There's lots of networks which help to support, develop and connect the city's creative community. Here's a list of the ones we know about. Find a downlodable PDF version of the document at the bottom of the page which will be regularly updated.
If you know of others we should add to the list please email Creative Cardiff.
Bitcoin Wales
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): The Prince of Wales
Description: This group provides opportunities for Bitcoin enthusiasts to meet informally and discuss all things Bitcoin. Whether you are new to Bitcoin and want to learn more or if you are an experienced user, come along and introduce yourself. Bitcoin Wales operates local groups across Wales and currently operates in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. Please visit our website here for more details.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/all-about-bitcoin-meetup-group-wales/
CaRdiff – The Cardiff R User Group
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Fortnightly
Venue (if regularly used): Bar 33
Description: The Cardiff R User Group (CaRdiff) is aimed at folks who are already using R, or are looking to get into it. R is an open source language for analysing data, statistics, visualisation and much, much more. It's a great language to have under your belt - if you're a non-techy it extends your Excel and SAS skills and for techies it allows easy data processing and presentation on the front-end.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff-R-User-Group/
Cardiff Arts Collective
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Non-frequent Events
Venue (if regularly used): Various Spaces
Description: The CardiffArtsCollective provides benefit to creative practitioners within the Arts - supporting one another through our own specific mediums and providing opportunities for crossover collaboration. This combination of skills, expertise and experience of the individuals forming the Collective allows for a diverse output programme, where each member can take the lead on different projects - whether an educational strand of workshops, open studios, exhibitions, one-off events or professional development - all under one banner.
Contact: http://www.cardiffartscollective.co.uk/
Cardiff Bloggers
Sector: Publishing
Frequency: No info
Venue (if regularly used): Chapter
Description: A community organisation aiming to encourage and foster links between local bloggers. The group is run by volunteers in their spare time. We aim to hold an event every two months, with a mix of presentations, panel discussions and socials.
Contact: cardiffblogs@gmail.com
Cardiff Creative Writers
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used):Various Spaces
Description: The group is primarily a writers group and so each meeting is a space for any to have their literature work shopped. If short then this can be done without having seen the piece in advance, if long then some notice and making of the work available on line will be necessary. All members are required to review work constructively.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff-Creative-Writers
Cardiff Graph Databases
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Not Specified
Venue (if regularly used): Various Spaces
Description: Welcome to the Cardiff meet up for Neo4j, the world's leading graph database. We think graph databases are the future of data storage, because it's so expressive to model interesting connected data in a graph and super-fast to query too.
Contact: - http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff_wales_Graph_Databases-Meetup /
Cardiff Life Model and Artists Meet Up
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Weekly
Venue (if regularly used): 10 Feet Tall
Description: We are a group of life models that work across South Wales with schools, colleges, individual artists, university student groups and at our own weekly life drawing sessions. We are also a group of artists that wish to express themselves through figurative work or to hone our drawing skills at drop in life drawing sessions. We already manage successful weekly life drawing sessions in Cardiff and Newport but would like to use this group to expand into half and full day life drawing opportunities. The greater the reach and the knowledge of who and how many will be attending a day session will enable us to plan in more or less models and so make these more expensive to run sessions financially viable.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff-Life-Model-and-Artists-Meetup/
Cardiff Software Testing Meetup
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Start-up so not established as yet
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: This group aims to provide a meeting place and regular events in Cardiff for anyone involved in testing products in an Agile environment. Come to meet fellow testers, share stories and experiences about tools and techniques which may, or may not, have solved testing problems on other Agile projects. This is a place of learning, where live demonstrations of tools will be given for FREE - no more expensive training courses for simple (and free) open-source testing tools.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff-Software-Testers-Meetup/
Cardiff Start
Sector: Design: product, graphic and fashion design. IT, software and computer services
Frequency: 4-6 Weeks
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: Cardiff Start is a group of entrepreneurs, startup founders, creatives, students, and investors who believe that our city – Cardiff, the capital city of Wales – is a brilliant place to work and live. We are passionate about sharing knowledge, advice and help. We’re also a friendly bunch, so come join us on Facebook and Twitter, come to one of our regular meetups, or add your name to “Collective”, and invite someone out for a coffee.
Contact: @CardiffStart / http://cardiffstart.com
Cardiff Storytelling Circle
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Chapter
Description: A few lines to describe who it’s for, what it is (use their own words as much as you can!)
Contact: evans.berry@bigfoot.com
Cardiff Young Entrepreneurs
Sector: Cross sector
Frequency: Infrequent
Venue (if regularly used): Various Spaces
Description: This group is aimed to help entrepreneurs engage with one another, to be a catalyst for joint ventures and to encourage business development through networking with passionate and committed individuals.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Young-Entrepreneur-Project/
Cardiff Young Professionals
Sector: cross-sector
Frequency: Not specified
Venue (if regularly used): Various Venues
Description: CYP are a group who run networking events in and around Cardiff exclusively for young professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners, providing an opportunity to meet like minded people. CYP was founded by a small group of local young professionals who wanted to change the face of networking in Cardiff.
