The quest for free speech

On the 27 November, Index on Censorship will be hosting a day that aims to discuss if Wales is enjoying its rights to artist free expression. The group’s aim is to explore and promote free speech around the world but this month its focus will be on Wales.

The event, at Chapter Arts Centre, will bring together artists to discuss linguistic battles, dwindling resources, poor infrastructure and more.

Julia Farrington, associate producer of Index, said that she hoped the event would “provide a platform to discuss the issues in Wales. Many artists we have spoken to acknowledge that there is space to express themselves freely in Wales, but there are many barriers to them taking advantage of that freedom.”

Tickets for the event can be found on the link below.

http://bit.ly/14uqe4j

Offering a platform where creative within Wales can debate
if freedom of speech truly exists in the country.

In the build up to the event on the 27 November, Index on Censorship have been hosting various online chats that aim to put the question of free speech to the community. The first online chat was held back in July and was set up to spark the conversation on whether, Wales is enjoying artistic freedom?.

So far there have been three of these online discussions where Index invites various artist, storytellers and playwrights to have their say. They have complied some of the responses from those taking part in the online videos.

Bethan Marlow, Playwright/ Storyteller.

“Wales is different to the rest of Britain. The work is different and what is being said is different and people in Europe can identify with the work”.

Lisa Jen, actor/ singer/ writer.

“We are playing safe. I want to feel scared, feel danger”.

Mari Emlyn, artistic director Galeri Caernarfon

“We censor the work we create as well as censor what we say about other people’s work. As a small nation we are all afraid to offend. We all know each other.”