Here's the latest Argus column by Torfaen County Borough Council leader Cllr Anthony Hunt:

AFTER the last 18 months, I can’t tell you how nice it was standing in a field listening to live music.

Even the odd spot of rain couldn’t dampen my spirits at Green Man Festival this weekend.

Green Man is a Welsh institution with a great reputation beyond our borders.

People return year after year for the unique, friendly atmosphere, great live music, film, books, other art and culture - and of course the fantastic scenery of the Brecon Beacons.

We are lucky in Gwent to have such an event so close by to our north.

I volunteered to help at Green Man this year because the cultural and events industry has had such a difficult time thanks to Covid-19.

I think it’s important to show them support, not least because so many people have seen their work dry up, but also because of the importance of cultural events, the visitor and tourism sector and the creative industries going forward.

Often when we talk about economic development we focus on traditional employers like big factories.

Those employers remain vital – especially grounded Welsh firms who play a leading role in modern manufacturing and are often recognised around the world for the quality of what they do.

But the cultural and creative sector is also a big deal, creating jobs and bringing money into Wales,- and yet it sometimes gets overlooked.

We should be confident in selling our culture and our creativity – we’re very good at these things.

We have a unique industrial and creative heritage.

We have two languages.

We have amazingly strong communities with cultural organisations that are the envy of others.

We have fantastic Welsh talent across music, art, writing, crafts, film and more. As Green Man at the weekend showed, we can put on superb events, even at the most difficult of times.

Don’t just believe me, read the five star reviews for Green Man, from the NME to the Guardian. Yet sometimes we don’t shout loud enough about these things.

So thank you to everyone who came along to Green Man, as a visitor, as a performer or as part of the crew who make it all happen, from founder and force of nature Fiona Stewart down.

For me, volunteering is also an important part of who I am.

When you lead an organisation, you should never forget where you came from, or forget what it’s like to be a worker rather than the boss.

Volunteering is a way to keep grounded and never forget those things.

It’s also refreshing to do something completely different for a few days – a change is often as good as a rest!