City inspiration for Eisteddfod

There’s a local flavour to Cardiff University’s activities at the 2018 National Eisteddfod as the capital city hosts the country’s largest cultural festival.

Talks and discussions have been inspired by not only Cardiff’s culture and history, but also its creativity and wildlife.

Topics include Cardiff as a creative hub and the relationship between Welsh and English place names in the city.

Visitors to the University-sponsored Science and Technology Village can also find out how our research is boosting understanding of the local marine environment.

We are co-organising the Eisteddfod’s very own carnival of the sea - Carnifal y Môr – on the Saturday evening which will celebrate the Eisteddfod’s arrival in the city and Welsh links to culture around the world.

Illuminated carnival costumes have been inspired by an ongoing community collaboration with scientists at the University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Visitors are also invited to climb aboard our research vessel RV Guiding Light, which will be moored in Cardiff Bay and open to visitors for the duration of the Eisteddfod.

Or if you prefer dry land, why not take part in one of our guided walks to enjoy the richness of wildlife in the area.

This year’s National Eisteddfod is the first in a decade to be staged in Cardiff.

But it is no ordinary Eisteddfod with the festival in Cardiff Bay using a mix of iconic permanent buildings such as Wales Millennium Centre, and temporary structures.

The Maes is situated around the Oval Basin where visitors will find the Cardiff University pavilion staging a series of fascinating talks, discussions and activities.

One of our highlights is the popular media debate which will once again feature a panel of high-profile opinion formers from the sector in Wales.

This year’s subject is Cardiff’s future as a creative hub on the UK and international stage. Cardiff – a Creative City: Competing on the International Stage takes place on Tuesday 7 August in the University pavilion from 12:00.

The University’s exciting Llais y Maes (Voice of the Maes) digital news service returns for its sixth appearance, in partnership with ITV Cymru Wales, S4C and the National Eisteddfod.

Cardiff University students studying at the School of Journalism, Media & Cultural Studies will again work alongside industry professionals to create unique multi-platform content from the Maes.

And in a session launching ITV Cymru Wales and S4C’s journalism training scheme, broadcaster and communications advisor Guto Harri will discuss his career and his new political series at the Cardiff University tent on Wednesday 8 August (16:00).

Meanwhile the University’s Head of the School of Welsh, Dr Dylan Foster Evans, has several talks looking at the cultural and linguistic history of Cardiff. These include:

• Stories of the highs and lows of previous Eisteddfods in the city (Saturday 4 August in the Literary Pavilion from 12:45)
• The history of Welsh in Cardiff (Monday 6 August at Shwmae Caerdydd in the Pierhead from 13:00)
• The relationship between the Welsh language, the memory and the city (Wednesday 8 August, Literary pavilion, 11:00)
• The relationship between Welsh and English place names in Cardiff (Thursday 9 August in Societies 1 from 13:00)

He will also appear with Eisteddfod Crown designer Laura Thomas and Eirwen Williams, from the School of Welsh, on Tuesday 7 August (Societies 3, 17:45) to discuss how the University-sponsored 2018 Crown was created.

Laura, a contemporary jeweller from Neath, worked with members of staff from the University to create her stunning design.
The Crown has been on display with the Chair at National Museum Cardiff ahead of the Crowning ceremony at the Eisteddfod on Monday 6 August.

Other Cardiff University highlights include:

• Creative Cardiff is bringing its Show and Tell format to the Eisteddfod, welcoming speakers from across Cardiff's creative industries to share their current projects and ambitions.  Dr Llion Pryderi Roberts, of the School of Welsh, will host poets Osian Rhys Jones and Gruffudd Owen and author Eluned Gramich (Saturday 4 August, Societies 2, 16:30). And Dr Keith Chapin, from the School of Music, will chair an event featuring musicians Ani Glass and Marged Rhys alongside dancer Eddie Ladd (Monday, 6 August, Folk Tent, 17:00)
• Professor Sioned Davies, School of Welsh, explores the Cardiff of the Mabinogion (Monday 6 August, Cardiff University pavilion, 14:00)
• Dr Siôn Llewelyn Jones, School of Social Sciences, looks at the impact of Welsh-medium education on the aspirations of young people in the south Wales valleys (Monday 6 August, Cardiff University pavilion, 15:00)
• Emeritus Professor Bill Jones, School of History, Archaeology and Religion, delivers Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlathol’s annual lecture – Wales, emigration and the Welsh overseas between the World Wars (Tuesday 7 August, Literary pavilion, 11:00)
• Dr Iwan Wyn Rees, School of Welsh, examines what has inspired linguists to collect and record different dialects, while also revealing some of the findings from his recent research in Patagonia (Tuesday 7 August, Societies 3, 13:15)
• Broadcaster Garry Owen from BBC Radio Cymru, Gethin Williams from NHS Wales and Steffan Lewis AM discuss how the challenge of bowel cancer can be met in Wales (Tuesday 7 August, Cardiff University pavilion, 14:30)
• Professor Laura McAllister, from the Wales Governance Centre, will consider whether the biggest constitutional overhaul in the National Assembly’s short history could help it deliver more effective government for the people of Wales (Tuesday 7 August, Societies 1, 16:00)
• Professor Roger Awan-Scully, Wales Governance Centre, discusses Labour’s hold over Wales at general elections based on his new book (Wednesday 8 August, Cardiff University pavilion, 13:00)
• Dr Siwan Rosser, School of Welsh, leads a celebration of the contribution of Gwasg y Dref Wen to Welsh children’s literature (Thursday 9 August, Cardiff University tent, 14:00)
• Professor Colin Williams, School of Welsh, considers new methods of social intervention to promote languages in a holistic way (Thursday 9 August, Societies 3, 14:30)
• Professor Richard Wyn Jones, Wales Governance Centre, leads a discussion with a panel of leading lawyers in Wales on the future of the justice system (Friday 10 August, Societies 2, 12:00)
• Official launch of Cardiff’s Welsh speakers’ students’ union, UMCC, with Welsh Language Commissioner Meri Huws as guest speaker (Friday 10 August, Cardiff University pavilion, 17:30)

The 2018 National Eisteddfod takes place in Cardiff from 3-11 August.