BiFest Wales 2015 – programme and information

Welcome to BiFest Wales. All the information you need about the day, evening event, workshops and local information should be in this handbook. Please ask at the registration desk if you have any further questions.

Large print, Welsh language and coloured papercopies are available from the registration desk

Workshop timetable

Time / Workshop Room 1 / Workshop Room 2
12:30 – 1:15pm / All about bisexuality
1:30-2:15pm / Introduction to Ethical non-monogamy and polyamory / Craft workshop
2:15 - 3pm / BREAK (refreshments and socialising in the Theatre)
3 - 3:45pm / LGBT Hate crime project / Fun and games
4 - 4:45pm / Bisexuality in Welsh history / Trans* Agony Aunt session
5 – 5:45 pm / Bisexuality and mental health / Informal getting to know you session at the meet and mingle table
6 -7:30pm / BREAK for sound check – Only organisers and performers stay.
7:30pm – 11:45pm / Live music event and DJs in the Theatre (main Bifest room)

Please read the descriptions of each workshop further on in this handbook with more information about each workshop. It’s often hard to describe a workshop in a few words, so the descriptions are intended to give you a bit more information.

Main room (the Theatre) – all day

Registration – starts at 12 noon in the entrance to the main room. Please note you need to register so we have accurate numbers for the event

Craft space - Build your own ideal bisexual, colouring books and craft materials, get together and knit or bring your own craft ideas.
Bisexual information zone - If it's bi related in the UK and we can get our hands on it then find out about it here.
Community information zone - Information from equalities groups, LGBT groups, charities, community groups, public services and more.
Meet and Mingle table - A space to meet and chat to people you've never met before as well as some friendly faces. If you sit at this table it means anyone is welcome to join in conversations. It’s a way to meet new people. Please make newcomers feel welcome in all conversations.
Chill out and social space

Refreshments – a selection of hot and cold soft drinks and some cakes, biscuits and snacks are in the room. Please help yourselves. There is a small amount of vegan and gluten free snacks, so please keep these for people with dietary requirements

Raffle

Raffle tickets are just 20p each or £1 a strip (5 chances to win!) A list of prizes is on reception. Pay for tickets on reception or someone will be walking around with tickets on sale.
Can’t be with us until the end? No worries, names and phone numbers can be written on the back of tickets and we’ll contact you after BiFest Wales if you’ve won.
Please note you must be over 16 to enter the raffle. Also if you’re entering as a family please let us know so we can make sure prizes are age appropriate.
All money raised helps to make BiFest Wales a success, keep entry prices down and any surplus supports the work of Bi Cymru/Wales, Bi Cardiff and Bi Swansea.

Evening live music event– For £2 donation come and join us for an evening of live music. Alternative themed.

Doors 7:30 pm, first band 8 pm, finish: 11:45 pm.
Over 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adults. No under 18s at the bar even ordering soft drinks. Anyone serving alcohol to under 18s will be asked to leave under licensing rules.

A bar will be available in The Theatre on the 1st floor of Swansea YMCA. Please bring ID if you look under 25.
Dance floor and seating throughout the night

Live music from:

8pm – Catherine Elms – dark cabaret singer-songwriter & pianist
Catherine Elms is a singer/songwriter and pianist from Swansea, whose music combines heavy rock, dark cabaret, emotionally-charged melodies and idiosyncratic lyrics. Heavily influenced by Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Amanda Palmer, Catherine’s music has been described as dark, moving, adventurous, and honest.

Check her out: Facebook:

9pm – Between Waves- Female-fronted melodic rock.
Between Waves formed in May 2013. Sick of hearing the same old derivative and safe scream verse/ singing chorus format, Between Waves from day one were intent on creating a distinctive, original and powerful sound, with the key word being BIG!!
Between Waves uses tuneful female vocals to create story based compositions that are instantly relatable to even the most stubborn of listener. With a wide variety of songs Between Waves has something for everyone to rock out to.
Check them out on Facebook:

10pm – Grim Citizens – Punk original and covers
A 3 piece welsh punk rock band with both a male and female vocalist. Grim Citizens do varied covers as well as originals and are influenced by bands like Reuben and Alkaline Trio.
Check them out on Facebook:

11pm – DOx (David Flipping) – Experimental Electronic/EBM
Imperfect Music For Imperfect People.
Check DOx out here:
On facebook :

DJs: Adrian and Draken from Dead of Night (Swansea’s dark alternative night, first Saturday every month in The Scene and Off World Promotions (

Helping you keep dancing the night away till 11:45pm between live acts!

Ground rules

  • No smoking is allowed anywhere in the YMCA. Please go outside the building and cross to the other side of Page Street if you want to smoke.
  • Please turn mobile phones off in workshops (in social space it’s fine)
  • Please turn up promptly to workshops. If there is a 'session closed' sign on the door when you turn up then it's full. Please don't go in.
  • Please help yourselves to refreshments in the main room.
  • Registration is at by the door into the Theatre (main room). Please register when you come in.
  • Please respect confidentiality and personal space. A copy of the BiFest Wales code of conduct is on the tables in the Theatre and in your pack, please read this.
  • Please ask a member of the BiFest Wales team if you have any questions. There will be someone on the reception desk throughout the day to help with anything you may need.
  • Most importantly have fun!

A bit about BiFest Wales

BiFest Wales has been running since 2010, although we took a year off in 2012 and moved from Cardiff to Swansea in 2013.

The day is all about getting to know more about bisexuality, sharing experiences and getting to know like-minded people in a safe and welcoming space.

We welcome people who are allies, friends or family of bisexual people, as well as people of all orientations who are bi supportive and/or want to know more. Everyone at the event is bi-friendly, but they may not be bisexual themselves.

Diversity is a strength of the bisexual community. We welcome and respect people as individuals. Many people may look older or younger than they are and there may be people dressed strangely or whose gender identity or expression doesn’t match what people assume. Some people will be happy to talk about this and others won’t. If you feel like the only one who is ‘normal’ in the room you probably aren’t alone and it’s fine to feel like you won’t fit in to begin with. Bisexual people and allies are all welcome in this space and for many people BiFests, BiCons and other bi community events are some of the few places they feel able to express themselves fully.

There are also some people who have different relationship styles. The bisexual community is very diverse. There may be people who call themselves ‘poly’, ‘non-monogamous’, ‘swingers’ or other terms. The bi community accepts and welcomes all forms of consenting relationships between adults. Sometimes these new concepts are interesting to talk about. Sometimes it’s easy to assume that someone is ‘cheating’ or ‘not committed’ because their lifestyle seems strange. And sometimes when there’s a lot of poly and non-monogamous people in a room it may feel like you’re the only monogamous one. There is a wide-range of people at BiFest and you’re unlikely to be the only one who has questions or who is monogamous. Chat to people and ask questions, but please be polite and remember people may not want to answer personal questions.

It also often seems like everyone knows each other already. At every BiFest and other bisexual community events there are people who have never been to a BiFest or any bi community event before. Some of these people find it easier to talk to new people and form friendships fast. Other people may only see each other once or twice a year at bi community events, but seem like they’ve been best friends forever. Many people at BiFest are often happy to welcome new people and want to make new friends.

There’s also a meet and mingle table and workshops like speed friending and fun and games all intended to help people get to know each other and have fun.

Eating in the area

As well as the small amount of refreshments in the room there are plenty of shops, supermarkets, café’s and restaurants locally. You are welcome to bring your own food into the YMCA, but please clear up after yourself.

There is a Spar directly opposite the YMCA.

Tesco is a short distance away on the corner of Dillwyn Street and Oystermouth Road past the bus station. Sainsbury’s is on Oystermouth Road towards Fabian Way.
The Potters Wheel (Wetherspoons) serves food until 11pm, although there may be a wait. This is on the corner diagonally opposite the YMCA.

There are a lot of cafes, restaurants, bakeries and other places that serve food in the City Centre starting at Oxford Street and throughout the pedestrian zone as well as on Wind Street.

Dominos pizza is on Dillwyn Street.

There are a lot of take-aways on The Kingsway.

Cash machines are also on The Kingsway and Oxford Street.

If you have any questions about places to eat, where things are, or anything else about Swansea and the local area please ask at the registration desk in The Theatre (main BiFest room)

Workshop descriptions

All about bisexuality

An introductory workshop at the start of BiFest Wales talking about different definitions of bisexuality, the bi community and events in Wales and the UK. Followed by a chance to ask those awkward questions you always wanted to, but didn’t feel comfortable to ask or didn’t know who to ask or anything you want to know.

Introduction to Ethical non-monogamy and polyamory

Ever wondered what Polyamory is? Or how people have non-monogamous relationships? This workshop will introduce what polyamory and ethical non-monogamy are, how non-monogamous relationships work and talk about the different challenges and ways people have non-monogamous relationships. Polyamory and ethical monogamy are relationship options, options which people don't often talk about. This workshop is a space to discuss polyamorous and ethical non-monogamous relationships further.

Craft workshop

Craft workshop - explore concepts of your personal identify through drawing and craft. All ages welcome.

