Cadw sites have inspired many artists including Turner, Richard Wilson, Kyffin Williams and Wordsworth, to name but a few.

Each of Cadw’s  properties in care have their own story. Through the centuries our historic sites have provided artists with inspiration and spaces to perform. Their very creation involving artists and crafts people from many different practices. Their very fabric is an art form. And to this day they provide spaces for artist to explore, enjoy and create.

Where will you go to get creative?

Today, as an Arts Award supporter, Cadw sites offer you places to enjoy creative experiences and make your own interpretations through artistic expression. Be inspired by the work of architects, masons, carvers, painters and storytellers. 

Arts Award Logo

Enjoy music and performances at the sites. Come and create poetry, paint and draw, take photos or create digital story-worlds. We invite you to visit us, learn about our sites and develop your own art. We look forward to seeing you and hearing about your heritage inspired work.

Need more ideas and inspiration to start you off? Check our arts-crafts-and-creativity area and find activities to stimulate your creative flair…

Cadw has become an Arts Award supporter. Arts Award supporters are arts and cultural organisations who offer events, activities and opportunities which help young people achieve their Arts Award. Those working with young people — schools, scouts, home educators and others, can use Arts Award to enrich the arts experiences they offer or to support young people who want to explore arts interests outside their expertise. You will though need to work with an Arts Award trained assessor to achieve the award.

As an Arts Awards supporter we feature on the Arts Award supporter site and appear on the supporter map enabling those looking for Art Award Friendly opportunities near them to find us and our offering. We may also promote specific opportunities on Arts Award voice, an online youth magazine.

Look out for the blue symbol throughout our website — where events and opportunities have been identified as ideal for inspiring you as you complete your Arts Award.

Artist in Residence project

  • Get your poetic juices flowing be inspired by our Artist in Residence project. The project delivered artist-led creative activity for young people using local heritage sites as a stimulus. In total the project took place across five sites, and worked with 64 young people aged 14+ with writers Sophie McKeand and Clare potter and drama practitioner Llinos Jones. The residencies developed from a one day residency for more able and talented writers, to two day residencies with a wider range of participants, the last being the Dinefwr residency, captured in the video. The outputs and engagement experiences from each session varied depending on artist and engaged group, but the experiences and works created were rich and amazin

Cadwraeth Cymru

  • Cadwraeth Cymru is our own in-house conservation team that provides specialist services to exacting standards across Wales. Our work is sometimes supplemented by specialist external heritage contractors. Watch how they carve the stones here – can you make building inspired carvings or ceramics perhaps?

Designs on a Dragon

  • Head to Caerphilly Castle for an unforgettable day of myths, legends and magic.  It took a team of 11 students from the University of South Wales's computer animation course three months to create amazing footage which was made through 3D programming technology. The students designed and completed the dragon's entire body entire body (even its skeleton!) before setting it against the backdrop of four iconic Welsh castles.

The Four Little Pigs of Blaenavon

  • ‘The Four Little Pigs of Blaenavon’ is a story book written with Year 1 pupils from Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School.

Shakespeare Week

  • Shakespeare Week is a national annual celebration of Shakespeare, coordinated by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. This week provides the tools for schools, home educators, families and cultural organisations to offer children across the UK enriching and enjoyable early experiences with Shakespeare. Cadw’s lifelong learning team celebrated Shakespeare Week ’19, by commissioning a team to work with primary schools; walking, talking and taking the journey through the tales and battles of Shakespeare. Maybe you could be a bit of a Bard?

Shaking Up Shakespeare  

  • Led by professional Writer / Director Janys Chambers who engaged pupils in exploring the Shakespeare text of 'Macbeth' in untangling the language to reflect the language of today. A one-day workshop culminated in an informal sharing at the end of the day. Young people also worked with a professional combat artist to re-enact the battles using language and physical imagery, led by professional Knight Tom Conwy and using professional weaponry, Tom demonstrated the skills of a sword man and created a mini mock battle to share with pupils and parents at the end of the school day. Can you cross words and swords?