Press Releases

Second community museum set to open doors in Penderry

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

Located in Penlan Community Centre, the brand new museum will officially open to the public this Friday, 18 March with an open day to celebrate the occasion.

Working with the city’s community groups and local organisations including the City & County of Swansea’s Communities First teams, Swansea Museum, Grŵp Gwalia, Penlan Library and Welsh Glamorgan Archives, the community museum will be dedicated to the lives of those living in and around the Penlan area.

“This is second community museum we have helped to establish,” said the National Waterfront Museum’s Modern and Contemporary Industry Curator, Ian Smith. “It’s a great opportunity for local people to discover all about their heritage and culture – the aim is to create a space where people can share and enjoy these stories together.”

The first community museum – created in November 2015 – is located in the 104 Building on Broughton Avenue, Blaenymaes and it is filled with the items, pictures and stories of the people who live (or once lived) in Penderry.

The official opening of its sequel in Penlan Community Centre will take place this Friday, 18 March from 11am to 4pm. School pupils from Gwyrosydd, Tirdeunaw, Bryn Tawe and Arfryn Primary, will be on hand to help with the activities and will bury a ‘time capsule’ in the garden to mark the event.

In addition, representatives from People’s Collection Wales and West Glamorgan Archives will be available to talk about how their organisations help to tell local history stories. There will also be short films of Penlan from the 1960s and 70s and old maps of the area for everyone to enjoy and reminisce. 

Zoe Gealy, Senior Learning Officer at the National Waterfront Museum, said: “We want to encourage local residents to get involved with their local history, share their stories and learn new skills along the way.”

Ian added: “We are hoping that eventually, these community museums will be run by local residents with guidance from National Museum Wales.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

  • The two community museums have been established by partnership working between the following organisations: National Waterfront Museum, City & County of Swansea’s Communities First teams, Grŵp Gwalia, Penlan Library, Kids in Museums, People’s Collection Wales, West Glamorgan Archives, Severn Wye, Swansea Museum and Penlan Community Centre.