Glynmil young people create homage to Gypsy/Roma Holocaust victims

Young people from Merthyr Tydfil’s Glynmil Caravan Park have remembered the lives of Gypsy/Roma Holocaust victims who died in World War Two by creating an educational art installation that will be on display at events and buildings across the UK.

The artwork, which recently featured in a Holocaust commemoration service held at St Tydfil's Parish Church, is currently at Merthyr Tydfil Central Library and will be displayed at other events before travelling to the Senedd in August for Roma Holocaust Memorial Day.

A Welsh Government Youth Support Grant funded the project, which was led by Head4Arts’s Creative Director Kate Strudwick, sculptor Cindy Ward and digital artist Natasha James.

Named 'Many Stars in the Sight of God', the heart-shaped design of the sculpture was created from recycled copper pipe and wire, with a cast iron cartwheel base.

Each of its crafted stars represents 10,000 Gypsy/Roma people killed by the Nazis in World War Two, with the young people having drawn upon Gypsy/Traveller iconography to decorate the stars. There are also QR codes linked to further information as part of the sculpture.

Glynmil Site Manager Lillie Bramley said: “Head4Arts, who have been working on site for many years, took the lead of this important project to create a beautiful and sensitive art installation.

“A special thanks to Kate Strudwick, whose commitment to working with this community continues to make a massive impact. Also to all the young people involved for their hard work: Jamie, Lily, Lisa-Marie, Missy, Obi, Precious, Ria, Rhianna, Sadie, Vienna, Wesley P, Wesley W and Willie Boy.”

• Glynmil Caravan Park at Pentrebach has been a residential Gypsy/Traveller site since 1977. In 2020, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council signed an 80-year lease to take on responsibility for full management of the park, and was awarded a Welsh Government Site Capital Grant of more than £500,000 to refurbish all 24 amenity blocks on the 8.3 acres of land.