Silenced Sunrise in Cardiff

This event is structured in two parts: a 30-minute film screening followed by a 90-minute participatory workshop. Silenced Sunrise: Chinese Censorship vs. Taiwan’s Music, a documentary produced by TaiwanPlus and based on ongoing research by the PI. The film tells the story of Taiwanese musicians banned in China and draws from over 30 in-depth interviews.

Censorship practices are not only enforced within authoritarian states but also have transnational impacts—such as the banning of Oasis in China following their support for Free Tibet. The event aims to foster evidence-based dialogue among creatives in Cardiff about how censorship—whether political or commercial—affects their practices. By sharing lived experiences and imagining alternative futures, the workshop will explore how artistic freedom can be better protected.

Creative Cardiff, with its strong regional network and role in amplifying the city’s creative economy, provides an ideal partner for this initiative. The event will contribute to positioning Cardiff as a global hub that supports freedom of expression and artistic innovation. The screening will be followed by a workshop engaging around 50 key stakeholders, including musicians, curators, and policymakers. Participants will reflect on challenges to creative freedom, especially in commerce-driven contexts shaped by global censorship pressures. The session will also gather feedback through open discussion, participatory methods, activities, and audience reception.

Findings will be shared in a short article to inform future policy conversations, assess long-term impact, and support continued dialogue across international contexts. This event seeks not only to raise awareness, but to inspire collective action in defence of creative rights. The event aligns directly with the theme of ‘our working lives’ by foregrounding how artists, musicians, and cultural producers are impacted by external pressures that shape their professional freedoms, livelihoods, and expressions.

Dr Chen-Yu Lin, Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries

Adults over 18. 

Individuals working in the creative industries and the general public.