Category Archives: Workshops

Off the Wall writing & performance workshops

Aberration, Events, Workshops, , , ,

‘Off the Wall’ writing & performance workshops from Aberration

Cymraeg >>

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2026, Aberration invites you to be part of a thoughtful, joyful group that will create new writing and performance pieces together

In these two linked workshops we’ll share our responses to the paintings and photographs in the Portrait & Power exhibition.

Two Saturdays: 31 January & 7 February 2026, 10.30am to 1.30pm at The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

More information

In a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, we’ll create new writing and performance pieces together which will then become part of the programme at our fabulous Off the Wall Extravaganza Night.

These group workshops for LGBTQIA+ adults will be facilitated by Helen Sandler and Jane Hoy of Aberration, and community arts supremo Cath Rigler (who performs as Kitty O’Blitherin).

In the first session, on 31 January, we will visit the Portrait & Power exhibition in the gallery and discuss responses to the stunning paintings and photographs on display. Through writing exercises you can respond to a portrait (or portraits) with significance for you as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

In the second session, on 7 February, we will shape our writing into short performance pieces for the upcoming Off the Wall evening (12 Feb). Individual and group pieces will magically emerge. Anyone who doesn’t want to perform doesn’t have to!

Helen and Cath at previous Aberration
Jane and Cath at last National Library event

SIGNING UP

Interested? Excited? Want to sign up or ask a question? Email aberrationcymru@gmail.com with the subject line Off the Wall Workshops.

THE SMALLPRINT…
Update: In your email please let us know if you will be attending both workshops on 31 Jan and 7 Feb, and whether you are also free for the evening event on 12 Feb. We've changed the criteria and although it would be great if all participants came to everything, it's not compulsory! 
Workshops are FREE (small expenses budget available). Limited places.

>> Make sure you read the main page about the Off the Wall extravaganza night here >>

Accessible venue >>

Aberration is trans-inclusive, anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ run, and aiming for queer fabulousness!

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Pockets of Pride workshops

Aberration, Events, LGBT, Workshops,

Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum and Aberration present:

Pockets of Pride

Cymraeg>>

!!FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST ONLY!!

What is ‘Pockets of Pride’ all about?

It’s time to queer up the museum collection – and you can be part of it!

‘Pockets of Pride’ is a series of three creative workshops for LGBTQI+ people where we will come together as a group to put a queer spin on traditional Eisteddfod purses.

These purses were small prize bags – often elaborately decorated – given to winners of Eisteddfod competitions in the past. The winners would proudly wear them throughout the festival week.

In our playful sessions, you will be supported to stitch, fold and stick a pouch, pocket or purse. Each piece will have its own unique ‘purse-onality’, reflecting your own stories!

The group’s creations will form part of a new permanent LGBTQI+ display at Ceredigion Museum.

When and where do the workshops take place?

For LGBTQ History Month 2026 on three consecutive Saturdays:
21 February, 28 February and 7 March, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Venue: Aberystwyth Bandstand (on the seafront). The venue has good disabled access.

Who are the Pockets of Pride workshops for?

Anyone identifying as part of the LGBTQI+ community and who can commit to all three purse-making workshops. You don’t need experience of sewing or craft, and all materials are provided.

Workshops are free and include light refreshments. Participants will receive a £50 voucher (multi-store gift card) each week in recognition of your contribution.

Places are limited and will be allocated to the first eight people to sign up.

How do I book my place?

UPDATE: FULLY BOOKED – WAITING LIST ONLY!!

First make sure you’ve read this information carefully, then send an email headed ‘Pockets of Pride’ to Carrie: museum@ceredigion.gov.uk

Details of Workshops

SESSION ONE:

What Do You Prize as a Queer Person?

Together we’ll explore what you hold dear – the values, stories and identities that shape you. Through creative exercises, we’ll begin to imaginatively shape the spirit and intention behind your own handcrafted purse, pocket or pouch.

The museum’s curator, Carrie Canham, will join us to give the context of the project, which is inspired by the historical Eisteddfod purses in the current collection. She will share how our creations will contribute to a new LGBTQI display.

SESSION TWO:

Sew your own way

Working with our hands and hearts; we’ll choose fabrics and threads, and start cutting, sticking, assembling and stitching. With guidance and support from Rose and the group, you’ll bring your design to life.

SESSION THREE:

Stitch and finish

Adding the finishing touches to complete our pockets and purses, we’ll explore ways to display them as part of the exhibition at Ceredigion Museum, celebrating our queer creativity. Together we’ll reflect upon and document the process with photographs and words.

Who is facilitating the workshops?

Rose Thorn has worked as a community artist within health and education settings; she is passionate about the therapeutic uses of the arts with people who often feel disempowered. Her own practice has focused on textiles.

