Welcome to the ‘Our Archives’ project, an initiative that aimed to foster dialogue, inclusivity, and representation within Welsh communities. This project was dedicated to addressing the gaps in archives that impacted marginalised communities in Wales, with the goal of weaving a more balanced narrative that reflected the rich tapestry of People of Colour and diverse communities in Wales. The project was funded by the Welsh Government Anti-racist Wales Action Plan as part of the Archival Action: Programme for Change in Archive Services in Wales project.
The core objective of ‘Our Archives’ was to engage with underrepresented communities through a series of six dynamic and interactive workshops. These workshops, served as platforms for diverse voices to express themselves through various artistic styles and mediums. The result of these workshops was a body of work that captured the thoughts, stories, and lived experiences of those often marginalised.
This collection would be a testament to the vibrant spectrum of the Welsh population, ensuring that the historical narrative was more inclusive and reflective of the diverse contributions that shaped and sustained our Nation. The resulting body of work from the workshops will be curated and preserved as part of a new community archive within archive repositories in Wrexham, Aberystwyth, and Cardiff.
We would like to take the time to thank all Collaborators: We would like to specially thank Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel (SSAP), Race Equality First, Grangetown Pavilion and Tŷ Pawb for providing invaluable community knowledge and nurturing safe spaces. We would also like to thank Ceredigion Museum, St Fagans Museum, Cardiff University Special Collections, Archives and Records Council Wales, Wrexham Archives and The National Library of Wales for all their support.
Project Manager: Jasmine Violet