Richard Glynn Vivian: Retelling the Story

Join us for this free panel discussion with Irram Irshad, Alex Langlands and Norena Shopland!This talk brings together three researchers from a range of disciplines to take a fresh look at the story of Gallery founder Richard Glynn Vivian (1835-1910). Join Irram Irshad, Alex Langlands and Norena Shopland for a new take on an old story, with a chance for discussion and questions at the end.One of a series of talks as part of our Esmee Fairbairn funded Swansea Stories project, where your ideas help shape the future of the gallery.Irram Irshad is a Cardiff-born and raised author. She has published two collections of ghostly short stories, one of poetry, a children's story collection and her first nonfiction book this year, titled 'Celebrating Welsh Heroines'. Her next book due in 2027 is about female illustrators. She is a regular columnist for the online Welsh learner's magazine Lingo360, the children's magazine Cip and has appeared on Radio Cymru and S4C as well as reading poetry at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd in 2024.Alex Langlands (BA, MA, PhD, PGCert, FHEA, FSA) is an archaeologist, historian and broadcaster. He is co-director and founding member of the Centre for Heritage Research and Training at Swansea University, where he is also Associate Professor of Heritage and History. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Institute of Archaeology (UCL) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His doctoral research concerned the history and archaeology of early medieval landscapes. He has worked as a professional archaeologist, and as a broadcaster for BBC, Channel 4 and C5, on projects that have garnered viewers in their millions. He is a Sunday Times Bestselling author and his book Craeft: How traditional crafts are about more than just making (Faber & Faber) has won critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.Norena Shopland has a Master's degree in heritage studies and has worked for the British Museum, National Museums Scotland and the Museum of London among others. She has worked with leading heritage organisations including National Museums Wales, Glamorgan Archives and Cardiff Story Museum. Shopland has extensively researched the heritage of LGBT people and issues in Wales for 15 years. She devised the first project in Wales to look at placing sexual orientation and gender identity into Welsh history, culminating in the Welsh Pride, the first exhibition exclusively on Welsh LGBT people, allies and events, and managed Gender Fluidity, the first funded transgender project in Wales. She arranged for Gillian Clarke to write the first poem in the world by a national or poet laureate celebrating the LGBT people of a country. Her work has appeared in the Welsh press, radio and TV and she regularly provides advice and support on the history of LGBT people in Wales.Contact the Gallery for all access information.
Please get in touch ahead of the workshop if you have specific access needs.
Telephone: 01792 516900
Email: glynn.vivian.gallery@swansea.gov.uk