In 2017 we were approached by teachers from Cardiff High School to discuss the possibility of collaborating on an Expressive Arts project. The students to take part were year 10 pupils who had chosen to study Arts, Music or Drama at GCSE level. The idea was for the pupils to visit St Fagans, have an introduction into an aspect of the collections before responding creatively back at school.

The theme chosen for the project was ‘Protest’. The students received a talk from a curator on a number of items in the museum’s collection linked around the theme. These included objects relating to the Rebecca Riots, Welsh language protests, the miner’s strikes, Women’s suffrage, along with others.

Upon returning to school, the students prepared their works in response to the collections, before returning to St Fagans to showcase their artworks, and perform in the Atrium. Museum staff, visitors and students’ parents all enjoyed seeing the work the pupils had made. Cardiff High returned again the following year to repeat the project with a new intake of pupils.

This is a model we would like to roll out to more schools. If you are interested, please get in touch to discuss ideas with us!