Sgroliwch i lawr am y fersiwn Gymraeg
The biggest public services union in Wales has today (Friday) issued artists with a challenge to design a commemorative artwork marking its name change to UNISON Cymru.
Delegates at the union’s UK-national conference in June backed the new name as a better reflection of the importance of Welsh culture and heritage. It has previously been known as UNISON Cymru/Wales.
Now Welsh-based artists, or those with a connection to Wales, are being offered the chance to create a work celebrating the new devolved identity. The final choice of best design will be left to a poll of the 90,000-strong membership.
The winning artwork will be turned into a poster to be displayed at the union’s 50-plus branch offices across Wales and on social media. There is also a £450 prize.
The union is working with Shaun Featherstone, curator of the Red Shoes Poster Archive, in this call out to artists.
UNISON Cymru secretary Jess Turner said: “People will know UNISON as the union fighting for public service workers, getting better pay and challenging discrimination.
“But it’s also been part of a long tradition in the union movement of using art and posters to highlight issues, and connect with people.
“Welsh artists can channel their creativity and ambition to celebrate this new identity, which will be at the heart of public services across the country.
Red Shoes Poster Archive curator Shaun Featherstone said: “This is an exciting opportunity for artists passionate about social justice and fairness to be part of history.
“From banners for demonstrations to campaigns posters, strong visual designs are a proud tradition of Welsh union and working-class history.
“We want to see bold, striking poster designs which captures the spirit of UNISON Cymru as the largest union for public sector workers in Wales. It will be a beautiful artwork that people will feel compelled to put on display.”
Notes to editors:
- The deadline for artists to submit designs is noon on Friday 31 October 2025. The union is not seeking a new or redesigned logo.
- Three shortlisted artists will be notified in early November and are given a further week to develop designs, which will be put to the union’s 90,000 members in a two-week poll to determine the winner.
- The victorious design will be announced in early December.
- Posters will be displayed in Cymru branch offices and available to members by the end of the year.
- The successful artist will be based in (or with a connection to) Wales; be a creative professional, student or anyone who is passionate about union values; they must also have previous examples of their work to support their idea. Full details of entry requirements are available here
- More information about the Red Shoes Poster Archive is here
Media contact:
Alastair Gittins M: 07816 538397 E: a.gittins@unison.co.uk
Dydd Gwener 29 Awst 2025
I’w ryddhau ar unwaith
Mae UNISON yn gwahodd artistiaid yng Nghymru i ddylunio gwaith celf i nodi newid arwyddocaol
Heddiw (dydd Gwener) mae undeb gwasanaethau cyhoeddus mwyaf Cymru wedi cyflwyno her i artistiaid ddylunio gwaith celf coffaol i nodi newid ei enw i UNISON Cymru.
Roedd cynrychiolwyr yng nghynhadledd genedlaethol y DU ym mis Mehefin o blaid yr enw newydd fel adlewyrchiad gwell o bwysigrwydd diwylliant a threftadaeth Cymru. Fe’i gelwid gynt yn UNISON Cymru/Wales.
Nawr mae artistiaid sy’n byw yng Nghymru, neu’r rhai sydd â chysylltiad â Chymru, yn cael cynnig y cyfle i greu gwaith sy’n dathlu’r hunaniaeth ddatganoledig newydd. Bydd y dewis terfynol o’r dyluniad gorau yn cael ei benderfynu ar sail pleidlais ymhlith yr aelodaeth o 90,000.
Bydd y gwaith celf buddugol yn cael ei droi’n boster i’w arddangos mewn mwy na 50 o swyddfeydd canghennau’r undeb ledled Cymru ac ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mae yna hefyd wobr o £450.
Mae’r undeb yn gweithio gyda Shaun Featherstone, curadur Archif Bosteri Esgidiau Coch, yn yr alwad hon i artistiaid.
Meddai Ysgrifennydd UNISON Cymru, Jess Turner: “Bydd pobl yn adnabod UNISON fel yr undeb sy’n ymladd dros weithwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, gan sicrhau gwell cyflog a herio camwahaniaethu.
“Ond mae gan fudiad yr undebau llafur hefyd draddodiad hir o ddefnyddio celf a phosteri i dynnu sylw at faterion o bwys, a chysylltu â phobl.
“Gall artistiaid Cymru sianelu eu creadigrwydd a’u huchelgais i ddathlu’r hunaniaeth newydd hon, a fydd wrth galon gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled y wlad.
Meddai curadur Archif Bosteri Esgidiau Coch Shaun Featherstone: “Mae hwn yn gyfle cyffrous i artistiaid sy’n angerddol am gyfiawnder cymdeithasol a thegwch fod yn rhan o hanes.
“O faneri ar gyfer gwrthdystiadau i bosteri ymgyrchoedd, mae dyluniadau gweledol cryf yn draddodiad balch o fewn hanes undebau a dosbarth gweithiol Cymru.
“Rydym am weld dyluniadau posteri beiddgar, trawiadol sy’n cipio ysbryd UNISON Cymru fel yr undeb mwyaf ar gyfer gweithwyr y sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Bydd yn waith celf hardd y bydd pobl yn teimlo gorfodaeth i’w arddangos.”
Nodiadau i olygyddion:
- Y dyddiad cau i artistiaid gyflwyno dyluniadau yw canol-dydd, ddydd Gwener 31ain Hydref 2025. Nid yw’r undeb yn chwilio am logo newydd na logo wedi’i ailgynllunio.
- Bydd tri artist sydd wedi cyrraedd y rhestr fer yn cael gwybod ddechrau mis Tachwedd, a rhoddir wythnos arall iddynt ddatblygu eu dyluniadau. Wedyn cânt eu cyflwyno i’r 90,000 o aelodau sydd gan yr undeb, a bydd ganddynt bythefnos i benderfynu ar yr enillydd.
- Cyhoeddir y dyluniad buddugol ddechrau mis Rhagfyr.
- Bydd posteri’n cael eu harddangos yn swyddfeydd canghennau Cymru a byddant ar gael i aelodau erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
- Bydd yr artist llwyddiannus wedi’i leoli yng Nghymru (neu â chysylltiad â Chymru); yn broffesiynwr creadigol, myfyriwr neu unrhyw un sy’n angerddol am werthoedd yr undeb; rhaid iddynt hefyd allu dangos enghreifftiau o’u gwaith blaenorol i ategu eu syniad. Mae manylion llawn y gofynion ar gyfer cymryd rhan ar gael yma
- Mae rhagor o wybodaeth am Archif Bosteri Esgidiau Coch ar gael yma
Cyswllt ar gyfer y cyfryngau:
Alastair Gittins
Ffôn: 07816 538397
E-bost: a.gittins@unison.co.uk