LGBT Hate Crime – Andrew Davies from Unity Group Wales presents a workshop to help people to identify and recognise LGBT hate crimes and hate incidents in all their forms (e.g. neighbour harassment, low level harassment, verbal abuse) And to encourage people to speak to someone about incidents that they have experienced with a view to increasing reporting. Presentation of the project and topic with a Q&A from the audience.

Fun and games - An organised space to participate in some fun, interactive games, have fun and get to know other people who’ve come to BiFest Wales.

Trans* Agony Aunt – Roxy Williams, Transgender in Wales (TiW) – a fun, interactive session with an introductory question and answer, followed by groups of participants having a go at answering trans* themed agony aunt letters. At the end of the session you’ll have a chance to write yourown letter to the trans* agony aunt and have it answered by the group.

Bisexuality in Welsh history – Norena Shopland from Draig Enfys LGBT Welsh history project . From the earliest times to the present there have been famous bisexual people in Wales. Who were they? Come and hear their fascinating stories as Norena Shopland introduces you to some people from Bi Wales’ past.

Bisexuality and mental health – Using information from The Bisexuality Report and mental health projects run in the UK we explore mental health concerns in the bisexual community and discuss ways we can support each other and tackle stigma and prejudice against bi people in society.

Local groups

There are currently local bi groups meeting monthly in Swansea and Cardiff. Leaflets are in your packs.

Contact: for details of the Swansea group

for details of the Cardiff group

Sign up on the bi information table

Or find Bi Swansea and Bi Cardiff groups on FaceBook

Bi Cymru/Wales operates as the All-Wales network for bi people and people who think they may be bi and delivers training and campaigns as well as BiFest Wales.

Email: ;
Text (we will phone or text back, this is not a staffed phoneline): 07982 308812

Post: c/o Diverse Cymru, 3rd Floor, Alexandra House, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF5 1JD

Web:

If you want to set up a Bi group in your area we’ll support you to do so and promote your group. All bisexual groups in Wales are independent of Bi Cymru, run by volunteers, and are affiliated to Bi Cymru.Bi Cymru/Wales and the local groups are currently looking for volunteers and committee members. Many roles only involve committing 1 or 2 hours a month. Please contact us for a chat.

BiFest Wales 2016

Provisional date: Saturday 14th May 2016– please put this date in your diary now! BiFest Wales is the second Saturday of May each year, subject to venue availability etc.

All workshops, entertainment, registration and all aspects of the event are run by volunteers.

If you want to run a workshop next year, want to perform or want to help out in any way please let us know.

Please fill in your evaluation forms, as these will help us know what to do the same and what to change for 2016. You can fill these in anonymously if you want. Contact details are optional.

If you want to be informed about BiFest Wales 2016 please add your details to the sheet on the Bi information table or join the Bi Cymru/Wales FaceBook group.

Thank You

Bi Cymru/Wales would like to thank:

  • Swansea YMCA as our main sponsor for the event and providing the venue and sound tech.
  • The Swansea Bay LGBT forum for their support in promoting the event
  • Unity Group Wales and Andrew Davies for helping us promote the event, running a workshop, and getting raffle donations
  • Swansea University Equality team and City and County of Swansea equalities and access to services team for donating printing
  • The DJs Adrianand Drakenfrom Dead of Night (Swansea’s dark alternative night, first Saturday every month in The Scene and Off World Promotions (
  • All the performers –
    Catherine Elms - Facebook:
    Website: Twitter:
    YouTube:
  • Between Waves - Facebook:
    Website: Twitter: @waves_between
    You tube:
  • Grim Citizens - Facebook:
    music glue:
    You tube:
  • DOx - Facebook :
    Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/nh2dox; Bandcamp: nh2dox.bandcamp.com
    Twitter: twitter.com/DOxNH2@DOxNH2
  • Our evening official photographer – Bob Norris from Black Dragon Photography (
  • Roxy from Transgender in Wales; Norena Shopland from Ddraig Enfys LGBT Welsh history project; Carly Stewart from Trinity St. David’s Students’ Union LGBT+ Society and NUS Wales LGBT+ officer (women's place); and Anthony Hayden for running workshops
  • All our registration and meet and greet volunteers and the walking bus.
  • Mat Burt for designing the poster and
  • G John Rees for designing the evening event flier
  • Tesco; The Co-operative food; and Sainsbury’s for donating the refreshments
  • Everyone who donated prizes for the raffle including Off World Promotions; Wilkinson; Odeon and LC2

Everyone has been fantastic and performers, DJs, designers, photographers, volunteers and committee have all volunteered for expenses only, and sometimes not even that!