Portrait & Pride gallery tour 24/4 >> Tour of the National Library’s portrait exhibition highlighting the queer stories behind some of the pictures. Aberration & NLW
Queer Lit Quarterly 8/5 >> Four fabulous LGBTQ+ authors in one night! Gayberystwyth Books supported by Aberration
Balchder Mach Pride 16/5 – follow them on socials! A packed day of celebratory LGBTQ+ events at the Owain Glyndwr Centre, Machynlleth, including ‘Cwtsh Corner’ with Queer Tales from Wales.
My Love All Love Excels: Book launch 5/6 >> Norena Shopland launches her new biography of the woman-loving-woman poet, Katherine Philips. Supported by Aberrationand Parthian
1pm Friday 24th April 2026, Gregynog Gallery, The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU
Join Jane (Aberration) and Phoebe (The National Library of Wales LGBTQ+ Forum) to start Aber Pride weekend with an informal tour of the Portrait and Power exhibition, celebrating some of the Queer stories behind the portraits. FREE.
There will be a chance to carry on the conversation in Pen Dinas café after the event.
1pm Dydd Gwener 24ain Ebrill 2026, Oriel Gregynog, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU
Ymunwch â Jane (Aberration) a Phoebe (Fforwm LHDTC+ Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) i ddechrau penwythnos Pride Aber gyda thaith anffurfiol o’r arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer, gan ddathlu rhai o’r hanesion cwiar tu ôl i’r portreadau. AM DDIM.
Bydd cyfle i barhau’r sgwrs yng Nghaffi Pen Dinas ar ôl y digwyddiad.
Join Norena Shopland and Aberration, in association with Parthian Books, as they launch Norena’s new biography on the Anglo-Welsh poet Katherine Philips.
Katherine has many accolades – the first woman to have a play commercially produced; a seventeenth-century Civil War poet of distinction; someone who broke the rules of poetry; one of the first notable female poets in the world; one of the first to write of same-sex attraction, the list goes on.
Katherine’s extraordinary story will be brought to life with poetry readings, songs and talks that will amuse and amaze, and will show why Katherine Philips must be regarded as one of Wales’ best poets.
A fabulous Aberration takeover of the gallery after hours!
Noson arbennig! Off the Wall is a playful, creative, thoughtful and celebratory evening of spoken word and performance to an audience of LGBTI+ people and allies, at The National Library of Wales. Inspired by the Portrait & Power exhibition, bringing the portraits ‘off the wall’, and asking ‘How do we want to be seen?’
Aberration’s Out of the Frame evening at National Library, July 2025 (Anthony Pugh)
Latest news! Unique presentations from exhibition artists Denver K Shai and Morgan Dowdall especially for you! 🎉 Plus amazing brand-new performance pieces from radical cabaret artists Poppy Cock and Penny Comequick! Queer Tales from Wales (Jane Hoy with Colin Audigé-Soutter and Simon Robson) zhoosh up a story from the history books, and Kitty O’Blitherin brings the art ‘off the wall’. With new queer performances emerging from our recent workshops (presented by The Off the Wallers – Alex, Avi, Hannah, Inge, Mila, Miles), music from Elaine Turnbull & Amy Ellen, and your host Helen ‘Aitch’ Sandler guiding the way through these delights.
PROGRAMME: At 6.30pm we will gather for drinks and snacks, then lead into the Gregynog Gallery around 7pm for the tour with pop-up talks and performances, followed by fun activities, sketching by Hilary Reed and more. A chance to look round the whole Portrait & Power exhibition at the end. Finish around 9pm. Event mainly in English with some Cymraeg.
Everyone is welcome to come along to watch and listen.
If you’d like to be more involved, we’re playing with the theme ‘How would you like to see yourself in a portrait?’ So you can bring an object you would like to include if someone was painting YOU, or dress up as a living self-portrait! Or come in your civvies and just enjoy the ride!
