Communities across west Wales invited to celebrate their local heritage

Cadw – the Welsh Government’s historic environment service – and the Heritage Fund in Wales are teaming to offer another round of the’15-Minute Heritage’ programme.

This is the second year the programme is running in Wales, and it is based on a concept called 'the 15 minute city' where everyone should be able to meet most of their needs within just a short walk or cycle from their home.

In Ystradgynlais, The Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru Trust Limited received a £9,900 grant for its ‘Josef Herman in Ystradgynlais Heritage Trail’ project.

The trail celebrates the life and work of the Jewish artist and refugee Josef Herman, who found sanctuary in Ystradgynlais after fleeing Warsaw during the Second World War.

Herman is renowned as an artist that documented everyday life for the miners, farmers and metal workers that lived in Ystradgynlais.

The route begins at the Welfare Miners Hall which is now home to the Foundation and a collection of more than 150 of Herman’s original works.

In 2020, 84 projects in each of Wales’ 22 local authority areas – from Anglesey to Aberdare; from Goodwick to Gwynfi – received a ’15-Minute Heritage’ grant.

“In Wales, we are surrounded by heritage, not just in our museums, castles and historic structures, but in anything that inspires a sense of belonging," said Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport Dawn Bowden.

“Whether it’s through empowering volunteers with new skills, enabling people to engage with their local heritage in new and accessible ways, or providing opportunities for groups and individuals who are sometimes harder to reach, each successful project will deliver benefits to communities nationwide.

“That’s why I’m so very pleased that Cadw is once again collaborating with the Heritage Fund to help communities explore, celebrate and share their local heritage stories.”

Cadw and the Heritage Fund in Wales first teamed up in 2020 to launch the ’15-Minute Heritage’ programme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was when many of us were staying closer to home because of lockdown.

The grant programme helped people strengthen the connections they had with their surrounding community through ideas such as creating new walking trails and sharing stories about the place they called home.

Andrew White, director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “It’s a pleasure to be working to be working with Cadw again to launch the ‘15-Minute Heritage’ grant programme, which proved to be so incredibly popular last year.

“Heritage is for everyone and local heritage - whether that’s a building, a landmark, a nature reserve or even our local shop, helps to create and shape our communities.

“I’m hoping we can support even more communities across Wales to connect with their heritage again this year and I would encourage anyone who want to explore and re-discover their local area and who maybe has never applied for one or our grants before - to apply for one of our ’15-Minute Heritage’ grants.”

For details about how to apply for a ’15-Minute Heritage’ grant, please visit https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding.