Press Releases

Museums, Heritage, Culture – What's That All About?

On Common Ground

National Museum Cardiff, 11 April – 21 May 2006

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales's social inclusion project, On Common Ground, looks at this question and many more by working with young people in local communities in different areas of Wales. The latest project is being showcased at a special exhibition at National Museum Cardiff, which opens this week.

Project Co-ordinator, Sarah Greenhalgh, says:

"The project is a fantastic way of using heritage, culture and museum collections to spark and maintain enthusiasm, overcoming the initial ‘museums are boring' barrier. The commitment to the project shown by the young people is fantastic and the final work shown at our exhibitions is thought-provoking, attractive and different to a lot of things you see at a museum.

"We're currently working with young people in five areas of Wales - Caerphilly, Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Ceredigion, exploring aspects of cultural heritage in a wide range of ways. The work produced is completed in the media of each group's own choice - anything from fine art work to film making or website design."

Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, Alun Pugh, believes that this project is invaluable and says:

"Providing opportunities for young people to enjoy Wales's culture is one of the aims of the Welsh Assembly Government, and the work undertaken by the On Common Ground project is an impotant way of engaging with young people in an unusual and successful way. It's an excellent way of getting people interested and involved in culture and the arts. I congratulate Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales on the project."

The project demonstrates Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales's commitment to social inclusion, providing opportunities and accreditation to young people and also showing that museums in the 21st century have something to offer the whole community, irrespective of age, ability or cultural background.

On Common Ground is funded by the European Social Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Ernest Cook Trust, the Lloyds TSB Foundation, the Welsh Assembly Government, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and Museum Patrons.

The exhibition is showing at National Museum Cardiff. The Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5.00 pm and also on Bank Holiday Monday. National Museum Cardiff is one of seven national museums in the Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales family. The others are St Fagans: National History Museum; Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon; National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre; National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon; National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Entry to all the museums is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. To find our more about On Common Ground, go to www.oncommonground.co.uk.

For more information on this press release, please contact Siân James, Corporate Communications Officer, Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales on (029) 2057 3185.