Evening includes new writing from group workshops (now fully subscribed). See below…
Off the Wall workshops
Sat 31 January & Sat 7 Feb 10.30am to 1.30pm: Two inspiring linked workshops for LGBTQ+ adults where we will respond to the portrait exhibition with new writing and performance. Click to see details >>
With thanks to NLW/LLGC for their enthusiastic partnership working & financial support.
About Aberration
Aberration is a series of exciting events with an LGBTQ+ theme. We aim for a friendly community space. Everyone is welcome at our public events including open-minded straight friends and allies. (Some smaller group workshops are specifically for those who are / think they might be LGBTQ+) Events are very much trans-inclusive as well as highlighting lesbian, gay and bi lives and culture, and other queer identities – all under one rainbow! Your friendly hosts are Jane Hoy, Ruth Fowler and Helen Sandler. For Off the Wall we are joined by talented creative practitioner Cath Rigler (who performs as Kitty O’Blitherin).
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 AberrationJane and Cath at last National Library event
SIGNING UP
The workshops are now fully subscribed but if you have signed up and want to ask a question, please email aberrationcymru@gmail.com with the subject line Off the Wall Workshops.
THE SMALLPRINT…
Workshops are on 31 Jan and 7 Feb, and 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.
Ar gyfer Mis Hanes LHDTC+ 2026, mae Aberration yn cyflwyno noson o lawenydd a pherfformiadau cwiar cyffrous wedi’u hysbrydoli gan arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer.
Jan Morris gan Michael Tomlinson; Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
Noson wych yn yr oriel!
Mae ‘Off the Wall’ yn noson chwareus, hwyliog a chreadigol o ddathlu trwy berfformiad gair llafar gan Aberration i gynulleidfa LHDTC+ a’u cyfeillion. Wedi’i ysbrydoli gan arddangosfa Portread a Phwêr, bydd y portreadau’n dod yn fyw, a bydd y cwestiwn ‘Sut ydyn ni eisiau cael ein gweld?’ yn cael ei drafod.
Aberration: ‘Out of the Frame‘, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Mis Gorffennaf 2025 (Anthony Pugh)
Nos Iau 12 Chwefror, Llyfrgell Genedlaethl Cymru: 6:30pm. Dod at ein gilydd am ddiodydd a thamaid i’w fwyta, yna fyny i Oriel Gregynog am 7pm ar gyfer sgyrsiau byr a pherfformiadau gan artistiaid a’n grŵp gweithdy, gyda portreadau-ar-y-pryd a mwy.
Gyda: Denver K Shai, Morgan Dowdall, Poppy Cock, Penny Comequick, ‘Queer Tales from Wales’, Kitty O’Blithering a mwy! 🎉
Bydd cyfle i edrych o gwmpas arddangosfa Portread a Phŵer ar y diwedd. Gorffen tua 9pm. Digwyddiad trwy gyfrwng y Saesneg yn bennaf gyda pheth Cymraeg.
Dere fel rwyt TI wastad wedi dymuno cael dy weld – yn hunan-bortread byw. Dehongla hyn fel y mynnot; neu dere â gwrthrych sy’n bwysig i ti. (Croeso cynnes i’r rhai mwy swil hefyd!)
Dydd Sadwrn 31 Ionawr & Dydd Sadwrn 7 Chwefror 10:30am i 1:30pm: Dau weithdy ysbrydoledig ar gyfer oedolion LHDTC+ ble byddwn ni’n ymateb i’r arddangosfa bortreadau trwy eiriau a pherfformiad. Cliciwch i weld manylion ac i gofrestru >>
Am Aberration
Mae Aberration yn gyfres o ddigwyddiadau cyffrous gyda thema LHDTC+. Ein nod yw creu gofod cymunedol cyfeillgar. Mae croeso i bawb i’n digwyddiadau cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys ffrindiau a chynghreiriaid sydd â meddwl agored. (Mae rhai gweithdai grŵp llai yn benodol ar gyfer y rhai sydd / sy’n meddwl y gallent fod yn LHDTC+). Mae digwyddiadau’n gynhwysol iawn o ran trawsrywedd yn ogystal ag amlygu bywydau a diwylliant lesbiaidd, hoyw a deurywiol, a hunaniaethau cwiar eraill – i gyd o dan un enfys! Eich gwesteiwyr cyfeillgar yw Jane Hoy, Ruth Fowler a Helen Sandler. Ar gyfer Off the Wall mae’r ymarferydd creadigol talentog Cath Rigler yn ymuno â ni.
