Mas ar y Maes with Pride to map Welsh language LGBTQ+ activities in Wales

As the Welsh Government launches its LGBTQ+ Action Plan today, Mas ar y Maes with Pride, a partnership between the National Eisteddfod, Stonewall Cymru, Glitter Cymru, Pride Cymru, Pontio, Bangor University and the LGBTQ+ community in Wales, has embarked on the work of mapping LGBTQ+ artistic activity both professionally and at community level in Welsh across Wales.

The aim is to produce a resource to assist promoters programming LGBTQ+ work in all parts of the country.  So, if you’re an artist from the LGBTQ+ community who can speak Welsh or is learning our language, please complete the online mapping questionnaire https://eisteddfod.wales/2023-mas-ar-y-maes-mapping.

The network has appointed Osian Meilir to gather information on cultural and artistic activities created by the LGBTQ+ community in Welsh, and he says, “This is an exciting project and I’m delighted to be leading on creating the first database of its kind here in Wales.  Our aim is to assess and analyse what’s already happening, seeing what works and what may need extra support or help.

“Once we’ve collected all the information, we’ll be creating a resource for groups across Wales who want to organise and hold Welsh and bilingual events supporting artists from the community. 

"Working on this project within the Mas ar y Maes with Pride network has been great as we’re bringing together so many groups and organisations with the similar aims of supporting, empowering and creating and offering opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s also good to work on the first resource which has the language as an integral part of the opportunities on offer.

“We’ve also launched five Welsh artistic commissions for artists from the community, and the two elements of the project interlink wonderfully.  More information on the commissions here, https://eisteddfod.wales/2023-mas-ar-y-maes-commissions.”

Mas ar y Maes with Pride was created in summer 2022, building on the work started by the LGBTQ+ community in Wales, Stonewall Cymru and the National Eisteddfod in 2018, nurturing and developing new talent and elevating historically underrepresented voices and communities.  The mapping and the new commissions will help us to reach new audiences within the LGBTQ+ communities both by creating exciting queer cultural projects and collating the excellent work already happening across Wales.

The deadline to apply for the commissions is 09:00, Monday 20 February.  Applicants can contact project officer, Osian Meilir for a chat about these and the mapping project before applying by emailing osianmeilir@gmail.com.