Led by a partnership between The Open University in Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru, this project aimed to boost people’s pride in place, social wellbeing and heritage skills.
Wales REACH worked with five communities that have been under-served by heritage to shape the project:
- people from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Butetown, Cardiff
- the post-industrial area of Sandfields, Port Talbot
- semi-rural communities across Pembrokeshire
- Welsh-speakers in Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd
- local people with a learning disabilities in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan
Through hands-on activities with museum collections and memory-sharing sessions, participants explored their histories and connected with their local area and each other.
The groups then created artworks inspired by their experiences and the heritage they discovered. These creative responses have been brought together and shared through a digital exhibition and a physical exhibition at St. Fagans National Museum of History, Wales: Told by Us.
Dan Jewson, Wales REACH Project Manager, said “Wales REACH has shown how heritage and creativity can bring people together, build confidence, friendships and create a sense of belonging. Seeing everyone's incredible work brought together at St Fagans, and the pride of participants at the launch, was really special".
Wales: Told by Us at St. Fagans National Museum of History runs until 3 May 2027.