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
A special edition of Queer Lit Quarterly for young readers
[PAST EVENT]
On Friday 12 December 2025 at Aberystwyth Arts Centre at the earlier time of 4pm
Gayberystwyth Books and Aberration Cymru invite you to join us at our ‘Children’s QLQ’ for an afternoon of children’s literature and entertainment. Up to 2 children can attend for FREE with each paying adult. Also of interest to teachers.
Our speakers will be:
Ian Timbrell, author of ‘It’s More Than Flags and Rainbows’, written to help schools develop the confidence and know-how to ensure meaningful, fully inclusive provision for all.
Steve Antony, author of bilingual picture book ‘Enfysawrws / RAINBOWSAURUS’ Dyma stori dau Dad a’u tri o blant ar eu hantur i ddod o hyd i’r Enfysawrws. / Join two dads and their three children as they set off on an adventure to find the Rainbowsaurus.
Sam Langley-Swain, author of ‘Santa’s Wish’ and ‘Where Björn Belongs’ – A heartfelt Christmas story of friendship and belonging, centered around the unbreakable bond between an autistic boy and a polar bear.
Mel Elliott, author of ‘The Girl with Two Dads’ – A funny and heart-warming tale about the differences and similarities between families. With a special guest appearance from Anwen Pierce, who translated the book into Cymraeg as ‘Y Ferch â Dau Dad’.
Also… Balloon twister, modeller and entertainer ‘Tricky the Twister’ Neil Kitchin-Wilson, will be with us for the afternoon, creating wonderful models and caricatures!
This event will have cabaret-style seating with tables and chairs. Good access but please contact venue if your access needs require suitable seating or designated wheelchair space.
Tickets via Aberystwyth Arts Centre at £6.50 for one adult and up to 2 children.
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 blaenorolJane 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.
Mae ‘Pocedi o Falchder’ yn gyfres o dri gweithdy creadigol ar gyfer pobl sy’n perthyn i’r gymuned LHDTCRh+ lle byddwn yn dod ynghyd i roi ein stamp ein hunain ar byrsiau traddodiadol yr Eisteddfod.
Bagiau bach oedd y pyrsiau hyn – yn aml wedi’u haddurno’n gywrain – a roddid fel gwobr i enillwyr cystadlaethau’r Eisteddfod yn y gorffennol. Byddai’r enillwyr yn eu gwisgo’n falch trwy gydol wythnos yr ŵyl.
Yn ein sesiynau llawn hwyl, byddwch yn cael cymorth i wnïo, plygu a gludo bag, poced neu bwrs. Bydd gan bob un ohonynt ei ‘bwrsonoliaeth’ unigryw ei hun, gan adlewyrchu eich straeon chi!
Bydd creadigaethau’r grŵp yn rhan o’r arddangosfa LHDTCRh+ parhaol newydd yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion.
Pryd a ble mae’r gweithdai’n cael eu cynnal?
Ar gyfer Mis Hanes LHDTC 2026 ar dri dydd Sadwrn yn olynol:
21 Chwefror, 28 Chwefror a 7 Mawrth, rhwng 10.30am a 2.30pm.
Lleoliad: Y Bandstand, Aberystwyth (ar y Promenâd). Mae’r lleoliad yn hygyrch i bobl ag anableddau.
Ar gyfer pwy mae’r gweithdai ‘Pocedi o Falchder’?
Ar gyfer unrhyw un sy’n uniaethu fel rhan o’r gymuned LHDTCRh+ ac sy’n gallu ymrwymo i bob un o’r tri gweithdy creu pyrsiau. Nid oes angen profiad gwnïo na chrefft, a bydd yr holl ddeunyddiau yn cael eu darparu.
