Developing Amgueddfa Cymru's contemporary art collection as a resource for research and community-led display
Lead Research Organisation:
National Museum Wales
Department Name: Collections Services
Abstract
This proposal aims to enhance research capability at Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales to support the delivery of a national contemporary art collection for Wales. We aim to deliver the collection via a distributed model where artworks and other objects are displayed in venues across Wales, making them accessible to new audiences who would not usually travel to our sites in Cardiff. A second important strand of this work is a major digitization project of our contemporary art collection. Digitisation aims both to make the collections more accessible to the public and to provide a valuable resource for contemporary art research within Wales and internationally. In order to deliver the national contemporary art collection for Wales we need to:
A. Increase our capacity to conduct research on the materiality of our collections so that we can confidently share them physically with communities across Wales
B. Increase our capacity for digitisation of our collections including textiles, fashion, and furniture to make them more accessible for researchers and the public
Delivering the national contemporary art collection for Wales will both require research on our collections to make them more accessible to new audiences and facilitate new research on parts of our collection that have historically been difficult to access. In supporting the delivery of this important programme of work the equipment requested here will help us to;
1. Collaborate with communities across Wales to develop exhibitions and programmes of activity in their localities, in some areas for the first time
2. Improve access to visual art which has a strong appeal to younger and more diverse audiences
3. Raise the profile of contemporary art collections in Wales with national and international audiences.
A. Increase our capacity to conduct research on the materiality of our collections so that we can confidently share them physically with communities across Wales
B. Increase our capacity for digitisation of our collections including textiles, fashion, and furniture to make them more accessible for researchers and the public
Delivering the national contemporary art collection for Wales will both require research on our collections to make them more accessible to new audiences and facilitate new research on parts of our collection that have historically been difficult to access. In supporting the delivery of this important programme of work the equipment requested here will help us to;
1. Collaborate with communities across Wales to develop exhibitions and programmes of activity in their localities, in some areas for the first time
2. Improve access to visual art which has a strong appeal to younger and more diverse audiences
3. Raise the profile of contemporary art collections in Wales with national and international audiences.
Organisations
| Title | Immersive experiences |
| Description | Creation of 360-degree images of collection items to develop an immersive experience for the public. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Generated enquiries about the collection |
| Title | Inspiring commissions and collaborations |
| Description | Editorial photography captured using equipment purchased with this grant has been used to initiate a programme of artists commission and collaborations. Currently working with 2 artists: Jin Eui Kim and Annette Townsend. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | New artwork inspired by our collections |
| Description | That pigments used by the artist Gwen John in her works-on-paper are particularly susceptible to fading from exposure to light More entries have been made onto the Portable Antiquities Scheme database adding to the totality of archaeological knowledge Archaeological objects reported by metal detectorists have been identified and the information made available to the finders |
| Exploitation Route | Information about the light sensitivity of pigments used by Gwen john can be shared with other organisations who have holdings of her work The sharing of information via the Portable Antiquity Scheme database makes it generally available to the public, other archaeologists and researchers The information that has been gathered can be used to inform the development of further research projects |
| Sectors | Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | To support community archaeology projects To inform loan periods for works on paper that are light sensitive To facilitate workshops with A-level art students To develop a strategy for managing light sensitive works by the artist Gwen John for an exhibition that will tour to four venues over a period of 18 months. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Title | Caerwent |
| Description | XRF analysis of 86 paint samples from Roman wallplaster found at Caerwent |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Research on the Roman collections as part of a student project. |
| Title | Glass |
| Description | XRF analysis of 5 Roman and Medieval glass fragments excavated at Caerwent in 2023 |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Post excavation research on objects found during community excavation |
| Title | Green Leaves |
| Description | Microfade testing of Gwen John watercolour Green Leaves |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Research to inform display period when on loan to Pallant House |
| Title | Kalighat paintings |
| Description | Microfade testing of pigments and paper of 3 kalighat paintings on Amgueddfa Cymru's collection. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information was used to inform suitable display period resulting in the loan of 6 paintings to the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea. |
| Title | Laku Neg |
| Description | Microfade testing of newspaper samples relating to Laku Neg's art installation Spirited, National Museum Cardiff |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Research for conservation and future preservation |
| Title | Llanbedergoch |
| Description | XRF analysis of 15 objects from excavations at Llaanbedergoch |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Post-excavation report |
| Title | Llanbedrgoch |
| Description | Analysis of 30 objects from excavations at Glyn Llanbedrgoch |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information included in the site post-excavation report (From Farm to Viking-age Trading Centre; Oxbow Books) |
| Title | PAS |
| Description | XRF analysis of 48 objects reported by finders through the Portable Antiquities Scheme |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information is available to the general public, special interest groups, professional archaeologists and researchers through the Portable Antiquities Scheme database |
| URL | https://finds.org.uk/ |
| Title | Pigments, paintings and works on paper |
| Description | XRF analysis of pigments on paintings and works-on-paper in Amgueddfa Cymru's collections: Gwen John - 11 paintings for forthcoming exhibition and publication Renoir, La Parisienne - pigment analysis undertaken as part of conservation work in advance of lending the work to the Musee D'Orsay/National Gallery of Art Washington. Heemskerck panel paintings - identification of over-paint during conservation treatment Morisot - pigment analysis undertaken as part of conservation work in advance of lending the work Kalighat paintings (3) - identification of metal paint to understand techniques and inform conservation before lending works to Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Lending and display of art works; academic publications (forthcoming) |
| Title | Portable Antiquity Scheme (PAS) |
| Description | XRF analysis of 89 objects reported by finders |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information is available to the general public, special interest groups, professional archaeologists and researchers through the Portable Antiquities Scheme database |
| URL | https://finds.org.uk/ |
| Title | Treasure |
| Description | XRF analysis of 50 objects reported by finders which qualify as Treasure |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Objects confirmed as Treasure supporting Amgueddfa Cymru's statutory work in relationship to the Treasure Act |
| Title | Treasure |
| Description | XRF analysis of 50 objects reported by finders which qualify as Treasure |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Objects confirmed as Treasure supporting Amgueddfa Cymru's statutory work in relationship to the Treasure Act |
| Title | Treasure |
| Description | XRF data from 54 objects reported as Treasure |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Objects confirmed as Treasure supporting Amgueddfa Cymru's statutory work in relationship to the Treasure Act |
| Title | Watercolours |
| Description | Microfade testing of 5 watercolours by the artist Gwen John |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Ongoing research to inform display periods for touring exhibition 2026 - 27 |
| Title | What lies beneath - X-ray examination of Amgueddfa Cymru's painting collection |
| Description | A set of digital x-rays that have been taken to further understanding of painting techniques and materials. The information gathered is used to inform conservation treatments as well as in publications about painters and paintings, for example a forthcoming publication on the techniques used in our Impressionist paintings. 4 paintings were examined: Monet, Charing Cross Bridge - a completely different Monet painting was found underneath Romney, Mrs Newbury Strozzi, Saint Francis of Assisi embracing a Crucifix Lucian Freud, Portrait of Cedric Morris |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Information about the Monet painting will be included in a forthcoming publication on techniques in Impressionist painting More appropriate conservation treatment Objects can be safely displayed or loaned |
| Description | CELF: the national contemporary art gallery for Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Celf ar y Cyd website is a core feature of CELF. This initiative provides access both digitally and physically to the nation's collections across Wales. Establishing a national contemporary art gallery for Wales is a key commitment of the Welsh Government's Programme for Government. This commitment is being taken forward through a collaboration between the Arts Council of Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales. The national collections of contemporary art held by Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales belong to everyone in Wales. The CELF model enables wider democratic access through a dispersed network of galleries across Wales. Through an extensive loans programme, people in Wales will be able to explore the collection within their own localities, whilst also ensuring more people across Wales, the UK, and internationally can have improved digital access to the national collection. The book cradle that was purchased with funding from CResCa has made it possible to digitise artists sketchbooks in their entirety (ie recto and verso of each page). This was not possible previously as the bindings were too tight. Over 10,000 images will be generated from 120 sketchbooks. Key artists - Peter Prendergast, Ray Howard-Jones, Nerys Johnson and Terry Setch. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://celfarycyd.wales/ncagw/ |
| Description | PAS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Addition of information relating to 48 objects that were reported by finders to the Portable Antiquities Scheme database so that knowledge about new discoveries is available to the general public, special interest groups as well as professional archaeologists and researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://finds.org.uk/ |
| Description | The Superpower of Looking |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Art UK are using high-resolution images of Mary Lloyd Jones's work for their series 'The Superpower of Looking' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |