“75 Memorial Flames” artwork created by Wrexham community groups unveiled in town

A large scale mural to mark Holocaust Memorial Day has been unveiled in Wrexham town centre.

The artwork, which was created by local community groups, will feature as part of the “75 Memorial Flames” exhibition in London.

The groups worked alongside The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) to create the 8′ x 20′ mural, which is made up of hundreds of purple handprints.

Groups included the Wrexham Homeless Art Club with National Theatre Wales, PlassyLanders Drama Club at The Land Plas Madoc, Wrexham Youth Service at Caia Park Partnership, Gwersyllt Resource Centre, Little Sunflowers Childcare, Portuguese Language Community Group (CLPW) and Third Sector representatives at the AVOW Christmas Reception and Christmas Carol Service, including the High Sheriff of Clwyd Stephanie Catherall and the Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Rob Walsh.

They attended art workshops and created the mural using hand-prints, boot-prints and wheelchair tracks to represent the diversity of our local community.

The mural was recently unveiled on Queens Square and a final photograph will be printed on canvas and displayed at the exhibition in London on Monday, January 27, alongside other memorial artwork by organisations from across the UK.

The exhibition, curated by Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and launch the 2020 theme of ‘Stand Together’ for Holocaust Memorial Day internationally.

Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety, said: “Our thanks go to AVOW for organising a very appropriate mural on behalf of Wrexham to display in London.

“It is our duty never to forget the horrors that took place in the concentration camps and, sadly, that still go on in parts of the world today.”

He added: “Wrexham is a very diverse area and we should all be proud of how inclusive and welcoming we are and continue to stand up to inequality and inhumanity in all its forms.”

AVOW has organised a commemorative event for Holocaust Memorial Day in Wrexham County Borough for the past five years. For the 2020 anniversary AVOW have arranged a morning of speakers, activities and remembrance to mark the occasion.

The event will take place from 10:30am until midday on Friday 24th January 2020 at the Memorial Hall, Bodhyfryd, Wrexham. Admission is free and tickets are available through Eventbrite: