Looking for something to do this Easter? Get yourself along to The Talking Shop©
The Talking Shop© is now open, smack bang in the centre of both Newport and Cardiff city centres. The Talking Shop©, is a cultural and democratic information centre, created by Omidaze Productions and delivered in partnership with The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, Youth Cymru, Sophie Howe the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and the Electoral Commission and in collaboration with multiple other organisations including Cardiff and Newport City Councils and National Theatre Wales.
The Talking Shop© in Newport is open throughout April and is located at Unit 9 Friars Walk, which is run by Tin Shed Theatre as a multi-functional pop-up arts and community space. The Talking Shop© Cardiff opened on 8 April 2022 and will be there until at least July and can be found at 18 Castle Arcade just opposite the entrance to Cardiff Castle. Both talking shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9am – 5pm (except Easter Monday) and everyone is invited.
The Talking Shop© is a free public space for all, which encourages and promotes cultural and democratic participation. It is a place for the public, artists and creatives to come together, collide, converse, connect, collude and create. Just pop in and sit on the sofa, have a cup of tea, share ideas, be inspired and informed.
The Talking Shop is a Culture Whats On Space where you can find things out. Find out what theatre, music, art exhibitions or live events are happening in your local community and in the cities of Cardiff and Newport. This is a place to drop in to and find stuff out. To add to. To be part of. It’s a physical “What’s On” space that everyone helps to curate.
The Talking Shop is a Democratic Information Centre where you will find The Democracy Box© www.thedemocracybox.co.uk. This is not about party politics, it is about how we make sure EVERYONE understands the basics of our UK democracy.
It’s about how we can creatively inform and engage ALL generations in our UK democracy. Access, engagement and social justice are key. It is a place for debate, discussion and conversation. Big questions inside one little shop.
Omidaze works with young people aged 16-26, born or based in Wales, as paid Democracy Box co-creators. The Talking Shop© is a public space where Newport and Cardiff people of all ages are encouraged to pop along to find out more about interesting local events and activities, ask questions, register to vote and have free and open discussions about democracy and what it means to them, ahead of the local elections in May 2022.
Take a look at this short film from the Newport Youth Council to find out more of what to expect when you go into The Talking Shop in Newport; https://youtu.be/Q49xcJmxg-M
Sophie Howe, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales said;
“It's been so enlightening to work with Omidaze Productions and The Democracy Box to find out more about how some of our talented young people want to see the Well-being of Future Generations Act being used to create a Wales fit for future generations.
"It’s vital that young people have an opportunity to shape their future and that politicians listen to them, and The Talking Shop is a brilliant initiative that I hope will encourage even more young people to feel comfortable using their democratic right to demand more from those running the country - for a greener and more equal Wales for now and in the future."
Emily Mae Jones (18) Democracy Box© young co-creator said:
‘I wanted to learn more about democracy and politics, but I could never find a clear explanation in a way I could understand until I joined this project. As well as developing my own knowledge I have the amazing pleasure of educating other people about UK Democracy and highlighting that there is absolutely no shame in not knowing - because I didn’t either.
My outlook has completely changed on UK Democracy. I finally feel confident instigating conversations about democracy and also just being involved in discussions.’
All artists, creatives and the public of Newport and Cardiff and surrounding areas are invited to use the space to work, to think, to talk, to find stuff out, to share and to be together. Together we are transforming cultural and democratic one conversation at a time.
“Talking shop is a wonderful model for direct engagement with the possibilities that collective thinking and action provide. Now, more than ever it is crucial that we listen to each other, the Talking Shop is a brilliant way of making this happen.” Lorne Campbell Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales
The month-long trial in Newport and one month of the Cardiff Talking Shop have been made possible through support from The Elections Division of the Department for Local Government of the Welsh Government while two additional months in Cardiff have been made possible through the investment of the Cares Family, UnLtd and the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
Omidaze is now working in partnership with Sophie Howe the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and creating new Democracy Box music videos and podcast episodes which explain the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This new content is being screened inside the Newport and Cardiff Talking Shops. Here is an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sTv1h8eWow
