one of the first who, in the 1960s, initiated light-shows with rock groups, such as San Francisco’s Grateful Dead. A true pathfinder.
TONY MARTIN arrived to San Francisco in 1962, promptly forging creative alliances and lifetime friendships with “new music” people Morton Subotnick, Pauline Oliveros, and Ramon Sender. When the San Francisco Tape Music Center moved to its location at 321 Divisadero St., Martin was invited by co-directors Sender and Subotnick to become the Visual Director. With special attention paid to working in the tape music medium, as well as performing regularly, they joined with Mills Center for Contemporary Music in ’67. During the SFTMC days Martin was responsible for numerous visual compositions, including Terry Riley’s In C performance, as well as Sender’s Desert Ambulance. Martin was deeply engaged in experimenting with light via overhead and slide projectors, mixing paint, oil, water, and objects to build his light compositions. His following grew as a culture of psychedelia pervaded the 1960s and his light shows became popular amongst bands such as Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead. During this time he began to build "interactions" by engineering entire environments using sensors and mirrors. By the late ’60s he returned to New York City where he continued his focus for these types of installations; time and time again synthesizing his technological skills with painting as a moving image. A painter at heart, he continued to do so with consideration of his experience working with his viewer-activated sculptures, as well as his devotion to the medium of light — maintaining a thread that binds all aspects of his work. His latest piece entitled Proximity Switched Installation (2012) is a clear culmination of a lifetime of experimentation/production. A video demonstration of this installation will be available to view online at the time of the books release and includes musical accompaniment by Compound Eye (Spring Press).
THE VARIABLE PLACE is the first book of its kind to tie together over 50 years of Tony Martin's work. It includes an in-depth interview with Martin by Will Cameron, Albert Herter and the editors. As well as a special introduction by long-time friend/collaborator Pauline Oliveros. Available as a limited edition release of 350, 104 pp, full-color, 8” x 10”, perfect bound.
“Tony Martin has always been first with light. He is the inventor of the original light show, as well as interactive media and the first implementation of projected, scalable vector graphics. These all combined original ways of deciphering illumination with tightly synchronized engineering.” (Read More at Brooklyn Rail)
There will also be an Open Mike for local writers.
For Sustainable Wales, Robert Minhinnick commented:
“We’re delighted to be able to highlight the creativity of this extraordinary couple.
“Margot and Tony live in New York, and this is Margot’s only Welsh performance. Not to be missed!”
Everyone welcome! Croeso cynnes i bawb.
Entrance £4
GREEN ROOM RETURNS
WITH ELVIS-THEMED NIGHT - Above SUSSED
Sustainable Wales, 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG
click to enlarge poster
“A little satire will add to the fun”.
After a summer break, Sustainable Wales’s ‘Green Room’ performance space recommences with a series of events.
Friday, SEPTEMBER 28, at 8pm, we celebrate the Elvis festival in Porthcawl, with a welcome satirical look at ‘the King’.
There will be Elvis Presley-themed films, and readings from Wales’s finest performance poet, Peter Finch.
Peter will also be speaking about his recent book, ‘The Roots of Rock’ (Seren), in which Elvis, of course, is featured.
Leading Cardiff academic, Dr Daniel Evans, will discuss the ‘class’ element of the Elvis festival.
Co-ordinator of Sustainable Wales, Margaret Minhinnick, says:
“The Elvis festival weekend is now well-established. This extraordinary eisteddfod is unignorable in the town, so our charity is making a contribution to the fun.
“Peter Finch will be sharp! And our popular Open Mike will include film and photographs, drawn from the history of Elvis in Porthcawl.
“Giving a local perspective will be writer Robert Minhinnick, photographer Peter Morgan, musician Gerry Rae and film-maker Paul Woodford.”
Everyone welcome! Croeso cynnes i bawb!
£4 entrance.
Rob, Margaret & Peter
Our community-run café serves lush homemade bread, soups, cakes and savouries all at reasonable prices. Our volunteer bakers aim to use mainly fairtrade and local ingredients offering both savoury and sweet dishes for morning coffee, lunch and tea.
So please join us, and sample our rich coffee, refreshing tea, luxurious hot chocolate, chilled cola, fun fruit spritzers and taste our tantalizing cakes, soups, sarnies and snacks.
