Broadening Perspectives: new toolkit shares lessons from effort to diversify Wales’ museums and galleries

The online toolkit shares both the successes and challenges of the two-year Perspective(s) programme, in the hope that contributions from artists, galleries, museums and other creative professionals can be used by others involved in similar work to inform future projects.

The aim of Perspective(s) was to begin to bring about a change in how the visual arts and heritage sector reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of Wales, and the evaluation indicates that:

• Perspective(s) has been a reflective and developmental journey for Visual Arts Organisations which has not only influenced internal practices, but has also profoundly changed the way individual staff members perceive and approach engagement within the arts.
• New research and the historical re-examination of items and artefacts from museums’ collections by creative professionals highlights a valuable opportunity for more inclusive storytelling and greater diversity in how contemporary and historical Welsh life is represented in the cultural sector. 
• Lessons from Perspective(s) will inform future efforts by Amgueddfa Cymru and Arts Council of Wales, created a stronger foundation for anti-racist and decolonial work, and built enduring relationships with various creative partners, stakeholders and communities.

Daniel Trivedy, Creative Producer for Perspective(s) said,

“In putting together the evaluation of this ambitious project, we saw a real opportunity to be open and honest about some of the lessons learnt in a way that would be of benefit to others. So this toolkit reflects on the experience from the point of view of the creative professionals, visual arts organisations and museums, as well as the two cultural organisations - Arts Council of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru.

“We hope the detailed nature of this toolkit will inform future work to challenge dominant historical narratives and help promote the cultural diversity of Wales in all its richness.”

Sioned Hughes, Head of History and Collections Development at Amgueddfa Cymru added:

“This platform shares an honest account of the Perspective(s) journey, bringing together its creative work, experiences, learning and challenges so that others can use and build on them. We know this work is ongoing, and we hope the platform will support new relationships and ways of working across the sector.

“Our long-term ambition is for museums, galleries and the wider cultural sector to better reflect the diversity of the communities who live in Wales, with more voices and experiences shaping the stories we tell.”

You can access the online toolkit from both Amgueddfa Cymru and Arts Council of Wales’ websites. The direct URL is: http://www.perspectivelearnings.co.uk/

About Perspectives

Commissioned as part of the response to the goals of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, over two years seven creative professionals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds worked with seven visual arts organisations and the seven national museum across Wales to create a series of public events, creative interventions, exhibitions, and displays. The seven creative professionals and partners were:

• Jasmine Violet, working with Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the National Slate Museum
• Hannan Jones, working with Artes Mundi and National Roman Legion Museum
• Sophie Mak-Schram, working with Chapter Arts Centre and National Museum Cardiff
• Lal Davies, working with GS Artists and the National Waterfront Museum
• Sadia Pineda Hameed, working with Llantarnam Grange and the Big Pit National Coal Museum  
• Lucille Junkere, working with the National Wool Museum
• Nasia Sarwar-Skuse, working with Ways of Working and St Fagans National Museum of History 

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