AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS www.museumwales.ac.uk April 2013 ISSUE 03

LANDMARK EXHIBITION ABOUT Roman past 04 WALES ON SHOW IN CHINA

AMGUEDDFA CYMRU PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA GROWS

St fagans redevelopment 06

Famous mold gold cape 09 On 4 March, we launched the exhibition Wales, Land of the Red Dragon in Chongqing, China. The launch was part of the Wales in Chongqing Week celebrations, and the exhibition is evidence of the growing relationship between Amgueddfa Cymru and the Three Gorges Museum in the Chongqing Municipality.

It follows the highly successful exhibition From Steep Hillsides: Ancient Rock Carvings from Dazu, China held at National Museum Cardiff in 2011, organized in collaboration with Chongqing Culture Bureau.

David Anderson, Amgueddfa Cymru’s Director General, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to present this important exhibition to the Three Gorges Museum. International work is one of our priorities and this is an excellent way to promote our collections in China and offer visitors the chance to learn more about our rich and unique assets in culture, history and the environment. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the remarkable progress of the Wales-Chongqing link.’ (More on pages 2-3) David Anderson (centre) at the launch, part of Wales in Chongqing Week. 2 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

LANDMARK EXHIBITION ABOUT AMGUEDDFA CYMRU PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA GROWS WALES ON SHOW IN CHINA

...continued from page 1 Another section of the exhibition looks at examples of different traditional symbols of Wales, The exhibition Wales, Land of the Red Dragon has including the Welsh dresser, St David’s Day, the been carefully created to explore and celebrate eisteddfod and – of course – the red dragon. the history and culture of Wales. Themes include the landscape and geology of Wales, and how the The exhibition includes iconic objects from the land provided the resources behind Wales’s world- national collections. Welsh gold is represented leading role in the industrial revolution. by the decorative 40cm-high cup that was made for Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn in 1867, and is Power and politics are also explored, from Roman the largest known object of Welsh gold. The occupation, through the English conquest of the magnificent Iron Age firedog discovered in north 13th century, to the creation of the Assembly Wales in 1852 represents a masterpiece of Welsh Government and our part in the wider iron-working, and is widely seen as one of the world today. finest examples of early decorative ironwork in Britain. www.museumwales.ac.uk 3

A section looks at the history and significance of We’re delighted to be able the Welsh language, from sixth-century Britain, through the Blue Books and Welsh Not to twenty- to present this important first-century resurgence. exhibition to the Three Gorges Museum. International work is Another section showcases highlights of Welsh manufacturing that are known all over the world, one of our priorities and this is like toys from the Mettoy factory near Swansea, an excellent way to promote our Spectrum computers made in the 1980s and the collections in China… stunning London 2012 Olympic medals made by the Royal Mint in Llantrisant.

The exhibition runs at Chongqing until 30 June.

A replica of the famous Iron The Three Gorges Museum Age firedog from north Wales in Chongqing Municipality, China 4 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

Coming face to face with A new face at the National our Roman past Roman Legion Museum

The Bath stone coffin and its resident skeleton at To produce the portrait, Amgueddfa Cymru the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon conservator and artist Penny Hill used materials have always provoked a great deal of interest and artistic conventions known from surviving from visitors. Now, for the very first time, we Roman paintings or ancient literary sources. have a portrait of the coffin’s resident. The coffin and skeleton – of a well-preserved male The portrait is the result of collaborative research of about 40 years of age buried around AD 200 – initiated by Amgueddfa Cymru conservators. was discovered during building work in November Isotope analyses were carried out on the skeleton’s 1995. The remains were carefully recovered and teeth at the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory moved to the National Roman Legion Museum. near Nottingham. They revealed that the man in The coffin base, skeleton and associated artefacts the coffin spent his childhood between the ages were conserved and first displayed at the Museum of five and eight in the Newport area – he was in spring 2002. probably a local boy. Dr Mark Lewis, Curatorial Officer, said: ‘I’m A forensic facial reconstruction was then created delighted that the final part of the redisplay has with the help of the Faculty of Science at Liverpool been completed. We always felt that the research John Moores University, Newport Medieval Ship potential of the skeletal remains had not been Project and the Centre for Human Anatomy and realised, and we wanted to attempt to reconstruct Human Identification, University of Dundee. the face using modern forensic techniques otherwise used by the Police.

‘The project would not have been possible without our generous supporters, for which we are most grateful. Learning more about the skeleton tells us more about the Romans here in south Wales and how life today wouldn’t be the same without them.’

The isotopic analysis of the skeleton’s teeth was funded by a grant from the Roman Research Trust. The portrait was fully funded by the Aurelius Trust.

