Press Releases

New Community Museum for Penderry Ward

The National Waterfont Museum in Swansea is helping local community groups create their very own community museum.

Working with a range of organisations including City & County of Swansea’s Communities First, Grŵp Gwalia, Penlan Library, Welsh Glamorgan Archives and Kids in Museums, the museum will be dedicated to the lives of those from the Penderry Ward.

Located in 104 Community House in Broughton Avenue Blaenymaes, the museum will be filled full of objects, pictures, stories and memories of those who have lived and worked in the area.

It will create opportunities for people to volunteer and access training in archiving, photography, using computer software, scanning, digital storytelling and lots more. 

“The overall aim is to provide local residents with the skills and guidance to run the museum themselves,” said Modern and Contemporary Industry Curator at the National Waterfront Museum, Ian Smith. “We wanted to create a space where local people can share, reminisce and celebrate their heritage together,” he added.

The community museum will be opened formally on Thursday 12 November at 11am where pupils from Cadle, Blaenymaes and Portmead Schools will be ‘taking over’ and running the day as part of a national Kids in Museums* initiative.

Delighted with the project, Zoe Gealy, Senior Learning Officer at the National Waterfront Museum said: “It is fantastic to be able to take elements of a national museum out into local communities where some people may have never been to a museum or any other cultural or heritage site before.

“We want to encourage residents to get involved with their local history to start with, learn new skills, share stories and perhaps even develop a hunger and passion to continue. Who knows, we could see community museums popping up all over Swansea.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

*Kids in Museums Taking Over Day is a celebration of children and young people’s contributions to museums, galleries, arts organisations, archives and heritage sites. It is a day on which they are given meaningful roles, working alongside staff and volunteers to participate in the life of the museum.

For more details visit: https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/takeover-day/

To stay safe during times of COVID, please also see:  https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/what-we-do/teen-digital-takeover/