AN ARTS foundation that promotes the life and work of a Polish artist who took refuge in Ystradgynlais during World War Two, has been sharing their achievements with Powys County Council.

Members of the Josef Herman Art Foundation attended a council meeting last month to share their recent activities with councillors.

The foundation, based at the Welfare Hall in Ystradgynlais, is dedicated to promoting an appreciation of the life and work of the Polish artist Josef Herman, who took refuge in the town in the latter half of World War Two.

As part of the presentation, councillors were shown a short film that was commissioned and funded by the City and County Swansea Arts in Education Team and the foundation as part of the Mining Josef Herman project for use in schools and local communities. An exhibition called Jewish Migrants in Wales was also on show at the full council meeting, held in Llandrindod Wells’ County Hall.

Councillors also heard that between 2013 and 2015, the foundation played a major role by contributing to the Transforming Tate Britain: Archives and Access project with the Mining Josef Herman project.

A registered charity, the foundation works in partnership with organisations across Wales by fostering a wider participation in the arts. This is done through their Award for Schools project, exhibitions, events, lectures and support for an annual prize at the National Eisteddfod.

Chairman of Powys County Council, Cllr Paul Ashton, said: “I would like to thank the Josef Herman Art Foundation for coming to our meeting and providing councillors with an insight into their work with schools and local communities.

“The foundation and the exhibition reminded us that Wales has welcomed refugees in the past and will be doing the same again in the when the country will welcoming more Syrian refugees in the coming months.”