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Wales is getting its own museum of modern art
Wales is getting its own museum of modern art
A building is being lined up in Cardiff to host the nation's first museum for contemporary art
Art work by Welsh African artist Anya Paintsil.
Plans to establish the first museum of contemporary art in Wales can be revealed.
Following a two year process the backers of the not-for-profit Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (AMOCA), are close to finalising an agreement to acquire a building in Cardiff, which would provide a much needed platform to promote the work of Welsh contemporary artists.
Ahead of confirmation of a permanent home, which is expected to open its doors next year, AMOCA will stage a pop-up exhibition, featuring the contemporary work of 34 African and African diaspora artists, at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff next week.
The Black Voices from the Museum Collection will feature the work of artists including Tesfaye Urgessa, Amoako Boafo, Merikokeb Berhanu, Ferrari Sheppard, Slawn, Alexandre Diop, Khari Turner, Marcus Jansen, Carmen Neely, Deborah Segun, Esiri Erheriene-Essi, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Nate Lewis, Omar Ba, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones and Anya Paintsil.
Wrexham-born Ms Paintsil is a world renowned Welsh and Ghanaian textile artist who live and works in London and Glyn Ceiriog. AMOCA has acquired a work from her studio.
Privately funded AMOCA said it is committed to public engagement through artist residencies, youth workshops, talks, and outreach to deprived communities. Its founding team is a collective of art lovers, curators, and professionals passionate about broadening access to contemporary art.
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A co-founder is Cardiff-based philanthropist and Swedish-born entrepreneur Anders Hedlund. He is best known for establishing global stationery to Christmas cracker venture IG Design Group, which has its UK manufacturing base in Ystrad Mynach. He also established Cardiff-based charitable status school Tomorrow's Generation, that provides intensive literacy support for children with dyslexia, which he himself has been diagnosed with.
Part of his private art collection, developed over three decade, will form a cornerstone of AMOCA's opening exhibitions.
He said "Having lived in Wales for 45 years I would like to see an area lacking in the presence of such a cultural facility to benefit from and enjoy our extensive collection. Although I was born in Sweden, I have a strong affiliation to Wales and to Cardiff. Both my grown-up children were born here and continue to live here and I really would love to give something back to this city.
"Having worked on and built up a collection of art over the past 30 years it is clear that Wales has some amazing contemporary artists, but sadly many don't have the exposure that artists in the other home nations have. Auction houses in London often feature Scottish or Irish collections, but I have never seen a Welsh collection.
"AMOCA will have permanent Welsh collection exhibited and there will be a big emphasis on promoting young Welsh artists, with several small shows in the museum, highlighting our up-and-coming Welsh talent. I really want to put Wales on the map and highlight the wealth of artistic talent here, both past and present."
The pop-up exhibition will the held on June 4th.
AMOCA's collection includes over 1,000 museum-grade works by world-class contemporary artists.
It said: "With the pop up exhibition we bring some of the world's most interesting and valuable black artists to Cardiff. An Amoako Boafo piece alone can be worth several million dollars. To have this kind of work shown in Wales, especially at a time when cultural institutions are under threat, museums are closing, and public arts funding is being reduced, is profoundly significant.
"This exhibition is not only about art, it's about cultural sovereignty, international visibility, and the opportunity for Wales to assert itself as a platform for global dialogue, equity, and excellence in the arts.
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"We're fully committed to making this moment matter for Cardiff, for Wales, and for the artists whose voices deserve to be seen and heard at the highest level."
