For several months, we have started work on an ambitious two-year project titled “Untold Stories of Welsh Global Heritage,” which explores the complexities of immigration into Wales.

The project will record oral histories and gather portraits, videos, archives, and objects for multimedia exhibitions, including virtual reality. These efforts will help us all better understand the cultural heritage of our fellow citizens, fostering conversations and breaking down barriers.

For the past four months, we have engaged with communities across Wales from diverse backgrounds. We have spoken to people whose ancestors walked to Wales from Italy in the 1920s, others from Yemen whose family members died supporting the D-Day landings in Normandy, and Iraqi Kurds who settled here in the 1970s after experiencing land confiscation and the gassing of their populations. We have also spoken to Nepalese Gurkhas who settled in Wales, Sikhs who came from the Punjab, and Hindus who arrived from Gujarat in India via Kenya.

In addition to older and more settled migrants, we have also connected with more recent arrivals. We have spoken to Syrians escaping the unimaginable destruction of their cities during the Syrian War, Ukrainians who have left everything following Putin’s invasion of their homeland, and Hong Kongers seeking refuge from the National Security Law introduced by China.

Whether these people are recent arrivals or have been settled for over a century, they all have two things in common: they call Wales home and they have fascinating stories to tell. For them, Wales is a “Nation of Sanctuary,” offering a safe place for their families.

The project outcomes include a multi-media exhibition (Senedd Cymru) and a pop-up exhibition that will tour several venues through second half of 2025.

#UntoldStoriesOfWelshGlobalHeritage#ThankstoyouCronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Gen / National Lottery Heritage Fund – CymruThe National Lottery Heritage FundThe National Lottery#wales#farmer#nationofsanctuary#migrant#Cymru