Councillors to discuss new event proposal

Town Councillors are due to discuss a new event proposal put forward by Creative Stuff Newtown.

The Economy & Environment Committee of Newtown Town Council is set to discuss an exciting new event proposal during its upcoming meeting on Monday 3rd July.

The proposal involves hosting a Pop-up Pride event as part of the upcoming Kindness Festival scheduled for the 19th of August 2023. The initiative stems from previous discussions surrounding the inclusion of the Pride movement in Newtown.

During the October 2022 committee meeting, Councillor Tracy Owen, in collaboration with Community Youth Representative G Wallis, expressed the desire to bring the Pride movement to Newtown. This was inspired by the successful Pride event held in Llandrindod Wells in the same year.

The initial proposal aimed to incorporate a Pride presence at the 2023 Newtown Carnival, and it was suggested that Councillors Owen and Jack Griffin Lewis, along with Youth Representative Wallis, work with the Newtown Carnival Committee to develop a fully costed plan.

In the subsequent December 2022 meeting, Councillor Owen presented the proposal, highlighting the importance of demonstrating the council's support for a Pride event that promotes inclusivity and opposes all forms of discrimination. It was suggested that a Newtown or Powys Pride organisation should apply for funding independently to host an event in Newtown.

Since then, meetings have been held with Councillors Owen and Lewis, as well as Youth Representative Gemma Wallis, in an effort to find a resolution to the Pride event proposal in Newtown.

Creative Stuff Newtown CIC has submitted a proposal to the Town Council for a Pop-up Pride event to take place during the Kindness Festival on the 19th of August 2023.

The Pop-up Pride event, organised by Creative Stuff Newtown CIC, aims to gauge the community's interest in a full-scale Pride event in the future. Creative Stuff Newtown intends to collaborate with the Youth Representative, members of the Town Council, and local Pride organizations to develop a detailed program for the event.

The proposed elements include a marquee, a stage for music, performances, and inspirational talks, Pride-themed decor, workshops for creating decor and costumes, representation from local services offering support to the LGBTQ+ community, and an opportunity for individuals to register their interest in a future Pride event.

The organisation has asked for a budget of £1,500 which will cover the necessary expenses, including the marquee, chairs, tables, staging blocks, microphone, PA equipment, decor, promotional materials, event planning, administrative tasks, insurance, stage management, technical support, and a post-event report.