(Funds go to support Sustainable Wales).
Brain training... an exercise in Self Sovereignty
Interactive Talk:
Our community-run café serves lush homemade bread, soups, cakes and savouries all at reasonable prices. Our volunteer bakers aim to use mainly fairtrade and local ingredients offering both savoury and sweet dishes for morning coffee, lunch and tea.
So please join us, and sample our rich coffee, refreshing tea, luxurious hot chocolate, chilled cola, fun fruit spritzers and taste our tantalizing cakes, soups, sarnies and snacks.
(Funds go to support Sustainable Wales).
Frances Presley is a writer who now lives in London. Her innovative work is published by Shearsman. A recent book, ‘Sallow’, comes from Leafe Press. http://www.francespresley.co.uk
Christopher Cornwell is also an English poet, now living in Swansea. His first book. ‘Ergasy’, is published by The Lonely Crowd. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ergasist
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An Introduction to Raja Yoga Meditation www.brahmakumaris.uk Above SUSSED at the Green Room, James Street Porthcawl CF36 3BG.
PAUL HENRY AT GREEN ROOM, PORTHCAWL
8pm FRIDAY, MARCH 30
Green Room, Sustainable Wales, 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG
Next reader at Porthcawl’s ‘Green Room’ is poet and musician, Paul Henry, launching his new collection, The Glass Aisle.
Sustainable Wales has been trying for two years to tempt Paul to Porthcawl, and we’re delighted he’s here.
The book moves between rage and stillness, past and present, music and silence. It is Paul’s tenth book and will delight with its assured lyricism. Copies will be on sale on the night and in our shop, SUSSED.
With Open Mic.
£4 entrance. Everyone welcome/Croeso cynnes i bawb.
Latest updates and further information at our dedicated page: https://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/festival
SUSSED's pop up fairtrade café at the Green Room returns on March 3rd 11am-4pm with a theme celebrating St David's Day! Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
The drama of the ‘Porthcawl hurricane’ to be relived at the ‘Green Room’.
‘Josephine’s Rain’ is a thirty minute evocation of a storm that damaged Porthcawl in 1995.
Tropical storm ‘Josephine’ was close to hurricane status, sinking boats and destroying part of the seafront.
The video performance promise a musical and poetic dramatisation of an incident in recent history.
The original ‘Josephine’s Rain’ featured Robert Minhinnick, Peter Morgan and Richard Thomas. This new version is remixed by Peter Morgan, whose images will be shown during the performance.
There will also be an Open Mic for readings and short films.
Josephine's Rain 2018 version
Images (David McCormack) from a previous live performance of Josephine's Rain in 2013
An evening in English and Welsh to celebrate the publication of ‘Bondo’ by Menna Elfyn, from Bloodaxe. The title means ‘eaves’ in Welsh, referring to poetry and language as a ‘sanctuary’. Readers are Robert Minhinnick in English and Carys Evans in Welsh. Plus Open Mic.
Entrance: £4.
Everyone welcome. Croeso cynnes i bawb.
Above SUSSED James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG
January 26 2018 above SUSSED, James St. Porthcawl CF36 3BG
Sustainable Wales is hoping to establish a local community energy group that will build on the renewable energy work now being undertaken within the county borough.
The first meeting will be held on January 25th 2018, 7pm, The Green Room, above SUSSED, 4/5 James Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BG.
The need for a low carbon future is agreed internationally. Community energy will democratise electricity supply, as highlighted by Sustainable Wales’ earlier Shine a Light campaign.
“Many community groups across the UK are considering how to capitalise on this and create local jobs. However, this isn’t yet happening in Bridgend”, said a Sustainable Wales, spokesperson.
In September 2017, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths announced she wanted Wales to generate 70 per cent of its electricity consumption from renewable energy by 2030.
The Cabinet Secretary also set targets for renewable energy projects to have at least an element of local ownership by 2020 and for at least one Gigawatt of renewable electricity capacity to be locally owned by 2030.