Contact: http://www.cardiffyp.co.uk/ / @CardiffYP
CAVETSY Cardiff and Valleys Etsy Sellers
Sector: Art & Craft
Frequency: Variable, but we have an event on average once a month
Venue (if regularly used): Varies
Description: A co operative team of Designer Makers that trade on the website Etsy.com we organise various workshops for members, as well as markets and pop-up shops. And promote each other through our ongoing website and social media channels.
Contact: Sarah on cavetsy[at]gmail.com
Creative Mornings
Sector: Cross-Sector
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: Creative Mornings is a breakfast lecture series for the creative community.
Contact: @CM_Cardiff / http://creativemornings.com/cities/cdf/talks
Design Circle RSAW South
Sector: Architecture
Frequency: Infrequent
Venue (if regularly used): Various Spaces
Description: Design Circle is the southern branch of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales [RSAW]. It represents 600 of approximately 830 registered architects across Wales and is an organisation run for and by architects and designers. It provides aprofessional and social platform for its members, as well as those of the wider construction design professions.
Contact: http://www.designcirclersawsouth.co.uk/
DevOps Cardiff
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Spaces
Description: Our aims are simple; 1. Demonstrate tools, techniques and practices we use to bridge the gap between software development and IT groups they rely upon. 2. Facilitate discussion on DevOps successes and challenges. 3. Explore, experiment and learn new and better ways of practicing DevOps.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/DevOps-Cardiff /
Diff.NET
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Acorn, Duke St
Description: Packed with talks from awesome speakers, and copious amounts of pizza these events are perfect to understand a new topic or dig a little deeper
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/diff-NET/ / @diffdotnet
Digital Tuesday
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various South Wales Spaces
Description: A movement not an event. We bring together an active and passionate community committed to driving opportunity and economic growth through digital technologies.
Contact: http://www.digital-tuesday.com/
Doo:zie
Sector: Cross-sector
Frequency: Quarterly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: [do-zee].....a creative community for creatives, in and around Cardiff and South Wales, aimed at providing an opportunity for creative people to come together : to meet : to connect : to discuss: to process ideas : to share knowledge and skills : to collaborate and realise creative ambitions..
Let us know your creative ideas! Do you have any ideas for events or want to know more about what we do? We're always pleased to hear from you! Get in touch.
Contact : @doozie_cc / http://doozie.org.uk
Drupal South Wales
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Not Specified
Venue (if regularly used): Various Computer Spaces
Description: South Wales Drupal User Group. We meet occasionally at @FoHub to talk all things Drupal, and are usually in #drupal-wales and #drupal-uk on Freenode.
Contact: @swdug / http://www.swdug.org.uk/
EST Net
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: In frequent, not set regular events
Venue (if regularly used): Various Conference Spaces
Description: Created in 2011, the ESTnet is a network of technology organisations whose members design, develop, manufacture or integrate electronic and software technologies. ESTnet's associated members include supply chains and the professional services which support it. Our affiliate members provide the industry with professional services, and our academic members provide the industry with good quality graduates and opportunities to collaborate on research and innovation.
The network provides a collaborative environment in which people and organisations working with these enabling technologies can create strong business relationships, exchange knowledge and share ideas.
Contact: @TheESTnet / enquiries@estnet.uk.net
Fizzi Events Music Networking
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Four Bars at Dempseys
Description: A very informal networking event for anyone in the local music industry, which aims to encourage collaboration, the exchange of ideas and to have a bit of a catch up.
Contact: liz@fizzievents.com
Games Wales South
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: Games Wales is a non-profit industry group made up of Welsh games developers, educational institutions, media partners and industry bodies with a shared interest in promoting the games industry in Wales. We run the annual Wales Games Development Show, and organise social and educational events through Games Wales South and Games Wales North.
Contact: http://gameswales.org/south/ / @gameswalessouth
Hatch
Sector: Design: Graphic, Product & Fashion
Frequency: Monthly
Venue: Design Council For Wales Office
Description: Hatch is the Design Commission for Wales’ network for fresh-thinking shapers of the built environment in Wales
Contact: http://dcfw.org/hatch/ / @HatchDCFW
I Am Woman
Sector: Cross Sector Women
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Mercure Holland House Hotel
Description: I AM WOMAN is ‘heart centred’ family of aspiring women in business, management and leadership, who motivate, inspire, empower and support one another through its global network of Business Clubs and services.
Contact: / http://www.iamwoman.biz/
Ignite
Sector: Cross Sector
Frequency: Bi-monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Glee Club
Description: What would you say if you had 5 minutes to talk to Cardiff? Events with inspiring speakers, brought to you by Team Ignite Cardiff
Contact: http://ignite.wales/
Meet:Market
Sector: Advertising, Marketing & PR
Frequency: Bi-monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various, usually social spaces
Description: in association with the CIM, enabling the ideal opportunity for chat with like-minded marketers in a relaxed social setting.
