Press Releases

Members of the Swansea Muslim Youth League (SMYLe) will gather at St Fagans: National History Museum at 4:30pm on Saturday (28 April 2007) for the launch of their stained glass display especially created for the Museum’s latest attraction, Oriel 1.

Created in partnership with local communities, schools, authors, artists and poets, Oriel 1 - supported by Principality Building Society - is a new gallery which demonstrates there are many different ways of feeling a part of our country.

Working with artist Huda Awad, members of SMYLe expressed their views on what it means to belong to Wales using glass, ultimately creating a stained glass exhibition which will be on display at Oriel 1 for the next six months.

The collections at St Fagans were used as inspiration:

“The big red house at St Fagans was my inspiration because of the knotted patterns inside the roof,” said Habibah, 13 years from SMYLe. “I also liked the shape of the Church windows.  I’ve mixed these with patterns from Islamic art.”

Rena, who’s 24 years old described her design: “In my piece, I’ve included ‘Swansea’ in different languages – Bengali, Arabic and Welsh – to show my culture, religion and where I live.”

When first introduced to the project, the girls were enthusiastic about being a part of Welsh history. The scheme has allowed them to express themselves creatively and hidden talents have been uncovered during the process.

“I find it much easier to express myself in glass than paint,” said artist Huda Awad. “I can be depressed and then I see a piece of glass and feel wow.  Glass is like an extension of light and has a life of its own. 

“We introduced the group to the various techniques of being creative with glass; working as a team to create our impression of St Fagans but from an Arabic angle.  Some of the girls are now addicted to glass and the beauty of it.  We have serious glass converts!”  

This is the first in a series of community curated displays created for Oriel 1 – one of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ centenary projects. This display will be curated next by the Welsh Puja Committee. If you are a member of a community group and would like to get involved, please contact Sioned Hughes, Curator on 029 2057 3442 or email sioned.hughes@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.

·         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.