Press Releases

Wonderful Welsh Women sets women's achievements against a backdrop of changing attitudes to gender equality. It pays tribute to individuals who, despite the prejudices and constraints of their era, played a crucial role to developments in Wales and indeed the world.

It will delve into some of the political, social, economic and cultural struggles women have encountered throughout the years including the right to vote, equalities of pay and their contribution to politics.

Wonderful Welsh Women will include photos, news clippings, memorabilia and artifacts from various organisations including Soroptimist International Wales South, Chwarae Teg, Mothers’ Union, Girls’ Friendly Society, GENCAS (centre for research into gender in culture and society at Swansea University), Swansea’s Women Centre, MEWN (Minority Ethnic Women’s Network Wales), Girlguiding UK and Women4Resources.

As part of the exhibition, the Museum’s learning department will offer a series of workshops for Welsh Baccalaureate and A Levels students designed to help them understand the important role of women in industry. Activities will include a Wonderful Welsh Women inspired trail, a peace banner-making workshop and an opportunity to discover what women did in the workplace and their role in the home over the past 100 years. The students will learn about the Mothers’ Union’s campaign Bye Buy Childhood, which challenges the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood.

Those attending will also have the chance to find out about setting up their own business at an Exploring Enterprises workshop at 10am led by women’s economic development agency, Chwarae Teg. Its aim will be to help women to identify business opportunities for themselves or as part of a social enterprise.

Speaking about the forthcoming day, one of the organisers Angela Ball said: “We’re thrilled the National Waterfront Museum is hosting the exhibition. It is a fantastic opportunity for the public to find out more about the hugely important role women play in Wales and the world.

“Women in Wales have achieved in a variety of ways both individually and cooperating together and we need to celebrate it. We are indebted to the Welsh Assembly Government for providing funding to make the exhibition possible and we are looking forward to working with other women’s organisations on the day.”

“It is so important to recognise the impact and achievements women have always made to our society, but especially during the last 100 years and now into the 21st century,” said Modern and Contemporary Industry Curator, Ian Smith. “We are very happy to be hosting this celebration, it will be a wonderful day with many different organisations coming together and hopefully we can make it an annual event.”

Entertainment on the day will be performed by Women in Jazz and members of Soroptimist International Wales South will be supporting the global Join Me on the Bridge campaign from Women for Women International (WWI) with a staged rally on Oystermouth Road bridge at 12pm.

Notes to editor

For more information, or to set up a photo opportunity, contact Marie Szymonski on 01792 638970.

For more information about Soroptimist International, contact Angela Ball on 01792 412701

For more information about Join me on the Bridge campaign visit http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge

For more information about International Women’s Day visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com

For more information about Chwarae Teg visit www.chwaraeteg.com. For more information on the exploring enterprise workshop or future workshops in the area email jane.nyhan@chwaraeteg.com or call 029 2047 8900.

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

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales.

· National Museum Cardiff

· St Fagans: National History Museum

· National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

· Big Pit: National Coal Museum

· National Wool Museum, Dre-fach

· National Slate Museum, Llanberis

· National Waterfront Museum, Swansea