Re-examining public realm commemoration

Inquiry5

Background

In June 2020, the Culture, Welsh language and Communications Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry to look at the way historical figures are remembered in Wales’ significant public spaces.  In looking at this issue the Committee was keen to explore how society determines who gets remembered; what principles might be used to determine acts of commemoration; and the process that could, or should, be followed if people want individual instances to be removed or changed.

Report

On 25 March 2021 the Committee published its report: “Set in Stone? A report on who gets remembered in public spaces” (PDF, 2.11MB).

The report looked at the debate around current acts of commemoration in Wales, considered how communities and public authorities can be better supported when dealing with instances of contentious statues or commemorations and offered ideas for how we commemorate in future.