Welsh creators explore what Wales means to them in new exhibition

What does Wales mean to you? Is it its rich landscape, its traditions, or its industrial heritage? Or is it more about modern Wales – whether that’s the crunch of an electric guitar, marching at a Pride event, or celebrating our contemporary arts scene?

These are some of the questions that a group of creators have explored as part of a new exhibition which was on display at Wales Millennium Centre last month.

The Our Wales group is made up of adults with Learning Disabilities living across South Wales. Many are tenants with First Choice Housing Association and supported by Innovate Trust - a supported living provider, delivering a person‑centred approach to community support. Innovate Trust work with people with learning disabilities, autism, and other additional needs to achieve independence in the way they want. Our Wales is part of The Open University’s Wales REACH project, which is supporting groups around Wales to find more about their heritage through arts and culture. It is delivered in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru and is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Collage of images from the Wales REACH exhibit

Some of the items exhibited included:

Interactive soundscapes to invoke connections to Wales
An exploration of canals and their importance to Cardiff and South Wales
Banners and t-shirts decorated for this year’s Cardiff Pride – alongside an eight-metre puppet dragon which was used for the Butetown Carnival
Artwork to reflect Wales’ ever-changing landscapes
Photography from all over Wales showcasing what matters to people in their communities.

Meet some of the team

Here you can meet some of the people involved in the project:

Catherine

Emily

Zac

What the project partners say

Nick French, CEO at Innovate Trust said:

“It has been a pleasure to be a partner in the Reach Project over the last two years. I have been able to attend a few sessions myself, and it was great to see how positively engaged people we support have been. As well as increasing involvement and in many cases confidence the Project has given individuals access to opportunities and places they would otherwise never have had.”

Adrian Burke, Chief Executive at First Choice Housing Association said:

"The impact that the Wales REACH project has had on the lives of individuals with a Learning Disability cannot be denied. We have witnessed how the engaging and creative sessions have enabled people get to know Wales, their community and to explore identity on a level that they would not have had access to before. To see some project participants go onto paid roles with Wales REACH is a fantastic outcome. I hope the project inspires other people across Wales to engage with heritage and the arts."

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why, as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage, we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

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