Wales and South West England Office

Our team supports members by organising events and professional development opportunities, and through political engagement with the Welsh Government and Senedd. We also work with Welsh specific funding pots and grants, and with the Wales TUC and CULT Cymru.

Contact us

We are your first point of contact for anything and everything to do with your career as a musician across Wales and the border regions. We also cover Cheltenham, through Salisbury, Weymouth, and all the way down to Penzance.

Contact info

0292 045 6585 Send an enquiry Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 5:30pm

Transport House 1 Cathedral Rd Cardiff CF11 9SD

Andy Warnock

Regional Organiser

Wales & South West England

wswe@theMU.org

Ruth Ballantyne

Regional Officer

Wales & South West England

wswe@theMU.org

Calliope Cooper-Russell

Membership Services Assistant

WSWE Regional Office

wswe@themu.org

Get involved with your Region

Meet the Wales & South West England Regional Committee

The Wales and South West England region has a dynamic Regional Committee made up of activist members who help to deal with issues and policy in the region. Meet the members, find out what they do and how you too can be involved.

Wales & South West England Regional AGM

Members and MU Officials meet once year at the AGM to discuss the work of the MU and its Regional Office.

Watch: An Overview of the Wales & South West England Regional Committee

In this short video clip, hear from Wales & South West England Regional Committee members about why it's important to get involved and what issues, whether they be local or national, are typically discussed at Committee meetings.

South West England news

Naomi Pohl at Labour Party Conference 2024 holding a placard that says 'Labour's New Deal for Working People'.

MU Celebrates Employment Rights Bill – A Major Win for Trade Unions

We welcome the Labour Government's new Employment Rights Bill, introducing measures that strengthen the collective voice of workers across the UK.

Published: 10 October 2024

Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking at Labour Party Conference 2024.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer Backs Access to Music Education for Every Child

The Prime Minister shared how music has improved his life, and why he supports access to music education for every child.

Published: 25 September 2024

A photo of orchestra musicians wearing campaign t-shirts and holding placards, with one speaking into a megaphone.

Welsh National Opera Orchestra Take Industrial Action Over Proposed Pay Cuts

Musicians in the Welsh National Opera orchestra took Action Short of Strike on Saturday 21 September.

Published: 24 September 2024

Highlights From the MU at Tolpuddle Festival 2024

At this year’s Tolpuddle festival - which celebrates the trade union movement with a joyful range of workshops, performances and more - the MU’s Campaign & Organising Support Official took to the stage for a panel on Creative Arts, as well as joining members in the traditional banner march.

Published: 30 July 2024

Old, golden theatre binoculars resting on top of a musical score sheet.

What the Current Status of UK Opera Funding Means for Musicians and Audiences in 2024

Further to the release of Arts Council England’s Let's Create report, an analysis of opera and music theatre in England and Wales, journalist Andrew Stewart investigates the sector's current landscape and how this relates to the report, our members and the wider industry.

Published: 01 July 2024

WNO orchestra players holding up placards that say 'Protect WNO'.

Protect Welsh National Opera: Email Your Political Representatives for Support

Email your political representatives to support musicians campaigning to protect Welsh National Opera jobs and secure the company’s future, including touring in England and Wales.

Published: 30 October 2024

MU Celebrates Employment Rights Bill – A Major Win for Trade Unions

We welcome the Labour Government's new Employment Rights Bill, introducing measures that strengthen the collective voice of workers across the UK.

Published: 10 October 2024

Welsh National Opera Orchestra Take Industrial Action Over Proposed Pay Cuts

Musicians in the Welsh National Opera orchestra took Action Short of Strike on Saturday 21 September.

Published: 24 September 2024

Members of the WNO orchestra stood outside the Wales Millennium Centre at a leafleting demo event in June. One person is holding a megaphone.

MU Urges Arts Council of Wales to Use Additional £1.5m Funding to Protect Welsh National Opera

We welcome the acknowledgement of the crisis facing Welsh arts organisations, and urge Arts Council of Wales to use the additional funding to protect full-time performing jobs at Welsh National Opera.

Published: 13 September 2024

Welsh National Opera Orchestra Set Date for Industrial Action Over Pay Cuts

Musicians in the Welsh National Opera (WNO) orchestra will be taking industrial action on Saturday 21 September, supported by the MU. 

Published: 05 September 2024

Protect Welsh National Opera! Diogelu Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru!

Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England funding cuts are putting the future of Welsh National Opera (WNO) at risk.

Mae toriadau ariannol gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru ac Arts Council England yn fygythiad i ddyfodol Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru.

These cuts must not be allowed to happen on our watch.

Protect WNO

Rhaid i’r toriadau hyn beidio â digwydd tra ein bod ni wrth y llyw.

Diogelu WNO

Protect Welsh National Opera! Diogelu Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru!

Upcoming events in Wales & South West England

Last chance to book

Woman sat cross legged in yellow dungarees, smiling as she looks at an laptop on her knees.

06 Nov 2024

Freelancing for Creatives: Taxes and Finance

This online, three hour workshop, is aimed at people who work in the creative industries. It will be of particular interest to people who are either currently freelance or thinking of going freelance and is a safe space so that you can return your tax returns with confidence.

Online

Last chance to book

08 Nov 2024

Feldenkrais: Move Better, Feel Better, Perform Better

Free up your playing and singing using the Feldenkrais method, a sensory-motor learning system which looks at our mind and body holistically.

Online Member only

Last chance to book

stacked rocks on the shore against blue sky

11 Nov 2024

Guided Meditation

An extremely efficient and powerful meditation practice, based on Ascension meditation techniques.

Online Member only

Wales and South West England Office