The Talking Shop Blackwood is Back

Nov 21 2024 - Posted by Yvonne

The Talking Shop Blackwood is Back

The Talking Shop in Blackwood in Caerphilly County is re-opening on Monday 2nd December 2024. We currently have secured enough investment to keep the doors open until nearly the end of March. We will take a break over the festive period (21st December to 5th January).

How can you get involved?

Professionals working in the arts/creative/cultural sector – exhibit your work on our gallery wall or book the upstairs studio space for free. Promote your work. Bring in a poster, flyers or information to add to our what’s on weekly calendar. Apply to become a Talking Shop creative host. Or simply use the shop to work, meet, relax, network, hang out, test out an idea with the public, dream.

Public Bodies and Creative Organisations – Collaborate or partner with us. Share information with the public. Hire the upstairs studio space. Or simply use the shop to work, meet, relax, network, hang out, test out an idea with the public, dream!

Members of the public – use the shop, it is yours. It is a shop which sells nothing where information, conversation, democratic deliberation and creativity are all free. And so is the tea. You don’t have to chat. There is loads to do and find out inside the shop. Add to our ‘what’s on’ wall, pick up or share some information, meet professional creatives, join in a conversation or creative activity, have a cup of tea, use the free WiFi, put your feet up, meet others or just chill out with a book, a jigsaw or work, browse, draw, doodle, dream. You decide. It is your space. All ages are welcome because #everyonesinvited

Collide, connect, converse, create, collude inside The Talking Shop.

No need to book. Just turn up and walk on in and make yourself at home.

For information about exhibiting on our gallery wall, booking the upstairs studio space, contributing to our programme or applying to become a Talking Shop creative host please email omidaze@outlook.com

Since the final trial ended at the end of June 2024 we have been busy behind the scenes trying to secure long-tern investment to be able to pioneer the first long-term Talking Shop in Wales.

We remain optimistic that the Blackwood site will be this pioneering site and that we will be able to remain open beyond March 2025 however that is yet to be confirmed.

Omidaze passionately believe that new money is not needed to make a Talking Shop sustainable and long term. Rather multiple stakeholders (including the police, health boards, public service boards, regional partnership boards and cross departments of local authorities together with cultural organisations and additional partners and collaborators) need to come together and repurpose their various budgets strands for public consultation, engagement and participation in a more joined up, creative and effective manner in line with the Well-being of Future Generations Act seven goals and five ways of working.

We are also exploring the possibility of a long-term Talking Talking Shop in North Wales and the North East of England with multiple stakeholders and The Talking Shop on Tour model which we hope will be ready to be rolled out in summer 2025.

For further information email omidaze@outlook.com