The statues

Our first and most ambitious statue, we are now aiming for an unveiling in the summer of 2021 - having suffered severe delays as a result of the pandemic.

Thanks to Cardiff Council and the developers, Rightacres Property Ltd, the statue will be erected in a prime location near Central Square in Cardiff, opposite the new BBC Headquarters.

Following the vote, we pulled together an artist commissioning panel, including members of Betty Campbell’s family, to choose the artist who would be commissioned to create the statue. The panel chose the renowned artist, Eve Shepherd who has since been working on her sculpture. The design chosen is truly innovative and is nothing like any other statue in Cardiff – but is being kept under wraps until the unveiling.

We have raised nearly all the money we need for this truly iconic work of art, including the £20,000 contribution from Welsh Government. We need to raise another £50,000 in order to complete the commission. If you would like to donate, please go to our GoFundMe page.

Help us to hit the target for Newport’s first statue of a named woman – we can do it!

The Statue 4 Lady Rhondda Group is a group of local Newport women who have formed the MWW steering group to raise funds for a statue of Newport’s famous daughter, following our success to crowdfund a blue plaque for Lady Rhondda in 2015. We are all volunteers.

We are determined to provide Newport with its first statue of a named woman. Our fundraising appeal has been badly hit by the pandemic and we are trying to reignite interest in the project as things begin, hopefully, to return to normal.  In the meantime, ourNewport group's chair, Julie Nicholas, has created a Girl Guiding badge to celebrate Monumental Women, to help raise funds for the statue and to inspire girls to get to know our heroines.

1. What is the fundraising target?

Our target is £100,000.00 to cover the planning, commissioning and installation costs of a statue. We have already secured £20,000 from the generous Welsh Government grant to Monumental Welsh Women, but we need to raise the remainder ourselves, through individual and organisational contributions.

In the event of additional costs we will seek to raise more money as required.

2. How will you choose an artist?

Artists will be selected and invited to submit a design for the statue based on a project-brief for a representational monument to Lady Rhondda.

A panel made up of members from the steering group and historian Professor Angela V John will select a winner. Updates will be made about the progress of the statue.

3. Where will the statue be situated?

Lady Rhondda’s home was at Llanwern House, and as such we think the location of a statue would be most fitting East of the River Usk. There are very few pieces of public art in East Newport and our preferred site is at the riverside of the Millennium footbridge. We think this site will be a great addition to our cultural heritage; with thousands of pedestrians walking past the statue on the way to the famous Rodney Parade stadium, and people crossing the Usk to visit Newport University and City Centre.

4. How can I help?

You can fundraise for us in a variety of ways:

· Donate to the Statue for Lady Rhondda crowdfunder and choose a reward

· Make ‘Statue for Lady Rhondda’ your ‘good cause’ for a sponsored run or walk

· Arrange an activity for the campaign; a tea party, auction or fun-day

· Buy a ticket to a fundraising event

5. Where can I donate?

You can donate directly at our crowdfunding site here

6. How can I find out more about Lady Rhondda

• Visit the blue plaque, next to the postbox at Risca Road 

• Read Turning the Tide, the 2013 biography by Professor Angela V John

• Watch the Winding Snake animated film at Newport museum 

• · Find her portrait at St Fagans museum  

• Help solve the dinner puzzle about a famous party held in her honour  

• Learn about the six point group

• Discover Lady Rhondda amongst the 58 portraits that encircle the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament Square, London. 

• View the Trailer for WNO’s Rhondda rips it up!

We have some great news about our Elaine Morgan statue.  Thanks to Apollo Developments, and contributions from Welsh Government, The Moondance Donation and some private donations, we have raised the money we need to commission the statue, which will be located outside the new medical centre in Mountain Ash. 

Emma Rodgers, the renowned artist who created the statue of Cilla Black statue in   Liverpool has been commissioned to sculpt Elaine and we are hoping that the statue will be unveiled in the autumn of 2021.

You can read more about Elaine and the statue in this Wales Online article.

 If you would like to help us with the statue for Elizabeth Andrews, please contact us.

If you would like to help us with the statue for Cranogwen, please contact us.