A ‘POP Up University-by-the-sea’ is being launched at Barry Island's new outdoor Amphitheatre on the Eastern Promenade on Tuesday, June 30.

Come along between noon and 2pm where there will be a lunchtime programme of 10 minute talks.

The event grew from an idea posted on the Barry IdeasBank, with the event being run as part of the Wales Festival of Innovation celebrations. The event is free and you can stay for just one talk or enjoy the whole two hour programme of 12 lectures.

Speakers will include inspiring people as well as from the Professional Speakers Association Wales, covering a diverse range of topics.

Keeping with the ‘Pop Up University-by-the-sea’ theme, deck chairs will be available, along with free bubble kits to encourage fresh thinking, and using the inspiration of the Ancient Greeks whose great philosophers lectured on the shores of the Mediterranean.

The event will be one of the first held under the new outdoor Barry Island Amphitheatre which features a giant white canopy to protect against any inclement weather.

Local social enterprise, the Flexible Thinking Forum - which runs the Barry IdeasBank - teamed up with local network groups and the Professional Speakers’ Association all offering their services for free, with deck chairs kindly loaned by Promenade Amusements owned by Patrick Collins Jnr, along with sterling support from the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Resort Management team.

The ‘Pop Up University’ is an opportunity for local inspiring people to share their ideas, experiences and knowledge.

Further details are at the event’s Facebook site or on the Barry IdeasBank at yourideasbank.org.uk.

Commenting on the idea Andy Green of the Barry IdeasBank said: “We hope to use the occurrence of a stunning, inspiring location at Barry Island, along with inspiring speakers will create an entertaining and educational event, with fresh seaside air, fresh thinking and fresh ideas.”

The Barry IdeasBank is a pioneering project acting as a catalyst for encouraging more creative and innovative communities through stronger collaborations and connections.

It is run by the Flexible Thinking Forum with the support for the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, along with Barry Town Council, the Vale of Glamorgan Council, community group Pride in Barry and leading opensource innovation software provider Crowdicity.