Her last collaboration with Ceredigion Museum was with ‘Voices from the Edge’, a global majority group that explored their responses to colonial objects loaned from the British Museum. This culminated in a group exhibition where her hand-sewn drape, called ‘Wake’, explored the movement of people across the seas.

Rose is also a Playback Theatre performer and trainer, which honours personal stories by instantly ‘playing-back’ what the audience shares. Her interest in the body, breath and mind continues with teaching local yoga classes.

Run by Ceredigion Museum in association with Aberration

Supported by Museums Federation Cymru

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Gweithdai ‘Off the Wall’

Cymraeg, Workshops, ,

Gweithdai ysgrifennu a pherfformio ‘Off the Wall’ gan Aberration

Saesneg / English >>

I nodi mis LHDTC+ 2026, mae Aberration yn eich gwahodd i fod yn rhan o grŵp meddylgar a llawen fydd yn creu darnau ysgrifennedig a pherfformiadau newydd gyda’i gilydd.

Yn y ddau weithdy cysylltiedig byddwn yn rhannu ein hymatebion i’r paentiadau a ffotograffau yn arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer.

Dau Ddydd Sadwrn: 31 Ionawr & 7 Chwefror 2026, 10:30am i 1:30pm, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth

Mwy o wybodaeth

Mewn awyrgylch cefnogol a llawn annogaeth, byddwn yn creu darnau ysgrifennedig a pherfformiadau newydd gyda’n gilydd, a fydd yn rhan o’r rhaglen yn ein noson ‘Off the Wall’ fawreddog.

Bydd y gweithdai hyn ar gyfer pobl LHDTC+ yn cael eu hwyluso gan Helen Sandler a Jane Hoy o Aberration, a’r arbennigwr celf cymunedol Cath Rigler (sy’n perfformio fel Kitty O’Blitherin).

Yn y sesiwn gyntaf, byddwn yn ymweld ag arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer yn yr oriel ac yn trafod yr ymatebion i’r paentiadau a ffotograffau anhygoel sydd i’w gweld. Trwy ymarferion ysgrifennu byddwch yn gallu ymateb i bortread (neu bortreadau) sy’n arwyddocaol i chi fel aelod o’r gymunedLHDTC+.

Yn yr ail sesiwn, byddwn yn troi’r gwaith ysgrifennedig yn ddarnau i’w perfformio ar gyfer digwyddiad ‘Off the Wall’ (12 Chwefror). Bydd darnau unigol a rhai grŵp yn uno’n hudol. Does dim rhaid perfformio os nad ydych chi am wneud!

Helen a Cath mewn digwyddiad Aberration blaenorol
Jane a Cath yn y digwyddiad diwethaf yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol

COFRESTRU

 diddordeb? Wedi cyffroi? Eisiau gofyn cwestiwn? E-bostiwch aberrationcymru@gmail.com gyda’r pwnc ‘Gweithdai ‘Off the Wall’’

Mae’r gweithdai AM DDIM (mae peth arian ar gael ar gyfer costau). Nifer gyfyngiedig o lefydd.

Noson ‘Off the Wall’ >>

Digwyddiadau yn Saesneg yn bennaf.

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Peace of Writing workshop 27/7/24

Aberration, Archive, Women, Workshops, , ,
Cymraeg >>

[PAST EVENT] Saturday 27 July 11am to 3pm Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth: Creative writing workshop hosted by Sian Howys of Academi Heddwch Cymru, with historian Norena Shopland and Aberration’s own Jane Hoy, inspired by the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of 1923-24. Scroll down for details and booking link.

You may have heard of the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition, which was signed by nearly 400,000 women from across the country, sent in a huge chest to the USA a century ago; and has recently returned to Cymru. But who were the women who signed this petition? We will hear the stories behind some of these women, and have the opportunity to write our own stories, poems or other writing in response to their lives.

Images of some of the women who signed, provided by their relatives

Details

Welsh Women’s Peace Appeal 1923/24
Peace of Writing Creative Workshop – free of charge!

Education Room, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Saturday July 27 11 am – 3 pm

Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be provided and Pendinas cafe will be open for light refreshments.

With Norena Shopland (Women and LGBTQ+ Historian) and Jane Hoy (Queer Tales from Wales and Aberration). You will be guided to produce short pieces of creative writing – poems, stories or other –  inspired by the hidden histories of the women who signed the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition 1923/24.

Four women with petition
M.G. (Gladys) Thomas; Mary Elizabeth Ellis; Annie Jane Hughes-Griffiths; Elined Prys
(Gwefan Llyfrgell Genedlaethol / National Library of Wales website)

You can present your work in Welsh or English. With your permission, the Petitioning Peace project would like to consider including any finalised pieces within the project’s collection of creative work.  

To receive further information about the workshop and to book your free place please email: post@academiheddwch.cymru