admin PRESS RELEASE – DATGANIAD I’R WASG
Embargo: 00:00 16/09/2021
Launch of “Game-changing” project in the TV and film industry
Culture Connect Wales (CCW) launches today (September 16th, 2021). CCW is the product of a partnership between the diverse ethnic communities of Wales, the film and TV industry, and the Welsh Government through Creative Wales. CCW supports the film and TV industry engage with ethnically diverse talent and provides opportunities for both.
Fadhili Maghiya, CEO of Watch Africa CIC and founder of Culture Connect Wales said:
“CCW is delighted to be joined by Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Arts and Sport and Chief Whip, Creative Wales, representatives from BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Cymru Wales, S4C and Channel 4 alongside ethnically diverse individuals who work in the TV and film industry to share their experiences. We are also happy to be joined by X-Ray and Weatherman Walking presenter, Mo Jannah, who also produces shows for BBC and Channel 4. We hope that following the launch of Culture Connect Wales, we can help create a partnership to benefit these communities and the TV and film industry in Wales.”
“Ethnically diverse individuals with transferable skills, from hairdressing to design, from HR to finance, could find a role in the growing TV and film industry, an industry that is keen to benefit further from the skills and talent the individuals from the ethnic diverse communities can provide. This helps the industry grow and helps to reflect further the different cultures of Wales. It’s about creating partnership. This could be a real game-changer in the industry.”
Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sports and Chief Whip said:
“The screen industry in Wales is thriving, and is busier than ever, with many productions currently underway, and much more growth expected over the coming years. This means there are opportunities for people across Wales to access a variety of roles created around each production, from costume design to hair and make-up, electricians, carpenters, camera operators and beyond.
“This new initiative will help to remove barriers and enable people from ethnic minority backgrounds to access training and guidance they need, in turn, creating long-term careers in the sector.
“As Welsh Government we are committed to ensuring inclusivity and diversity is a key consideration across all key sectors, The Welsh Government’s ‘An Anti-racist Wales – The Race Equality Action Plan’ outlines our commitment to tackling structural and systemic racism to create a Wales that is proudly anti-racist by 2030.”
Phil Henfrey, Head of News and Programmes at ITV Cymru Wales, said:
“We are delighted to be a media partner supporting Culture Connect Wales. Diversity and inclusion are so important to us as a company and to our output, and we are committed to progress our work in this area even further.
Opening new pathways and opportunities for people from under-represented communities in Wales, and ensuring that the sector reflects – both on and off screen – those communities, is a vital part of the work we should be doing every day.”
Catrin Hughes Roberts, Director of Partnerships, S4C added:
“S4C is delighted to support this important scheme that bridges the skills of the diverse communities of Wales with the film and television industry. We must work in practice to address the historical imbalance between who works in the industry and who does not. It’s great to work with a number of key partners to support Connecting Cultures Wales. ”
Culture Connect Wales (CCW) is a project of Watch Africa CIC. Culture Connect Wales is funded by BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Cymru Wales, S4C, Channel 4 and by the Welsh Government through Creative Wales. CCW was founded by Fadhili Maghiya, CEO of Watch-Africa. CCW will officially launch on the 16th of September.
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