Following the success of last year’s one-hour deep-dive sessions, we’re running them again with a whole range of new subjects chosen by museum educators in Wales. All of them focus on tackling the challenges that you face as you deliver the new curriculum and the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

These are not typical workshops – they’re dynamic and focus on just one subject per session. Diving deep into a single topic allows us to generate solutions that will drive real change at your site.

Our sessions are designed to be for active participation, with lots of opportunity for sharing ideas and collaborating with fellow museum and heritage experts. Each session will be led by a specialist, who will share their expertise, with lots of examples of best practice.

You’re busy, and so these sessions last just one hour. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or new to the field, join us as we address challenges and drive change in just one hour. All sessions run from 10.30-11.30am apart from 12th July (see below).

What’s happening and when:

· Fri 12th July. Talking to Teachers. A unique workshop where you’ll have a chance to engage directly with primary and secondary school teachers. Find out first hand what teachers are looking for in an inclusive school visit. Practical insights that will help you provide meaningful learning experiences at your site. Led by GEM Cymru members Jo Furber and Darren Macey. Please note the time for this session is different to the others: 11.30am-12.30pm.

· Wed 17th July. Material Witnesses – Does an Object Speak for Itself? This session explores how an object has layers of depth and history that develop over time. Exploring objects through new perspectives and by previously unheard voices deepens our shared pool of knowledge, enriches us as human beings, and leads to a rich learning experience. Led by Raj Pal. Raj will discuss his own selection of objects and invites you to bring one from your own collection to share (time permitting).

· Tues 17nd September. Hidden Histories and Challenging Narratives. To truly decolonise our museums, we need to understand Wales’s complex relationship with empire and slavery. This workshop will provide a historical overview, highlighting key events and figures and offer practical tools for connecting these stories with your collections. Led by Dr Marian Gwyn.

· Tues 24th September. Creative Approaches to Sensitive Stories. Tackling topics like slavery and empire can be challenging for teachers and museum educators alike. This workshop explores ‘side door’ techniques used by museums worldwide to address sensitive histories with creativity and confidence. This approach fully acknowledges the gravity of these subjects, but offers an entry point for engaging schools in meaningful discussions that might not otherwise be possible. Led by Dr Marian Gwyn.

· Tues 1 October. Embedding Equity into your Daily Practice. Inclusive museum educational provision isn’t just a one-time project – it’s an ongoing process. This workshop breaks down what you can do into manageable steps. We’ll create a practical checklist that will equip you with key techniques that will enable you to continuously assess, adapt and improve your programming, ensuring that equity and accessibility become second nature in your work. Led by Dr Marian Gwyn.

· Tues 8th October. Tesco Does It – Should We? Diversity and Inclusion in Daily Museum Practice. Tesco does it, so do Nike, Google and countless other organisations. But what does embedding diversity and inclusion really look like in a local museum setting in Wales? This workshop, led by an experienced museum specialist of ethnic minority heritage, builds on the previous session, moving beyond theory to explore practical strategies for weaving diversity and inclusion into your everyday work. This is your chance to learn from an expert who has walked the walk, and gain actionable insights to transform your education provision. Led by Raj Pal.

Session leaders:

· Dr Marian Gwyn is an experienced heritage consultant and historian, who has many years’ experience of working with the museum sector on the contested past.

· Raj Pal is a curator, historian and activist. He has a long career of working in the cultural sector and has delivered inclusive projects for the National Trust, English Heritage and several museums (including in Wales). He is a regular writer, speaker and broadcaster on cultural issues.

· Jo Furber is the Literature Officer at the Dylan Thomas Centre for Swansea Council Cultural Services.

· Darren Macey is Operational Manager at Rhondda Cynon Taf Heritage and Outreach Services for RCT County Borough Council.

Time for all sessions (apart from 12th July): 10.30-11.30am.

Cost: Free

Booking: ESSENTIAL

All sessions will be facilitated by Dr Marian Gwyn.

These workshops are funded by the Welsh Government as part of its commitment to delivering its Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. They are specifically for staff working at museums in Wales.