The coffin and skeleton on The final portrait. display at the National Roman Legion Museum www.museumwales.ac.uk 5 6 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

Making History at Work on the redevelopment St Fagans gets underway

In 2012, we reported that St Fagans: National Despite the scale of the redevelopment, it’s History Museum had received the largest grant business as usual for our visitors – we’re working ever awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in hard to ensure that the visitor experience at Wales, to redevelop the Museum. St Fagans is as enjoyable and inspiring as ever.

At the end of 2012 the galleries were closed and Funding has also been provided by the Welsh conservation staff began emptying them and Government. We are embarking on a major preparing the objects for storage, and possible fundraising campaign to raise the additional future display – when the main building re-opens money needed. in 2016 there will be two brand new galleries.

One of the most visual aspects of work done so far has been the felling of trees – which had to be carried out before the nesting season. Other preparation work has included experimenting with mixes of clay, earth and aggregate in order to recreate the earth walls of Bryn Eryr, an Iron Age farmstead from Anglesey that will be An impression of the new recreated at St Fagans. courtyard main building at St Fagans www.museumwales.ac.uk 7

Children’s literature gets National Museum Cardiff star treatment hosts some big book names

The end of March saw some of the biggest names in children’s literature at National Museum Cardiff, as part of the first ever Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. There was a packed programme of free events for schools, featuring, among others, Charlie Higson of Fast Show fame, who also writes the Young James Bond books.

The public events kicked off on Saturday morning with Martin Brown, the illustrator of the hugely popular Horrible Histories series. Sunday’s events featured author of How to Train your Dragon, Cressida Cowell, Catherine Fisher, Anthony Browne, Lydia Monks and the Welsh Children’s Laureate Eurig Salisbury.

The Festival, funded by Cardiff City Council, included Welsh and English events at venues across the city centre. Tickets were all accessibly priced at an average price of £3.50.

The Festival was organized by Cardiff County Council, Amgueddfa Cymru, Cardiff University and Literature Wales. It was supported by Legal & General.

Author Anthony Browne (top) and Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown both took part in the first ever Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival 8 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

The famous Mold Gold Cape One of Europe’s most important comes to Wales Bronze Age finds goes on display

This summer, the Mold Gold Cape goes on loan David Anderson, Amgueddfa Cymru’s Director from the British Museum for display in Wales. General, said, ‘Having one of Britain’s most famous In partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru and ancient artefacts and one of the most important Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives, European Bronze Age finds on display in Wales, the cape goes on display for only the third time where it was originally found, is a wonderful ever in Cardiff, then goes to Wrexham – near opportunity for local people and visitors to enjoy where it was discovered. The Cape will be on and find out more about their heritage and early display for free at both venues as part of Spotlight past. Working in partnership with museums such Tours, organized through the British Museum’s as the British Museum and Wrexham County Partnership UK Scheme. Borough Museum enables precious artefacts like this to be accessible to all. The Mold Cape is A highlight exhibit at the British Museum, of great importance, in both local and national this ceremonial gold cape was made around contexts, and is also of international significance 3,700 years ago during the Early Bronze Age. to our understanding of cultural expression and It is one of the finest examples of prehistoric power relations in Early Bronze Age Europe, sheet and embossed-gold working in Europe. reflected both in life and in death.’ Fashioned from a single sheet of thin gold, it is unique in design. The Mold Gold Cape will be on free display at National Museum Cardiff 2 July-4 August 2013, It was discovered by workmen in Mold in 1833. then at Wrexham County Borough Museum The British Museum, recognizing its significance, 7 August-14 September 2013. Activities and and at a time before Wales had a national events related to the Mold Cape are supported museum, worked hard to acquire the cape and by a Patron of Amgueddfa Cymru. accompanying grave goods for its collections, and displayed them prominently in their The Mold Cape is of great prehistory exhibitions from early on. importance, in both local and national contexts, and is also of international significance to our understanding of cultural expression...

The Mold Gold Cape. Made from single sheet of beaten gold, c.1900BC-1600BC, early Bronze Age. © The Trustees of the British Museum www.museumwales.ac.uk 9 10 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

BEHIND THE SCENES Janice Lane, Director of Learning, AT THE MUSEUMS exhibitions & New media

interpretation, outreach and volunteer development as well as the strategic management of Kelvingrove, Riverside Museum, the Burrell Collection and the Gallery of Modern Art.

Ed: What are your main areas of interest?

JL: I’m quite eclectic, I think, in my interests. I love travelling and I’ve lived in several countries. I love working for a multi-disciplinary museum, I’ve been lucky to work with some of the most diverse museum collections – both at Brighton & This is where you get to meet some Hove Museums and Glasgow Museums. I’m also of the individuals behind Wales’s interested in creativity, and what makes people national collections. passionate about the world and people around them.

