Choirs, stonemasons and a Celtic carnyx took centre stage as part of a free event celebrating intangible cultural heritage (ICH) at St Fagans National Museum of History yesterday.
The event brought together cultural organisations, community groups and heritage practitioners to celebrate the living traditions, also known as intangible cultural heritage, that are embedded in communities across Wales.
The day-long celebration showcased a rich tapestry of living heritage, ranging from traditional crafts and skills to contemporary cultural expressions.
Intangible cultural heritage varies from traditions and practices, to knowledge, skills and cultural expressions that communities recognise as part of their identity. Unlike physical heritage, it lives through people and their practices and is constantly evolving.
Traditional craftspeople, including crafters, stonemasons and carpenters demonstrated heritage skills at Y Gweithdy whilst at the Atrium, stall holders included the National Coracle Centre who displayed a range of traditional Welsh coracles.
Performance highlights included Welsh music and dance, storytelling, Chinese lion dancing, Risca Male Voice Choir, QWERIN, Danceblast stilt walkers, and Ptasie Radio Cymru Choir. Football Association Wales' iconic carnyx, a giant metallic S-shaped horn based on that which the ancient Celts used as they headed into battle, was also on display and in action.
The event was also an opportunity to announce that over £2 million has been committed across 2025-2027 to help organisations build capacity and deliver on the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Culture. The Enhanced Local Sector Support for Museums, Archives and Libraries grant scheme has already welcomed by local authorities and trusts, and it will support additional staff, specialist expertise, and exciting projects – from new exhibitions and digitisation, to improved engagement.
This builds upon the £11 million in capital grants already awarded over the past 6 months since the Priorities for Culture launched, as well as a revenue scheme and targeted initiatives supporting access to cultural experiences for young people.
A series of talks were held in the lecture theatre which explored living heritage from multiple perspectives, including: the importance of living heritage in rural communities in Wales; how living heritage manifests in industrial and post-industrial communities; expressing living heritage through the arts, and the importance of heritage skills.
The event was organised by Welsh Government in the run up to a UK-wide call-out to ICH practitioners, after the UK ratified the UNESCO Convention on ICH last year. Wales is now working with devolved governments across the UK and with DCMS, with the aim of mapping ICH practice by creating inventories submitted for inclusion by communities.
Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, said:
“This celebration at St Fagans was a wonderful demonstration of the incredible diversity and vitality of Wales's living heritage. From the haunting sound of the carnyx to the skilled hands of our stonemasons and the voices of our choirs, we saw how intangible cultural heritage connects our past to our present and shapes our communities.
"These living traditions - whether they're centuries-old crafts or contemporary cultural expressions - are at the heart of Welsh identity. They're kept alive by the passion and dedication of communities across Wales, and it's vital that we recognise, celebrate and support them. The £2 million we’ve committed, on top of the £11 million we’ve already awarded, is sure to further our Priorities for Culture more so.
"Following the UK's ratification of the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, we're taking an important step forward in mapping and preserving these traditions for future generations. Crucially, this will be community-led.
"I'm proud that Wales is working collaboratively with partners across the UK to ensure our living heritage continues to thrive, evolve and inspire."
Chief Executive of Amgueddfa Cymru, Jane Richardson said:
"We were delighted to host this event at St Fagans celebrating the many and diverse aspects of Wales' living heritage. As a cultural beacon for Wales in the world, Amgueddfa Cymru inspires learning and enjoyment for everyone through Wales' national collection and by safeguarding traditional crafts and skills for future generations. It was wonderful to see so much of this intangible cultural heritage which is at the heart of Welsh identity being celebrated at this event."
