The biggest union in Wales has today announced Yasmin Warrey as the winner of its all-Wales poster competition to commemorate the union’s new name, UNISON Cymru, says UNISON today (Friday).
The competition invited artists based in Wales or with a strong connection to the country to design a bold, striking poster celebrating UNISON Cymru’s new identity. Dozens of entries were received, with a shortlisting panel selecting three finalists whose designs were put to a two-week vote of the union’s 100,000 members.
Warrey’s design will now be turned into a poster for display across more than 50 UNISON branch offices in Wales, as well as regional offices and online. Members will also be able to request a printed copy for the cost of postage only.
UNISON set out to work with artists who could capture the diverse experiences of public service staff and reflect the values at the heart of UNISON Cymru. Many entrants said they were inspired to take part because of their own experiences of discrimination or feeling marginalised, and by the role unions play in challenging inequality and standing up for fairness.
UNISON Cymru regional secretary Jess Turner said: “Launching this competition was about celebrating the confidence and identity of today’s UNISON Cymru, but also about creating space for artists to express the values that unite public service workers across Wales.
“The response has been incredible. The shortlist showed the creativity and lived experience that so many artists brought to the brief. It’s been inspiring to see how strongly themes of community, dignity and solidarity came through. It was particularly pleasing to receive more entries from female artists given UNISON’s membership profile.
“We’re proud of this collaboration and excited that members have chosen a design that will become part of our shared story as UNISON Cymru and we’ll definitely look to work with Welsh artists again in future.”
Red Shoes Poster Archive curator Shaun Featherstone said: “When we began working on this competition with UNISON Cymru it was something of a leap of faith for both of us. The quality and calibre of work submitted, but also the stories of solidarity and activism behind many of the designs has been humbling. I’ve always wanted to work with a trade union to explore how artists can help support their work and values. UNISON Cymru’s understanding and appreciation of the tradition and continued relevance of poster making within our movement aligned with their vision and imagination to celebrate those values in such a creative and public way is something they should feel very proud of. The winning design, and the story of how it was commissioned now becomes part of our movement history. Red Shoes Poster Archive is hugely grateful to have played a small part in helping them celebrate the historic name change.”
Winning artist Yasmin Warrey said: “I’m very happy UNISON has given Welsh creatives the opportunity to design something exciting and absolutely delighted to have won.
“The core of my poster is the daffodil-turned-megaphone. Megaphones are a ubiquitous symbol of protest and represent how UNISON amplifies the voices of its members. For me, daffodils are a perfect symbol of: Wales, home, spring, and hopeful, new beginnings – which I thought was fitting for a poster commemorating a name change and a new chapter in UNISON Cymru’s history.
“I’ve always been inspired by stories of unity and community, particularly the 1984 solidarity between striking miners of Dulais and the queer community (Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners).
“I’m glad that UNISON refuses to be divided by hate and instead stands with its members of all kinds.”
Notes to editors:
– 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.
– The competition invited Welsh-based artists, or those with a connection to Wales, to design a poster celebrating UNISON Cymru’s new name.
– Three shortlisted artists received £150 each to develop their designs before a two-week poll of UNISON Cymru’s 100,000 members.
– The winner receives a further £300 and support to make the artwork print ready.
– Prints will be displayed in UNISON Cymru’s 50-plus branch offices as well as the three regional offices.
– Full details about the shortlisted designs are available here.
Cyhoeddi’r artist buddugol yng nghystadleuaeth gelf UNISON Cymru
Mae’r undeb mwyaf yng Nghymru wedi cyhoeddi heddiw mai Yasmin Warrey yw enillydd eu cystadleuaeth Cymru-gyfan i ddylunio poster i goffáu enw newydd yr undeb, UNISON Cymru, meddai UNISON heddiw (dydd Gwener).
Roedd y gystadleuaeth yn gyfle i artistiaid sydd wedi’u lleoli yng Nghymru neu sydd â chysylltiad cryf â’r wlad i ddylunio poster beiddgar, trawiadol yn dathlu hunaniaeth newydd UNISON Cymru. Derbyniwyd dwsinau o geisiadau, gyda phanel yn mynd ati i lunio rhestr fer, gan ddewis tri ymgeisydd terfynol. Rhannwyd eu dyluniadau ymhlith y 100,000 o aelodau’r undeb ar gyfer pleidlais.
Bydd dyluniad Warrey nawr yn cael ei droi’n boster i’w arddangos ar draws mwy na 50 o swyddfeydd cangen UNISON yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â swyddfeydd rhanbarthol ac ar-lein. Bydd aelodau hefyd yn gallu gofyn am gopi printiedig am gost postio yn unig.
Aeth UNISON ati i weithio gydag artistiaid a allai fynegi profiadau amrywiol staff gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac adlewyrchu’r gwerthoedd sydd wrth galon UNISON Cymru. Dywedodd llawer o’r cyfranogwyr eu bod wedi cael eu hysbrydoli i gymryd rhan oherwydd eu profiadau eu hunain o gamwahaniaethu neu deimlo eu bod wedi’u cadw ar y cyrion, a chan y rôl y mae undebau’n ei chwarae wrth herio anghydraddoldeb a sefyll dros degwch.
