5 days ago
Chepstow gallery celebrates the town's diverse communities
Named Changing Faces of Chepstow, the gallery recognises the town's multicultural history and contributions from its various communities.
It was funded by the Welsh Government as part of their Anti-Racist Wales programme for Culture, Heritage, and Sport.
The gallery explores Chepstow's community from a fresh perspective, acknowledging the town's historical roots as a melting pot for people from different origins.
It acknowledges the influence of early invaders like the Romans and Normans, Irish Navvies, German wire workers, and the modern-day Ukrainian community on the town's fabric.
As part of the gallery's unveiling event, Ukrainian community members who contributed to the gallery's creation presented the museum with two handmade fabric dolls symbolising Welsh and Ukrainian friendship.
Welsh Government ministers and Monmouthshire County Council cabinet members attended the preview of the gallery.
They included Jack Sargeant, minister for culture, skills and social partnership, and Jane Hutt, cabinet secretary for social justice, Trefnydd and chief whip.
Also present were council leader Mary Ann Brocklesby, and cabinet members Angela Sandles and Sara Burch.
The gallery is part of a larger project spanning Chepstow and Abergavenny Museums.
Councillor Burch said: "I urge everyone who is able to visit the Changing Faces exhibition in Chepstow.
"It is a wonderful addition to the museum and to the story of Monmouthshire as a whole."
Councillor Sandles added: "It just shows how Monmouthshire, as it is today, has been shaped by people from all over the world.
"We should celebrate that fact and the fact that our diverse community makes us stronger."
A separate event saw the gallery officially opened by Councillor Peter Strong, chair of Monmouthshire County Council.
The occasion brought together all those involved in the project, allowing community group members and experts to celebrate their collective achievements.
