Image: Amgueddfa Cenedlaethol Cymru National Museum Wales
Welsh Government prioritises preservation of cultural institutions, with further £0.5m for storage facilities and collections at local and independent museums and archives.
The Welsh Government has committed £3.2m for repairs to be carried out to both the National Museum Cardiff and National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths, said the Welsh Government’s increased spending in this financial year is a mitigation of the “intense financial pressures on all cultural institutions” at a national and local level.
Griffiths has committed a further £500,000 to help improve storage facilities and protect collections at local and independent museums and archives.
The government said the priority of protecting and preserving its cultural institutions and their collections means it will not be possible to invest in an anchor gallery for its dispersed national collections model, National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales.
The model sees nine Welsh galleries become members of the network, including Aberystwyth Arts Centre and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea.
Griffiths said: “We have had to make some difficult decisions and choices, but we have listened and the priority at this time must be helping to safeguard our cultural institutions be they large or small, national or local.
“The dispersed model of the National Contemporary Art Gallery will bring collections closer to communities, emphasising our commitment to equity of access. We will continue to develop our digital online platform – Celf ar y Cyd – so more people across Wales and the world can enjoy our national collection of art.
“Funding will also ensure local museums and archives are supported, recognising the extremely important role they play in telling the stories of their areas.
“We have been honest about the financial challenges we’re facing, however, this does not stop us being ambitious for the sector. The investment we’re continuing to make and our consultation on draft priorities for culture over the next six years show the importance this Welsh Government places on culture.
“We must continue to work together to safeguard our cultural institutions.”
Amgueddfa Cymru Chief Executive, Jane Richardson added: “We are so pleased that Welsh Government is providing additional funding to start critical maintenance work at National Museum Cardiff. The Museum is over 100 years old and was specifically built to house and showcase Wales’ very special national collection.
“We are delighted that this extra investment will enable us to begin the work to ensure this collection remains accessible to the people of Wales as well as visitors from the rest of the UK and across the world.”