Meddai ysgrifennydd rhanbarthol UNISON Cymru, Jess Turner: “Roedd lansio’r gystadleuaeth hon yn ymwneud â dathlu hyder a hunaniaeth UNISON Cymru heddiw, ond hefyd â chreu lle i artistiaid fynegi’r gwerthoedd sy’n uno gweithwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru.
“Mae’r ymateb wedi bod yn anhygoel. Dangosodd y rhestr fer y creadigrwydd a’r profiad byw a ddenodd gynifer o artistiaid i ymgeisio. Mae wedi bod yn ysbrydoledig gweld pa mor gryf y daeth themâu cymuned, urddas ac undod i’r amlwg. Roedd yn arbennig o bleserus derbyn mwy o geisiadau gan artistiaid benywaidd, o ystyried proffil aelodaeth UNISON.
“Rydym yn falch o’r cydweithrediad hwn ac yn gyffrous bod aelodau wedi dewis dyluniad a fydd yn rhan o’n stori a rannwn fel UNISON Cymru, a byddwn yn bendant yn edrych ymlaen at weithio gydag artistiaid o Gymru eto yn y dyfodol.”
Meddai curadur Archif Bosteri Esgidiau Cochion, Shaun Featherstone: “Pan ddechreuon ni weithio ar y gystadleuaeth hon gydag UNISON Cymru, roedd yn golygu tipyn o fenter i’r naill fudiad a’r llall. Mae ansawdd a safon y gwaith a gyflwynwyd, ond hefyd y straeon o undod ac ymgyrchu sydd y tu ôl i lawer o’r dyluniadau, wedi creu cryn argraff arnom. Rydw i wastad wedi bod eisiau gweithio gydag undeb llafur i archwilio sut y gall artistiaid helpu i gefnogi eu gwaith a’u gwerthoedd. Mae dealltwriaeth a gwerthfawrogiad UNISON Cymru o’r traddodiad a pherthnasedd parhaus dylunio posteri o fewn ein mudiad, sy’n cyd-fynd â’u gweledigaeth a’u dychymyg i ddathlu’r gwerthoedd hynny mewn ffordd mor greadigol a chyhoeddus, yn rhywbeth y dylent deimlo’n falch iawn ohono. Mae’r dyluniad buddugol, a’r stori ynghylch sut y cafodd ei gomisiynu, bellach yn rhan o hanes ein mudiad. Mae Archif Bosteri Esgidiau Cochion yn ddiolchgar iawn am fod wedi chwarae rhan fach yn eu helpu i ddathlu’r newid enw hanesyddol.”
Meddai’r artist buddugol Yasmin Warrey: “Rwy’n hapus iawn bod UNISON wedi rhoi cyfle i bobl greadigol Cymru ddylunio rhywbeth cyffrous ac yn hynod falch o fod wedi ennill.
“Craidd fy mhoster yw’r cennin Pedr sy’n troi’n fegaffon. Mae megaffonau yn symbol hollbresennol o brotest ac yn cynrychioli sut mae UNISON yn chwyddo lleisiau ei aelodau. I mi, mae cennin Pedr yn symbol perffaith o Gymru, cartref, gwanwyn, a dechreuadau newydd, gobeithiol – a oedd yn addas yn fy marn i ar gyfer poster yn coffáu newid enw a phennod newydd yn hanes UNISON Cymru.
“Rydw i bob amser wedi cael fy ysbrydoli gan straeon am undod a chymuned, yn enwedig yr undod ym 1984 rhwng glowyr Dulais a oedd ar streic a’r gymuned hoyw (Lesbiaid a Hoywon yn Cefnogi’r Glowyr).
“Rwy’n falch bod UNISON yn gwrthod cael ei rannu gan gasineb, ac yn hytrach yn sefyll gyda’i aelodau o bob math.”
Nodiadau ar gyfer golygyddion:
– Cefnogodd cynrychiolwyr yng nghynhadledd genedlaethol y DU ym mis Mehefin yr enw newydd fel adlewyrchiad gwell o bwysigrwydd diwylliant a threftadaeth Cymru. Fe’i gelwid gynt yn UNISON Cymru/Wales.
– Gwahoddodd y gystadleuaeth artistiaid o Gymru, neu’r rhai sydd â chysylltiad â Chymru, i ddylunio poster yn dathlu enw newydd UNISON Cymru.
– Derbyniodd tri artist a gyrhaeddodd y rhestr fer £150 yr un i ddatblygu eu dyluniadau cyn cynnal pleidlais dros bythefnos ymysg y 100,000 o aelodau sydd gan UNISON Cymru.
– Mae’r enillydd yn derbyn £300 pellach a chefnogaeth i wneud y gwaith celf yn barod i’w argraffu.
– Bydd printiau’n cael eu harddangos yn y 50+ o swyddfeydd cangen UNISON ledled Cymru, yn ogystal â’r tair swyddfa ranbarthol.
– Mae manylion llawn am y dyluniadau a gyrhaeddodd y rhestr fer ar gael yma.
