Wales has the highest level of children living in poverty in the UK with one in three children being affected. And while living conditions have improved for many children over the last 20 years, life for disadvantaged children is getting worse.
As part of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ strategy for supporting participation in cultural activities for children, young people and families in poverty 2012-2015, a one-day conference will be held at National Museum Cardiff on Tuesday 17 July to discuss how cultural organizations can help to tackle child poverty.
Among the speakers at the Transforming children’s lives: the role of cultural organizations in tackling child poverty conference will be Huw Lewis, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales and David Anderson, Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru.
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales has always been about transforming children’s futures by enabling them to experience life in the past and present at its seven museums across Wales. For many years it has had a commitment to creating pathways through which the children of Wales can participate in cultural activities and enrichment.
One recent example is the The Just Bling? project, which has taken place at all Amgueddfa Cymru museums and is an innovative way to provide new opportunities for young people. It has been funded through the Communities First Outcomes Fund.
The project creates a range of experiences that enable participants to gain skills as they explore issues surrounding their own culture and heritage, together with the culture and heritage of others. The participants, working with artists and museum professionals, have created objects, displays, images, films, exhibitions and multimedia resources, all presenting the views and ideas of young people themselves on jewellery and ‘bling’. The work of the young people are displayed at the national museums during July-September 2012.
David Anderson, Director General, Amgueddfa Cymru said, “Inequality of wealth has affected children more than any other demographic group, with the shocking fact that one in three children in Wales lives in poverty – the highest level in the United Kingdom. While, for most children, life chances in terms of health, wealth, safety and educational attainment have improved over the last generation, the life chances of vulnerable and disadvantaged children are as bad as ever, and in many cases worse. Children should not have to grow up against the odds.
“Over the past decade, Amgueddfa Cymru has worked with partners supporting children and families in poverty to pilot projects that open up pathways and enable them to engage with culture in a positive and affirming way. Transforming Children’s Futures is Amgueddfa Cymru’s strategy for building on these projects and partnerships over the next three years and into the long term. It has been developed as a result of extensive discussion and consultation and we recognize that working in partnership with organizations ‘on the ground’ is essential in forging the pathways that enable children, young people and their families living in low-income households to participate in cultural activities.
“I hope conference will provide some food for thought and really consider the vital role museums and cultural organisations in Wales have to play in addressing child poverty.”
Huw Lewis AM is the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage and will speak at the event, setting out the Welsh Government’s vision for tackling child poverty in Wales and how cultural bodies can play a major part. He said:
“The Welsh Government more than ever is determined to focus its efforts on reducing poverty, which is one of our nation’s greatest challenges. We are working with our partners in the public, private, and voluntary sectors to make sure we tackle this issue in a co-ordinated way. Engagement with culture can play a huge role in boosting young people’s life chances in later life and as the event shows, our cultural organisations are embracing this agenda.”
For more information download the report at http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/transforming-childrens-futures/
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales including National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, the National Roman Legion Museum, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, the National Wool Museum, the National Slate Museum and the National Waterfront Museum.
Entry to the Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.
