Press Releases

Two hundred years ago on 1 May, The Slave Trade Abolition Act came into force, and if  you thought the people of Wales had nothing to do with the slave trade – you would be wrong !

Wales has been involved with slavery for over 2,000 years, from before the arrival of the Romans through the horrors of the transatlantic trade routes – and even today.

2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the British parliamentary abolition of the slave trade - a major milestone in the fight against slavery worldwide. To commemorate this, the National Waterfront Museum is mounting an exhibition looking at the important role played by Wales and its people both in the trade and the fight against it.

The transatlantic slave trade underlay many aspects of the social, political and economic development of Wales and had an impact on almost everyone. From the industries that helped fuel the trade - iron, copper and woollen cloth - to the products that Wales consumed -  sugar, rum, tobacco and cotton - everyone had a part to play, whether they liked it or not or whether they knew it or not.

The people of Wales have also been at the forefront of the fight against slavery: lobbying governments, helping escaped slaves and campaigning for human rights. Today that fight still continues as illegal slavery still exists in the form of human trafficking for enforced prostitution and cheap consumer goods produced by bonded labour.

Head of the Musem, Steph Mastoris said: “The exhibition looks at Wales and slavery, past and present. Concentrating on the supporters and opposers, it will also highlight issues such as human rights and fair trade, and explain the legacies of slavery in modern day music and popular culture.”

 The exhibition will be supported by a thought-provoking programme of special talks and workshops. A smaller travelling version will tour Wales until 2009.

Everywhere in Chains has been created through a partnership between Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales with the National Library of Wales, University of Wales, Bangor and CyMAL: Museum Archives and Libraries Wales, Welsh Assembly Government and will run from 1 May to 4 November 2007.