Culture And Memory

Cardiff Great Exhibition 2026: Schools Outreach Project (Innovation, Imagination & the Human Cost of Progress)

2026 marks 130 years since Cardiff hosted the extraordinary- but largely forgotten- Fine Art and Maritime Exhibition of 1896, a grand celebration of Victorian innovation that attracted over a million visitors. Inspired by this historical event, this project invites young people to rediscover a forgotten chapter of their city’s story, imagine bold new futures and share their visions through art, storytelling and creative technology. At the heart of the project sits Balloon Girl, a new theatrical production by Hannah McPake, which will act as a creative catalyst for an ambitious project engaging young people during the transition from primary to secondary school in a playful and imaginative journey through Cardiff’s history, present and possible futures. Mirroring the sense of transformation and opportunity central to the Cardiff Exhibition of 1896. By blending immersive history with imaginative futures, the project will empower pupils to become storytellers, innovators and custodians of Cardiff’s legacy.