Pupils from Tredegarville C.I.W. Primary School will be helping to light the streets of Cardiff this Christmas after taking part in the second annual Cardiff Kids Xmas Lights project.
The switch-on event will take place on the 13 of November from 5-6pm in the Canal Quarter, coinciding with the RSAW awards, and a performance from a local primary school choir.
The innovative project has seen light installations, co-designed by pupils at the Adamsdown based primary school, mounted to lamp posts in the canal quarter district.
The project was co-created by Founding Director of Architecture of Kids CIC and Design Tutor Antonio Capelao from the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University, and fellow lecturer in Architecture Design Dr Melina Guirnaldo Diaz, who also ran the transformative scheme last year.
With the support of Kate Martin of the Cardiff Curriculum, Elinor Weekly of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, Cllr Sarah Merry Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council and Cabinet Member for Education, and Sophie Page, an undergraduate student of the Welsh School of Architecture, Antonio and Melina delivered a series of workshops for over 120 pupils from across the school.
The workshops brought the world of architecture and the built environment to pupils and explored the themes of lighting, identity of place and Women in Cardiff.
Pupils were invited to submit designs inspired by the influential contribution of women to their local area, with winning designs chosen by the project team alongside Ben Ferguson, the landscape architect behind the new Canal Quarter project, Elinor Weekly, Director of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, Cosmin Dumitru of the Design Circle members of Cardiff Council (Curriculum, Commitment and Child Friendly Cardiff), Cllr Sarah Merry, Emily Cotterill of For Cardiff, sponsors Floodlighting Electrical Ltd and Lite Ltd and the head teacher at Tredegarville Primary School, among others.
The final exhibition was curated in a special workshop supported by the National Museum Cardiff curators Bryony White, and Dr Bronwen Colquhoun before being transformed into bespoke LED light panels by Floodlighting Electrical Ltd.
Antonio Capelao, project lead, said:
“Following the incredible success of last year’s children-led Christmas light displays, we were eager to bring the project back for another festive season — this time giving a new cohort of children the chance to brighten the city with their creativity and imagination for everyone to enjoy.
“The glass ceiling-shattering project was designed to inspire girls to take leading roles in the architecture profession, and for boys to support them in their choices.
“In collaboration with Cardiff Curriculum, the project explores how integrating STEAM subjects into the primary curriculum can promote creative thinking, civic engagement, and a stronger connection between young people and their surroundings, whilst fostering ownership and agency.”
Cllr Sarah Merry, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council and Cabinet Member for Education, added:
“Last year’s event highlighted that we are a city well-deserving of our UNICEF child-friendly city status, and I’m glad to hear that this year’s event is set to be even bigger than the last, with the wonderful work from St. Cuthbert’s returning to be displayed alongside these new inspiring works from Tredegarville pupils. Our children are able to influence decisions that affect their city, and this project is a prime example of how much we value their contribution.”
The Cardiff Kids Xmas Lights Project is in the second year of a three-year sponsorship from Floodlighting Electrical Ltd supported by Cardiff Council, with new lights being added to the existing ones each year, last year’s contribution having come from St. Cuthbert’s primary pupils in Butetown.
