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A break for Wales this summer as Mardi Gras rests up

Wales-Cardiff Mardi Gras 2008 cancelled

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Sadly the show will not go on this summer in Wales. Cardiff-Wales Mardi Gras have decided to take a year off and 2008 will not see the streets of Cardiff celebrating LGBT Pride. The decision very much regretted by Safer Wales and the 2007 voluntary Mardi Gras committee but they felt despite the success over the years of Cardiff-Wales Mardi Gras dwindlering community and financial support meant the break had to be had. 2007 was their most successful yet and even though Cardiff-Wales Mardi Gras has boasted an attendance of around 40,000 in recent years, the decision had to be made. Mark Williams of Cardiff Mardi Gras said “the Mardi Gras committee have given extensive personal time and effort without payment to ensure the event is considered to be one of the front runners in the UK gay pride event calendar. The high demands placed on committee members have made it difficult to retain volunteers and attract new ones. The committee have worked hard in recent years to raise funds and with growing costs for the event and infrastructure this has become increasingly difficult. This was no more evident than in the fact that nearly all of the entertainers at 2007 event performed for no charge. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our funders and sponsors who have had the vision to support the event over the years in particular the Co-Operative Group; Admiral Insurance; the Fire & Rescue Services of Wales; Cardiff Council and National Assembly for Wales. We also wish to thank our partners South Wales Police and our many market traders who have been with us since the outset of the event. We’re hoping that Cardiff-Wales Mardi Gras will return in 2009 and our discussions with our supporters continue to this end. “

South Wales Police have worked in conjunction with the organisers of Cardiff-Wales Mardi Gras over the last decade, and have seen the event grow in size and importance within the region to the success of last year. Commenting on the decision A/Chief Inspector Daryl Fahey of the South Wales Police Minorities Support Unit said, “While it is disappointing that the event will not be going ahead this year, the work we have been carrying out will continue unabated. As an organisation we have both an external and an internal diversity unit, along with a Gay Staff Network, and are well placed in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index as an employer of choice. The Minorities Support Unit of the South Wales Police work closely with Safer Wales and look forward to doing so in the future. The work of the Independent Advisory Groups and various community forums we contribute to will continue, and we look forward to making good progress with our work to combat Hate Crime within our communities”.
The news may disappoint but with a year off the energy, support and finances required to produce a Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras 2009 surely will be supplied. Wales wouldn’t want it any other way.

www.cardiffmardigras.co.uk