Art has the power to inspire all kinds of creative responses, and there’s a strong relationship between literature and visual art. This is exactly what Nia Morais, Bardd Plant Cymru wanted to explore with pupils in workshops at schools across Wales at the beginning of 2024.

Using the ekphrastic process, the pupils had the opportunity to browse through our website and respond by creating some great subtle poems.

We’d like to thank all the pupils and schools for their enthusiasm and for creating new poems in response to the collection.

Click through the booklet below to read their new Welsh poems:

The schools that took part were:

• Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe, Penlan, Swansea
• Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Saint Asaph
• Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
• Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, Anglesey
• Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrexham
• Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pen-y-Groes, Pentwyn
• Ysgol Bro Caereinion, Llanfair Caereinion

With thanks to Literature Wales for arranging these masterclasses through the Bardd Plant Cymru programme. More information about the Bardd Plant Cymru programme is available on the Literature Wales website.

Sean Kenny is a Senior Learning Officer at Amgueddfa Cymru and oversees the Learn programme at Celf ar y Cyd and the national contemporary art gallery for Wales. Sean is interested is in widening the opportunities for young people in art and museums, whilst making the collections as accessible as possible for all ages.