Press Releases

The traditional Welsh dresser, as seen at Oriel 1 - St Fagans: National History Museum’s latest attraction, is typically used to display the family’s best china collection and favourite ornaments. Yet teenagers from Penyrenglyn Youth Project, Rhondda decided a skateboard and a Nintendo Game Boy would be more suitable on their dresser.

Faced with the challenge of curating a contemporary dresser for the Museum’s new gallery, which is sponsored by Principality Building Society, young people from Penyrenglyn chose items which were important to them. They will see the outcome for the first time at a community launch event at St Fagans this evening (25 April 2007).

Chelsea Kerr from Penyrenglyn chose her baby blanket. She said:

“I am very proud to be a part of the project and I knew straight away that I wanted my baby blanket to be on the dresser. I’ve had it since I was born. It's a bit rugged around the edges! It’s been through thick and thin with me.”

Other objects chosen include a Cardiff City Football Club Key Ring, a Nintendo Game Boy, a snooker brooch, Player of the Year Trophy and a signed Arsenal football. An integral part of Oriel 1, the exhibit will be on display in the Family section for six months.  

“The contemporary dresser in Oriel 1 – curated by teenagers from Penyrenglyn Project – is a modern-day response to the traditional Welsh dresser,” said Sioned Williams, Curator at St Fagans: National History Museum. “Oriel 1 focuses on what it means to be Welsh and to live in Wales today. It was therefore important for us to include the views of young people in Wales today. Working with the teenagers has been fantastic and we’re pleased their efforts will be on view for others to appreciate.”

This is the first of a series of community schemes for Oriel 1, one of Amgueddfa Cymu – National Museum Wales’ centenary projects. If you’d like to get involved, please contact Owain Rhys, Curator on 029 2057 3529 or email owain.rhys@museumwales.ac.uk.

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales.  These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007.  For more details go to the 07 pages on our website – www.museumwales.ac.uk.

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For further information, photographs or interview opportunities, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer, on 029 2057 3486 / 07920 027067 / email catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.

Notes to Editors:

• Oriel 1 is St Fagans’ latest attraction which uses objects, photography, film, art, personal stories and experiences to show what it means to be Welsh and to live in Wales today. Exploring the theme of Belonging, the Gallery demonstrates that there are many different ways of feeling a part of our country. The gallery encourages visitors from Wales and beyond to play their part and share their views on how the languages they speak, their family and friends, their roots and their beliefs influence who they are.

• A part of Valleys Kids, Penyrenglyn project is voluntary sectory youth and community development project based in Treherbert at the northern end of Rhondda Fawr. Working with people of all ages providing support and services within the community, they offer an exiting range of activities within our clubs for children and young people and some very interesting adult education classes.

·         Principality Building Society - Wales’ biggest building society - is the main sponsor of Oriel 1, St Fagans: National History Museum’s latest attraction. By investing in this new gallery, which was created in partnership with local groups, schools, authors, artists and poets, Principality Building Society is honouring its longstanding commitment to supporting the communities of Wales.

Formed in 1860, Principality Building Society now has 50 branches across the country and over 420,000 members.

For further information, please visit www.principality.co.uk.

·         WESTCO flooring, suppliers of real wood and laminate floors, are proud to sponsor a series of activity booklets for families to use in Oriel 1 and the wider museum site at St Fagans.