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Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynhaliol is celebrating 20 years as the first Welsh NGO promoting sustainable responses to the cultural challenges we face. In celebrating this landmark we would like you to join us on a convivial evening of birthday cake, spoken word, music and film including poets Robert Minhinnick, Rhian Edwards, Kris Evans, music from Honey Peg with the Earl and Pearl Alive band (fomerly One Time Alive) and a clutch of other contributors to entertain and celebrate…
Thursday, Nov 16th – 7pm till late, Stage Door (downstairs), Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. CF36 3YW. Bar available
Do you have images or memories of Sustainable Wales activities you'd like to share? email Margaret on mm@sustainablewales.org.uk
Eventbrite page for booking (free) tickets (opens in a new window)
More details to follow.
Artist Kevin Sinnott will be giving the third talk in the ‘Counterpoint’ series organised by Sustainable Wales, at 8pm on Friday, NOVEMBER 3, at 5 James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG.
Kevin will be talking about his career as an artist in Wales and London, and the creation of his new gallery in Pontycymer, his labour of love.
Several of Kevin’s prints will be on view in this presentation, which is one of the celebrations for his seventieth birthday. Kevin will also have prints of two of his paintings which he will sign and these and his book ‘Behind The Canvas’ will be available from SUSSED.
Click to enlarge
Director, Margaret Minhinnick said today:
“The ‘Counterpoint’ talks have shown the range of interests for which the charity is known.
“We believe in combining environmentalism with cultural matters, maintaining local diversity.
“This will be celebrated on Thursday, November 16 at the Stage Door, Grand Pavilion, 7pm, for our twentieth anniversary party. Watch out for music, film and poetry. Everyone is invited.”
For Kevin Sinnott entrance £4.
More information: 01656 783962
Professor Merryn Hutchings of London Metropolitan University: will discuss
What are we doing to children’s education?
Merryn appears on the BBC and
Channel 4 speaking of her increasing
concern about the stress we are creating for our young.
The Green Room pop up fairtrade Café returns this Sat., 21st October - with a selection of gorgeous home cooked fairtrade ingredient goodies and quality fairtrade hot drinks.
An example menu is usually posted on our facebook page
‘BEACHOLOGIST’ GIVES MARINE WARNING FRI 13th
Professor Allan Williams, the renowned ‘beachologist’, gives a lecture on ‘Marine Litter’, at Sustainable Wales’s Green Room 5, James St., Porthcawl CF36 3BG, 8pm, Friday, October 13.
The talk is the first in an ambitious series of lectures, tiltled ‘Counterpoint’, organised to mark the charity’s twentieth anniversary.
All types of beach litter will be discussed, including the degradation of plastic, ultimately to such fine particles it now enters the human bloodstream.
Margaret Minhinnick for the charity said today: “Professor Williams’s talk is timely, as it has recently been revealed that Coca Cola produced an astonishing 110 BILLION plastic bottles in 2016, many of which will enter the sea.
“Eight million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans every year. As Prince Charles says this week, ‘decisive action’ must be taken to protect marine wildlife."
The ‘Counterpoint’ series of discussions reflect the environmental, social and cultural concerns of NGO, Sustainable Wales.
Entrance £4. Everyone welcome.
Sustainable Wales’s Green Room returns on Friday, September 29, 8pm.
The evening will be dedicated to ‘new work’, in this case new music from Peter Morgan, and new writing from Kristian Evans, Robert Minhinnick and Hugh Doyle.
Kristian Evans will perform writing that will feature in his popular ‘Kenfig Journal’.
Robert Minhinnick will read poetry based on his father’s ‘Burmese diary’ for 1945, written when Albert Minhinnick was in the second battalion, Welch regiment.
The recently deceased writer, Duncan Bush, will be remembered, with reading of his work.
The evening will also feature an Open Mic for those who wish to take part. After three months away, a healthy turnout is expected.
Everyone welcome. Entrance £4.
Our mission is to seek solutions for the unsustainable way we live. This involves cultural change and has implications for future generations.
Sustainable Wales’s aim is to help revitalise the local economy. We promote social and environmental progress and are enterprising, creative and internationally aware.
We are committed to society, artistic creativity and the natural world. We work with communities, voluntary groups and government.
We believe in this way we can foster an exciting future that doesn’t cost us the earth.
Sustainable Wales | 5 James Street, Porthcawl, CF36 3BG, UK