Mae’r gweithdai yn rhad ac am ddim ac yn cynnwys lluniaeth ysgafn. Bydd cyfranogwyr yn derbyn taleb £50 (cerdyn rhodd aml-siop) bob wythnos i gydnabod eich cyfraniad.
Mae nifer y lleoedd yn gyfyngedig a’r wyth person cyntaf i gofrestru bydd yn cael lle.
Sut ydw i’n archebu fy lle?
Yn gyntaf, gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod wedi darllen y wybodaeth hon yn ofalus, yna anfonwch e-bost gyda’r pennawd ‘Pocedi o Falchder’ at Carrie: museum@ceredigion.gov.uk
Mae’n bryd rhoi stamp ein cymuned ar gasgliad yr amgueddfa – a gallwch chi fod yn rhan ohono!
Manylion y Gweithdai
SESIWN UN: 21 Chwefror
Beth sy’n bwysig i chi fel person cwiar?
Gyda’n gilydd, byddwn yn archwilio’r hyn sy’n bwysig i chi – y gwerthoedd, y straeon a’r hunaniaethau sy’n eich llunio chi fel person. Trwy ymarferion creadigol, byddwn yn dechrau archwilio’r syniadau a’r ystyron yr ydych am eu mynegi drwy’ch pwrs, poced neu fag bach eich hun, wedi’i greu â llaw.
Bydd curadur yr amgueddfa, Carrie Canham, yn ymuno â ni i roi cyd-destun y prosiect, sydd wedi’i ysbrydoli gan y pyrsiau hanesyddol yn y casgliad presennol. Bydd hi’n rhannu sut y bydd ein creadigaethau yn cyfrannu at yr arddangosfa LHDTCRh newydd.
SESIWN DAU: 28Chwefror
Gwnïo eich ffordd eich hun
Gan weithio gyda’n dwylo a’n calonnau; byddwn yn dewis defnyddiau ac edau, ac yn dechrau torri, gludo, cydosod a phwytho. Gydag arweiniad a chefnogaeth gan Rose a’r grŵp, byddwch yn dod â’ch dyluniad yn fyw.
SESIWN TRI: 7 Mawrth
Pwytho a gorffen
Gan ychwanegu’r cyffyrddiadau terfynol i gwblhau ein pocedi a’n pyrsiau, byddwn yn archwilio ffyrdd o’u harddangos fel rhan o’r arddangosfa yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion, gan ddathlu ein creadigrwydd cwiar. Gyda’n gilydd, byddwn yn myfyrio ar y broses ac yn ei dogfennu gyda ffotograffau a geiriau.
Pwy sy’n hyrwyddo’r gweithdai?
Mae Rose Thorn wedi gweithio fel artist cymunedol mewn lleoliadau iechyd ac addysg; mae’n frwdfrydig dros ddefnyddiau therapiwtig y celfyddydau gyda phobl sy’n aml yn teimlo eu bod wedi’u dadrymuso. Mae ei hymarfer creadigol ei hun wedi canolbwyntio ar decstilau.
Roedd ei chydweithrediad diweddaraf ag Amgueddfa Ceredigion gyda ‘Voices from the Edge’, grŵp o’r mwyafrif byd-eang a archwiliodd eu hymatebion i wrthrychau trefedigaethol a fenthycwyd gan Amgueddfa Prydain. Daeth y project i ben gydag arddangosfa grŵp, lle’r oedd ei gorchudd wedi’i wnïo â llaw, o’r enw ‘Wake’, yn archwilio symudiad pobl ar draws y moroedd.
Mae Rose hefyd yn berfformiwr a hyfforddwr Theatr Playback, sy’n anrhydeddu straeon personol drwy ‘adlewyrchu’ ar unwaith yr hyn a rennir gan y gynulleidfa. Mae ei diddordeb yn y corff, yr anadl a’r meddwl yn parhau gyda dosbarthiadau ioga lleol y mae hi’n eu dysgu.
Dan drefniant Amgueddfa Ceredigion mewn cydweithrediad ag Aberration
Cefnogir y Gweithdai hyn gan Ffederasiwn Amgueddfeydd Cymru