Contact: @MeetMarketWales
Meteor Cardiff
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Not specified
Venue (if regularly used): Various Computer Spaces
Description: Meet other developers using Meteor. Share your knowledge, apps, and get feedback from others. Meteor is an open-source platform for building top-quality web apps in a fraction of the time, whether you're an expert developer or just getting started.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Meteor-Cardiff / @MeteorCardiff
NTW Community
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Frequent Online Interaction
Venue (if regularly used): Website based
Description: We welcome and encourage your comments, blogs and any other contributions to the Community in your language of choice
Contact: http://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/
Open Data Wales Meetup
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: A few lines to describe who it’s for, what it is (use their own words as much as you can!)
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Open-Data-Wales-Meetup/
Open Rights Group Cardiff
Sector: Cross Sector
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Venues
Description: Monthly meet-ups for anyone interested in digital rights: from copyright, freedom of expression, censorship, parody, privacy, open data... See the Open Rights Group website for the kind of issues we discuss. All welcome!
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/ORG-Cardiff/
Producer’s Place
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Open meetings: 3-4 times a year
Venue (if regularly used): Chapter
Description: Producers’ Place is a new network for producers in Wales. The network aims to strengthen links between people who self-identify as producers in the arts (whether they have that job title or not) – to foster dialogue, share ideas and offer practical support to the participants
Contact: Laura Drane - http://www.laurahdrane.com/
Push Auto
Sector: Film, Radio, TV & Photography
Frequency: Bi - monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: A place to meet, drink and chat for those in broadcasting in Wales
Contact: @push_auto
Rabble Talks
Sector: Design: product, graphic and fashion design
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Kin + Ilk
Description: Rabble is a regular social event for all kinds of creative peeps. Join the Rabble and get together to listen to interesting people, have a few drinks, make some new friends and generally have a good time.
Contact: @RabbleCardiff
ResponsiveOrg Cardiff
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Start-up so not established as yet
Venue (if regularly used): Various Social Spaces
Description: This is the Cardiff chapter of the global responsive org movement. This group is for people who want their organisations to adapt from the industrial model of doing business to a responsive model better adapted to the network age. We will hold ResponsiveCoffee mornings and ResponsiveOrg meetups. The primary aim is to learn and share knowledge about how we can help our businesses adapt to this challenge. This is not a Marketplace for products or services.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/ResponsiveOrg-Cardiff/
South Wales Agile Group
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Little Man Coffee
Description: This is a group for anyone interested in the use of agile to create a better way of working. Anyone is welcome, experience of agile methods isn't necessary. We'll be looking to share and learn from each other, listen to war stories, try and help those where we can.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/South-Wales-Agile-Group/
SQL Cardiff
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Weekly
Venue (if regularly used): Ty glan yr afon
Description: SQL Cardiff is a group dedicated to bringing its members more knowledge about SQL Server whether it's straight database administration & development, business intelligence, or using it in scalable or cloud-based solutions.
Contact: http://www.meetup.com/Cardiff-SQL-Server-User-Group/
Unified.diff
Sector: IT, software and computer services
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Acorn Recruitment
Description: For too long, Cardiff's software development community has been fragmented by language, discipline, and platform.
unified.diff is a monthly meet-up for anybody involved or interested in the field of software development. We hold tech talks, and trade war stories.
Contact: http://unifieddiff.co.uk/
Urbanistas
Sector: Cross-Sector Women in Creative Industry
Frequency: Monthly
Venue (if regularly used): Various, usually social space
Description: Urbanistas is a women-led network empowering collaborative people to act and do “urban” in more social ways. We are passionate about growing women’s leadership and capacity, to start and grow their own projects and ideas that help make everyday life better in cities for everyone. Urbanistas empowers women to harness the power of our networks, across a wide spectrum of people and organisations, to deliver the kinds of projects we’ve always wanted to, but been held back either by personal confidence or organisational timidity. We believe that it is critical for women to have a free space of their own for their ideas to grow their own legs and take their own shape. All of our work is based on collaborating, sharing and positive actions.
Contact: UrbanistasCDF@satorilab.org / @UrbanistasCDF
Warp Breakfast Club
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Weekly
Venue (if regularly used): Various, usually social space
Description: Begun as part of the Unit(e) programme and Louise Hobson's Library residency, Warp hosts a weekly breakfast club. Intended as informal meeting to start the day and get the brain working. Come join us in Unit 8/The Warp Library for coffee, croissants and chat. All welcome. 80's attire optional.
Contact: @_warp
What Next?
Sector: Music, Performing & Visual Arts
Frequency: Weekly
Venue (if regularly used): Rotating Venue
Description: We’re the Cardiff chapter of What Next? – a local chapter of a national movement to articulate and strengthen the role of culture in society. We’re a group of people who work in and share a passion for the arts and culture; we meet every Wednesday morning at 8.30am for an hour. Meetings rotate around some of the key arts/ cultural organisations in the city; please check the agenda for details each week. Details of our next meeting will be posted on the homepage on or around Monday evening/ Tuesday morning each week.
Contact: @WNCardiff /https://whatnextcardiff.wordpress.com
