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From crisps to canvas, Welsh shoppers check out art in supermarket aisles

Supermarkets across Wales are being transformed into mini Tate Moderns from this week as the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) launches a pilot scheme to take heritage to the supermarket aisles. Customers in Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Asda will have the chance to take in a free art exhibition created by students from across Wales as they shop for their groceries.

The Welsh pilot scheme is part of HLF’s pledge to engage more people across the UK in their heritage. The youth exhibition, entitled “A Vision of Wales”, will tour around unusual venues such as cafes, cinemas and hairdressers for the next six months in an attempt to inspire those members of the public who would not normally visit an art gallery or museum.

At a time when young people might be wrongly accused of regarding the last series of Big Brother as their most important cultural marker, this exhibition demonstrates the importance that young people actually place on the future of Wales’ heritage and the impact it has on shaping their identities. Shoppers will be able to see paintings depicting Welsh myths, sculpture representing the local land and seascapes, and even short films depicting their passion for local history.

Dame Liz Forgan, Chair of HLF, says: “Heritage belongs to all of us. It is part of our normal daily life as well as special places, buildings and objects. This is a great idea which I hope will catch the imaginations of people who don’t often visit museums, galleries or historic sites.”

Since its creation in 1994, HLF has awarded more than £3.3billion of lottery money to projects encompassing every possible aspect of our heritage – from landscapes and parks, historic buildings and museums, to cultural traditions, wildlife and transport – the biggest ever investment in UK heritage. With a population of 58million, that’s equivalent to around £56 spent on every person.

For further information please contact Kate Sullivan/Zara Parry at Equinox PR on 029 20768962 or email kate@equinox-pr.co.uk, zara@equinox-pr.co.uk

Notes to Editors:
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up the nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. For more information on HLF visit www.hlf.org.uk
A Vision of Wales’ was used to launch Wales Identity Day on 22 November 2005. It was unveiled by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan at the National Museum, Cardiff where it was exhibited for six weeks.
Wales Identity Day is an annual event to celebrate, investigate and discuss all aspects of heritage and identity in Wales. The day aims to provide an annual opportunity to debate issues and ideas from all sectors of society which relate to Wales’ diverse heritage from its history and landscape to historic buildings, culture and the Welsh language.
Seven colleges from across Wales took part in the exhibition. Through painting, sculpture, film making and prose, the students, aged 16-26 years old, produced work based on four elements of heritage; Myths and Memories, Wild Wales (our natural heritage), Welsh Idols, and Heavy Metal and Rock (our industrial heritage).
To engage young people with heritage HLF has designed a special grant scheme, Young Roots, which aims to involve 13-20 year olds in finding out more about their local heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement. The projects stem directly from young people’s interests and ideas, harnessing their creativity and helping them work in their local community.