Culture

Tribute to Palestinian children wins Eisteddfod’s People’s Choice award

08 Aug 2026 3 minute read

Nation.Cymru Staff

A powerful artwork honouring hundreds of children killed in Gaza has won the public vote at this year’s National Eisteddfod art exhibition.

The Josef Herman Award – The People’s Choice was awarded to Diane Williams from Ynys Môn for the emotional work — a child’s nightdress embroidered with the names of 300 children who did not attain the age of one in Gaza — displayed at Y Lle Celf, the National Eisteddfod’s art exhibition.

The award is given to the most popular piece of work, or collection, in the open exhibition with all eisteddfodwyr attending given the opportunity to cast their vote during their visit to Y Lle Celf.

Accepting the award Diane said: “Creating the piece was a very emotional experience as I recorded 300 names of babies who did not reach their one year old in Gaza. A very small percentage of the children who have been killed mercilessly.

“I felt some moral obligation to create the work in order to encourage conversation and engagement with the reality of the horrors that happen there on a daily basis.

“The response from the audience to the uniform shows that we are a caring nation, full of empathy and love and I am very proud to say that the money will go to MAP, Medical Aid for Palestine.”

With the support of the Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru, £500 is awarded to the artist that has created the most popular work or collection of works in the Open Exhibition.

An Eisteddfod spokesperson said: “Be it ceramic, textiles or painting, the public sometimes agree with the selectors and vote for one of the winners of the Gold Medal for Fine Art or Craft and Design.

“Other times, the people chose a completely different winner. Whatever the result, it encourages the public to engage with the artworks and take ownership of Y Lle Celf.”

The award was established at the Bro Colwyn 1995 National Eisteddfod following a suggestion by art specialist Miles Wynn Cato – a member of Daniel’s Club, London.

The first ever award was financed by the members of the club, established by Welsh lawyers in the 18th century.

Since 2008 the award has been sponsored by the Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru and in 2011 was renamed the Josef Herman Award – The People’s Choice.

Josef Herman was awarded the Gold Medal for Fine Art for his contribution to art in Wales and beyond at the National Eisteddfod held at Llanelli in 1962.

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