Press Releases

St Fagans awarded for its 'excellence in education'

St Fagans: NationalHistoryMuseum, one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’s seven museums, has been awarded the Sandford prize for its exceptional education programme, which includes the interpretation of over 40 historic buildings.

St Fagans has inspired generations of visitors with an appreciation of Welsh history, culture and tradition for more than 50 years, and in recognition of its educational services, facilities and outstanding contribution to heritage education, the team was presented the Sandford Award at the Royal Airforce Museum in Cosford on 12 November.

 

Presented by the Heritage Education Trust and valid for five years, the award is an independently judged benchmark for quality in heritage education. The awards, made annually, are non-competitive and recognize the provision of quality education in and about historic sites across the UK.

One of the most loved buildings at St Fagans is MaestirSchool from Lampeter, Ceredigion. Over 14,000 children from all over the country visited Maestir last year to learn about the school and the great changes in education and childhood. This experience is complemented by the range of other buildings that have been rebuilt on site - from Gwalia Stores to Pen-rhiw Chapel - and the Museum’s new indoor gallery, Oriel 1, which offers a new dimension to the site.  

“We are delighted St Fagans has been awarded this prestigious award,” said Michael Houlihan, Director General, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. “It is a great accomplishment for the Museum especially this year as we celebrate our centenary. We are also laying the foundations for further developing St Fagans as Wales’s NationalHistoryMuseum, communicating the story of the people of Wales from the earliest times to the present day.

“Our comprehensive education programme is an essential part of our offering to help visitors make the most of their experience at the Museum. In addition, we are reaching out to the wider community through our latest attraction - Oriel 1, educating new audiences about what it means to belong to a country and involving them in the process of collecting.”

Congratulating St Fagans on its success, Heritage Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "This award is recognition of the role the Museum has to play in teaching people about the history of Wales. It is extremely important for the people of Wales and beyond to learn about how the Welsh used to work and live, and importantly how things have developed over the years. I am very proud the Welsh Assembly Government is able to support this invaluable piece of our social heritage.”

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are St Fagans: National History Museum, National Museum Cardiff, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea and Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon which was given the Sandford Award in 2005. 

 

Entry to each museum in free thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government and for more details, visit our website www.museumwales.ac.uk.

 

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For further information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales on (029) 2057 3486 or e-mail catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.