Outreach

Outreach & Workshops

Vision Fountain’s projects involve community outreach.   We use oral testimony and audio-visual interpretation to give communities voice. School children and youth groups are introduced to innovative technology and virtual reality via arts and heritage workshops.

Children from Parc Primary School work on a portrait of local miner, Gerald Jenkins, as part of the “Kings of The Underground,” exhibit for the National Waterfront Museum. The collage was inspired by a 3D portraits and recorded testimonies played during school workshops. ©Chieko-Vision Fountain
School children experience virtual reality mining experience.in the Afan Valley.
©Vision Fountain

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Workshops and Pop-Up Exhibitions

We have delivered multimedia pop-up exhibitions in a wide range of venues, including museums, community centres, libraries, primary schools, and high schools. Our aim is to reach as many people as possible – particularly those from marginalised communities.

We work with schools for pupils with additional learning needs, ethnic minority groups from the port areas of Cardiff and Newport, Muslim women, young carers supported by the YMCA, and geographically isolated communities across the former South Wales coalfields.

Our projects combine traditional and digital art forms. We collaborate with established artists and introduce a wide range of creative techniques to the communities we engage with. For example, a project delivered in partnership with Rhondda Heritage Park and the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea included arts, heritage, and digital media workshops (3D modelling, gaming engines & immersive media).

Young participants have created large collages of Welsh miners based on local stories, which were later exhibited at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Swansea.

Our recent project, Wales: A Home from Home, featured large-scale artworks portraying individuals of global heritage who now call Wales home. These pieces were created by young people, working alongside professional Welsh artists.

The collages will form part of the “Wales: A home from Home” exhibition in the Senedd.

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Educational Outreach Showreel (2021)

Testimonials

Kings of the Underground – Museum of Wales

“The theme of this exhibition “Kings of the Underground” aligns with what,  Amgueddfa Cymru’s National Waterfront Museum is about.  We celebrate the human story of Welsh industry for the last 300 years as well as innovation in today’s Wales. So having an exhibition that focuses on the workers in the coal industry that also uses new technologies and photogrammetry ticks all of our boxes.”

Steph Mastoris, Head of National Waterfront Museum Swansea, Amgueddfa Cymru

“The children heard first hand accounts which brought the project to life and used new technology which brought their understanding of their heritage and identity into the 21st Century. ”

Liz Bradley  Headteacher, Hafod Primary School

“The 3D modeling itself was extremely impressive and showed the pupils what is possible in modern technology.  The VR headset sessions were extremely memorable for pupils and teachers alike.”

Rob Appleby,  Headteacher of Upper Afan Valley Schools Federation

“My father (Keith Tomlin) constantly talked about his mining experience and was privileged to take part in this project.  As my father had passed after the project it was great to see his face, and hear his voice in the exhibition, knowing his comments will last forever.”

Jason Tomlin, son of deceased miner, Keith Tomlin

Dragon’s Dream – Animation & Imaginative Story-telling (Arts Council of Wales)

“The levels of excitement were very apparent, and for those pupils from deprived backgrounds with limited opportunities, the project enriched their life experiences and through the arts and digital literacy. This resulted in the children sustaining high levels of engagement and motivation throughout the project, always looking forward to the next session. The screening of their work at the local theatre was a unique and amazing experience for them.”

-Karen Jacobs, head-teacher, Penyrenglyn

“I enjoyed working with my friends to create such a wonderful movie. And when we went to the cinema, my mam, she was so proud. She said that she wished and she could do something like that.”  -Eva, student, Penyrenglyn

“My grandma and my dad came (to the cinema) and they said that I had a really good voice for the king!”  – Jensen, student, Penyrenglyn

“Motor Mouths” Family Photography & Animation Workshop (British Motor Museum)

“The ‘Motor Mouths’ project was a sheer delight to see unfold. The family workshop produced a delightful animation and poster which we were able to pass onto the participating visitors.”

– Emma Rawlinson, Family & Lifelong Learning Officer, British Motor Museum

Merthyr’s Black Gold  (Cyfarthfa Castel Museum and Art Gallery /  NHLF)

“Merthyr’s Black Gold provided the Museum Service with opportunities to engage with participants onsite at Cyfarthfa Castle and an additional opportunity to take the museum collection and resources to schools and community venues. Introducing participants to this heritage at the museum in an engaging way helps to promote the museum as a safe learning space.”

– Benjamin Price, Education and Interpretation Officer, Cyfarthfa Museum & Art Gallery

“Merthyr’s Black Gold was a highly successful and engaging project that involved 189 young people. The project enabled people to develop key skills in areas such as oral histories, 3D scanning and working with digital assets. A number of outputs came from the project including a short film. This has left a lasting legacy of both the project and this important heritage”.

– Bethan Williams, Grants Officer, Heritage Lottery Fund (Wales)

“Our Mountain”  – Primary School Workshops (Arts Council Wales / Pen-y-Cymoedd Community Fund)

“This was an exciting proposal involving young people not only in skills development, but in helping them to really look at, consider, understand and value their local surroundings, communities and heritage. It brought together children in two valleys on either side of a mountain, hopefully making connections of all kinds that will endure”

– Barbara Anglezarke, Executive Director, Pen y Cymoedd Community Fund

“The project enabled the young learners to imagine creatively. The level of oracy (in the film) was emotional. Some children who are normally reluctant to talk relayed powerful stories. We had pupils, who have low self esteem, being fully involved and happy to be part of the project.”

– Mrs Janine Mundy, Head Mistress, Rhigos Primary School

“Elliot’s 50th”  Community Workshops (Winding House Museum / Caerphilly Borough Council)

“I loved the film that you made for the Winding House Museum. It was honest and true. It was a pleasure to be involved. And great to meet old friends again in the workshops.”

– Les Lewis, Ex-miner, 84, who took part in the workshops for 50th Anniversary of Elliot Mine

“Energy+Notion- in schools” – Primary School Workshops  (Cardiff University)

“Any work generated by the project had to fit in with the curriculum and Literacy and Numeracy Framework. We found this easy to achieve and used the ENERGY & NOTION project as a vehicle to fulfil many of the demands of the curriculum.”

– Jill Thomas, Year 6, Pantyscallog Primary School, Merthyr