GENERAL NEWS - 2
MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
PRESENTING AND PRESERVING WALES’ CULTURAL HERITAGE
Our museums, archives and libraries are more than places where cultural artefacts are preserved. They are educational centres where everyone can access information and collections. They are the focus of regeneration for many communities and they explain Wales’ cultural heritage to millions of tourists who visit Wales every year.
Museums allow people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. There are more than 80 accredited museums in Wales, which preserve our culture and heritage. These museums range from the internationally recognised Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales – to volunteer-run community museums.
All have a role in presenting and preserving Wales’ cultural heritage. The Welsh Assembly Government recognises the value of museums to Wales. Uniquely in the UK, it has created a government policy division – CyMAL: Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales – which is dedicated to directly supporting and advising both local and national organisations. The Assembly Government provides grants for museums, archives and libraries through CyMAL, whose staff are museum, library and archive professionals.
In 2007, CyMAL published a survey of museums in Wales which showed that 50% of museums were supported by Friends' organisations. The study also showed high levels of partnership between Amgueddfa Cymru and local museums, which the Assembly Government actively supports through its ‘Sharing the Treasures’ grant scheme.
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones used the opening of the most recent ‘Sharing the Treasures’ project at Abergavenny Museum to announce also the publication of the first Strategy for Museums in Wales, which lays out a future direction for museums and helps them identify how to move forward and improve access to our cultural heritage. Public consultation on the strategy will run until 23rd October and we hope that BAFM members will respond to this.
The Welsh Assembly Government’s principal aims for museums are to develop their potential as educational and community resources, develop collections, services and facilities fit for the 21st Century and increase access to these for all.
Funding was recently announced to restore some of Wales’ historic buildings. The Welsh Assembly Government grants range from £3,600 to £125,000, and have been offered to carry out essential repairs and restoration work to buildings across Wales.
Details of grants for local museums are available from the CyMAL website. The public consultation of ‘A Museums Strategy for Wales’ can also be accessed on the CyMAL website. |