COLEG Menai’s Art Foundation course has been praised in Welsh Parliament as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The course was established in 1981, but due to Covid restrictions last year, celebrations are only just taking place this year.

Founded by artist Peter Prendergast and peers, works of art celebrating forty years of the course are on display at the Storiel art gallery and Pontio Arts Center in Bangor.

Peter’s son Owein is now course leader, and has curated pieces of art by alumni, lecturers, and course founders, and the work is testament to the tremendous contribution of the course since its inception.

But the course’s 40-year milestone recently reached the floor of the Welsh Parliament, with Arfon MS Siân Gwenllian taking the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the course’s history and present.

Ms Gwenllian said: “Special artworks have been created to celebrate the anniversary, and they are currently being exhibited at Storiel art gallery and Pontio.

“Owein curated artworks, one for each year being celebrated in the anniversary, and work by former students, lecturers and the course’s founders.

“The work is testament to the major contribution made by the course over the decades.

“Some of the most prominent names in the Welsh arts scene launched their fledgling careers here, but I won’t start naming them in case I forget someone and cause offence by omission.

“But everyone pays tribute to a creative, experimental, formative period that gave them the opportunity to blossom as individuals as well as artists.

“So, happy anniversary to Coleg Menai’s art course, and huge congratulations for reaching such an important milestone.

“Long may the course make such a profound contribution to our nation’s visual arts.”