10. Short Debate: Wales and the cultural economy: The economic benefits of the creative industries and the arts in a creative Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:11 pm on 29 January 2020.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 7:11, 29 January 2020

Can I also thank Rhianon Passmore for giving me a minute of her time? I represent a constituency with a great choral tradition. Currently in Swansea East, we have the following major choirs: the world famous Morriston Orpheus, Morriston rugby club, Swansea Male, Phoenix Wales—which are all male choirs—Morriston Ladies Choir, where I have the privilege to be president, Tabernacle mixed choir, and Twrw Tawe children and young people's choir.

These choirs, apart from their importance to health and well-being, are both the choristers and the audiences who regularly attend, and they also promote Swansea and Wales abroad. They bring tourists and they actually get our name out there. We become associated with high-quality singing.

When you think of the number of different places where choirs—such as Morriston Ladies and especially the great Morriston Orpheus Choir—have actually performed across the world, including the Sydney Opera House and New York, you get to realise just how important these choirs are.