"The task was not to create a museum which preserved the dead past under glass but one which uses the past to link up with the present to provide a strong foundation and a healthy environment for the future of their people."
These are the words of Iorwerth C Peate, who was inspired by open-air museums in Scandinavia to develop a similar concept in Cardiff. This became Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru – St Fagans Museum of National History.
St Fagans, the venue for this year’s Museums Association Conference (7-9 October), opened in 1948 as a museum that was designed to represent the everyday lives of ordinary people in Wales. Since then it has become the most popular heritage visitor attraction in Wales and has a special place in the hearts of the people.
St Fagans’ status as a venue that reflects Welsh identity and culture led to the theme of this year’s MA conference – perthyn, the Welsh word meaning to belong. The theme is also linked to the idea that museums, and their collections and stories, belong to everyone, and all communities have the right to representation and participation.
This feels particularly important at a time when there is so much political, economic and social upheaval, both in the UK and overseas. For many people, their sense of belonging is threatened by forces outside of their control as they face uncertain futures.
So what is the role of museums in this?
The sector has shown time and time again how it can foster belonging by offering spaces where ideas can be explored, shared and understood. This can help to inspire people and empower communities, as well as contributing to individual and collective identity. Understanding ourselves and others can help to create empathy and deeper connections with each other, which is surely vital in these troubled times.
Articles in this edition of the magazine explore various issues associated with belonging and identity, as well as highlighting some of the amazing work being done by museums across Wales. Join us at St Fagans to share your ideas on how museums and galleries can make a difference in the
world by creating that sense of belonging that we are all looking for.
