Testimonies

“Motor Mouths” Family Photography & Animation Workshop (British Motor Museum / Arts Council England)

“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  ( Heritage Lottery Fund / Ffos-y-Fran Community Development Fund)

“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

“Both the teachers and the staff developed skills throughout the project – including photography, animation and art skills. It was a highly creative project where-by the children worked in groups in the class to explore ideas and to communicate with one another. They were able to experience arts in a way that is not normally accessible in school. We will be considering how we can use these newly acquired skills in a different way in school.”

– Mrs Alison Morgan, Class teacher Pen-Pych Community 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, who took part in the workshops for 50th Anniversary of Elliot Mine

“Energy+Notion” – 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

The Coal Face – Diffusion Festival

“A very moving and powerful testament to the men who worked the collieries of South Wales. We hope the exhibition will tour to many other places in Wales and beyond.”

– David Drake – Director, ffotogallery