28 June 2022

A selection of the nation’s favourite artworks will soon be in Brecon as part of Celf ar y Cyd on Tour, an initiative to share the national art collection with communities and galleries across the country.

Around 30 pieces of art from the Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales collection will be on show at y Gaer from 9 July to 30 October.

Celf ar y Cyd on tour follows an Instagram vote held during the Covid 19 pandemic. While National Museum Cardiff’s galleries were closed in 2020, curators from Amgueddfa Cymru selected 100 artworks and shared them digitally via the @celfarycyd Instagram. 

The public were then asked to vote for their favourite artworks from the collection using the ‘like’ button. This helped produce a shortlist of their Top 30 artworks culminating in the exhibition which is touring to galleries across Wales.

From neolithic stone carving to the most recent contemporary art, ceramics and photography, the selection reflects the rich diversity and experience of life in Wales. Artists include Thomas Jones, Betty Woodman, Adam Buick, David Hurn, Laura Ford, Elizabeth Fritsch and many more.

Celf ar y Cyd is a group of four projects which were developed to share the visual arts across Wales at a time when museums and galleries were closed to the public. Funded by the Welsh Government, the project is a partnership between Amgueddfa Cymru and Arts Council for Wales. As well as Celf ar y Cyd on Tour, the projects also include Art in Hospitals, the digital arts magazine Cynfas and series of commissions which asked Wales based artists to use the museum’s collection to inspire new work.

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “We are excited to be able to bring this collection of treasures from Amgueddfa Cymru to Powys and to host this exhibition at y Gaer Museum, Art Gallery & Library, Brecon, our new cultural hub combining the Brecknock Museum and Brecon Library in a state-of-the-art building.  We hope visitors will enjoy the exhibition and explore the new facility.”

Dr Kath Davies, Director of Collections and Research, Amgueddfa Cymru said: “The national collection belongs to everyone in Wales. This project is a starting point in our ambition to build a new sense of ownership and collaboration, and to ensure that art works can be seen in different locations across the country on a regular basis. The public choice has resulted in a rich and varied mix of work with something for everyone to enjoy.”

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said, “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to provide funding support for Celf ar y Cyd. It’s great news that this exhibition – which has been voted for by the public – is now making its way around Wales. This is an excellent way for more people to see the wealth and variety of artworks at Amgueddfa Cymru and for this to be shared with communities across Wales.”