Storytelling app brings St Fagans alive

A new storytelling app is helping to bring one of Wales’ most well-known museums alive.

The Traces project – a partnership between Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, Cardiff University, and yello brick, a creative marketing and street gaming company - takes participants on a physical journey around St Fagans’ castle gardens, moving from fact to fiction, past and present.

The free bilingual app (‘Olion’ in the Welsh language version) created for visitors to experience either on their own or in pairs, has a duration of 30 minutes and is split into four different chapters. Based on archive material from the museum’s collection, the story focuses on characters who might ‘have lived and experienced’ the castle and grounds in the early twentieth century. The trail can be experience at any time during the normal opening hours of the St Fagans site.

Dafydd James, Head of Digital Media, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, said: “We are delighted to work in in partnership with Cardiff University and yello brick to offer visitors to the museum something different.

“This artistic interpretation challenges visitors to experience St Fagans in a new way. It’s an opportunity to switch off from the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy the narration in the relaxing surroundings of the historic castle gardens. We hope it captures the visitors’ imaginations.”

Dr Jenny Kidd, Senior Lecturer, School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University, said: “We are thrilled to be launching Traces/Olion, the culmination of a partnership between yello brick, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales and Cardiff University which has been ongoing for a number of years...”

Visitors will need a set of headphones and a mobile device with operating system for IOS & Android and above. The Traces app can be downloaded from either the ITunes Store or Google Play. It is recommended to download the app, which is free of charge, before you arrive at St Fagans. You will not need a data connection during the experience. Entry to St Fagans is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.