‘Welcome to Wrexham!’ Is my old hometown about to become a hothouse of culture?

🌈 Abstract

The article explores the transformation of Wrexham, a small city in Wales, through the lens of the author's personal experiences and observations. It discusses the impact of the new ownership of the local football club by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as well as the cultural and artistic developments in the city, including the Tŷ Pawb art gallery/market and the work of artist Liaqat Rasul.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The author's personal connection to Wrexham

1. What are the author's earliest memories of Wrexham?

• The author's earliest memories include standing on a carnival float dressed as an astronaut, going to the cinema to see Sleeping Beauty, and visiting a cafe in the High Street for a rum baba.
• The author's father also took them to Wrexham football club's Racecourse Ground, in a final attempt to instill a love of the game, even though the author's father was an Everton fan.

2. How does the author feel about returning to their hometown?

• The author is surprised by the positive changes in Wrexham, finding it much better than they remember from their youth.
• The author wonders if they have entered a "utopian fantasy Wales" created by the imagination of Russell T Davies, rather than returning to the town of their birth.

[02] The transformation of Wrexham

1. How has Wrexham changed since the author's youth?

• Wrexham has become a more vibrant and creative city, with the Tŷ Pawb art gallery/market serving as a hub for fashion, art, and good food.
• The city has also become more diverse, with the author noting the presence of a Lebanese-Syrian family running a tailoring business.

2. What role have Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney played in Wrexham's transformation?

• The article mentions that Reynolds and McElhenney, who co-own the local football club Wrexham AFC, have brought a sense of glamour and celebrity to the city.
• A portrait of McElhenney, which bears a resemblance to Kate Winslet's character in Titanic, is displayed at the Tŷ Pawb gallery.

[03] The work of artist Liaqat Rasul

1. What is the focus of Rasul's art exhibition?

• Rasul's exhibition explores the garment trade and cross-cultural migrations, with a focus on his Punjabi heritage and life in multicultural Britain.
• The exhibition includes a market-stall sculpture emblazoned with symbols of the Punjab region.

2. How does Rasul's personal history inform his artistic practice?

• Rasul's experiences growing up in Wrexham as one of the few Pakistani families in the town in the 1980s have influenced his multicultural style and artistic exploration of identity.
• Rasul's fashion career, which began in the late 1990s, was also shaped by his youthful experiences in Wrexham.