In this edition, we meet Janice Lane, Ed: Any first impressions of Wales? our recently appointed Director of Learning, Exhibitions & New Media JL: My mother’s family is from Wales and I lived in Cardiff as a child, so I’m coming back to a city and country that’s always been part of my life. But I’m looking forward to getting to know Cardiff Ed: Janice, welcome to Amgueddfa Cymru! and Wales as a resident again, and of course to Describe your role here. learning Welsh – I have some rudimentary Welsh but I’m keen to improve. JL: I joined in September 2012, and my role is to lead on participation, learning, interpretation, My first impressions of how Wales has changed are exhibitions and digital developments. It’s been how much more cosmopolitan the major cities are a busy few months – getting to know the and how successful their universities are becoming. departments in my division, the wider organization And I think there is a growing political confidence, and key projects like the Child Poverty Action which I find exciting. Plan and the redevelopment at St Fagans. And of course, as part of the Senior Management Team, Ed: Any final thoughts? working on the restructuring proposals is a challenging but critical part of my role. JL: I’m looking forward to moving into a permanent home and returning to normal Ed: What were you doing previously? family life – hopefully by the time this is published we’ll have moved in to our new house! As a family JL: I was Senior Museums Manager at we love being by the sea so I’m looking forward Glasgow Museums/Glasgow Life. My portfolio to rediscovering places like Pembrokeshire, which included learning, social inclusion, access, is one of my favourite parts of Wales. I’m really public programming, digital and new media, enjoying being back in Wales. www.museumwales.ac.uk 11

Amgueddfa Cymru proposes a new structure for the future

On 21 January 2013, Amgueddfa Cymru began We hope to avoid compulsory redundancies by a period of consultation with staff on a proposed offering redeployment, voluntary redundancy and new organizational structure. The current financial early retirement. New opportunities and posts will climate poses unprecedented challenges for also be created within the new structure. every public sector organization in Wales, and Amgueddfa Cymru is no exception. We are facing The proposed changes will not affect the day-to- a reduced budget, and must find £2.5m in savings day operations of Wales’s seven national museums. over the next three years. The museums, which together attracted over 1.6 million people last year, will still offer visitors Also, the museums sector has evolved, and people’s quality experiences. We also remain committed to expectations of museums are different now to delivering key projects such as the redevelopment what they were even just a decade ago. We have of St Fagans: National History Museum, a National to refocus our work to meet our visitors’ changing Museum of Natural Science and building on expectations. The Welsh Government’s support for partnership work throughout Wales and beyond. free entry has allowed us to reach new audiences. Since free entry was introduced in 2001, visitor The consultation, exploring all options and figures to our museums have more than doubled. proposals, closes in April, and we intend the But, while it has been successful, we believe more changes to be in place by the end of 2013. can and should be done to reach out, so that more people can experience the national collections. In fact, the people of Wales expect if of us. 12 AMGUEDDFA CYMRU NEWS ISSUE 03

NEWS IN BRIEF: LOOK OUT FOR…

Amgueddfa Cymru marked LGBT Month Amgueddfa Cymru will be on the History Wales in February, with a series of events including stand at the Hay Festival again this year. The a talk by former Welsh international rugby Festival dates are 23 May-2 June. player Gareth Thomas. Other events included a film-screening and talk at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre and an awareness day with the We will also be at the National Eisteddfod LGBT Forum in Swansea. in Denbigh, 2-10 August. We’ll be exploring the many links between the area and the national collections with daily talks and activities. In March an exhibition of the work of world- famous textile designer Kaffe Fassett opened at the National Wool Museum. This is the first time On Friday 5 July the Welsh Language the American-born artist has exhibited in Wales. Commissioner, Meri Huws, will be joining us at The Welsh Quilt Centre is also exhibiting his a day-long seminar on bilingual provision in the quilts. Both exhibitions run until 2 November. culture and heritage sector. We’ll be discussing the benefits and challenges, and sharing good practice. If you’d like to attend this free event Also in March an exhibition of the artist at National Museum Cardiff please contact Graham Sutherland (1903-1980) opened at [email protected]. Oriel Y Parc in St Davids. Spirit of Place shows landscapes by Sutherland alongside those by other artists including Paul Nash, John Piper Big Pit celebrates 30 years as a visitor attraction and Ceri Richards. The exhibition is on until 8 this year, look out for details of various events July. Oriel y Parc is owned and managed by the planned as part of the celebrations. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru.

Recent support

We rely on the generosity of many people Energy; the Patrons for their support of events, and are grateful to the following for their exhibitions, geology, archaeology and display recent support: of the Mold Cape.

The Arts Council Wales, the Art Fund, Dafydd and For more information about becoming a Patron Christine Bowen Lewis, Colwinston Charitable or supporting us please contact the Development Trust, the Derek Williams Trust, G C Gibson Department on (029) 20573184 or visit our Charitable Settlement, the Heritage Lottery Fund, website. Marcol Asset Management and WDS Green

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