Deputy Minister Accepts Recommendations Of Local Museum Review

The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, has today agreed to develop the recommendations of an independent report on the future delivery of local museum services in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Expert Review of Local Museum Provision in Wales was commissioned in autumn 2015 to look at the impact funding cuts and organisational changes by local authorities are having on local museums. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The panel produced their final report last August and set out ten recommendations for securing the future delivery of local museum services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Deputy Minister has agreed to a range of measures and a refreshed Strategy for Museums in Wales will be developed to take these forward. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The actions include working with the sector to establish Collections Wales, to develop and safeguard collections across the country, and commissioning a review of museum entry charges to establish clarity for the sector and for visitors. This will not change the Welsh Government’s policy of free entry to National Museums. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government will also work with the WLGA to look at the feasibility of creating Regional Bodies to provide operational direction, management and support for local museums. The steering group which oversaw the first national strategy for museums in the UK will also be developed to meet the recommendation to establish a national Museums’ Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Deputy Minister said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Local museums are assets to our communities. They are a great educational tool, providing hands on learning, with exhibitions that can be seen and touched. They bring our past to life. They’re also an important contribution to our tourism industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As most rely heavily on local authority budgets, this is a particularly vulnerable time for these institutions. I felt it was important we had clear recommendations on how local museums can continue to thrive in the face of decreasing budgets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am pleased that we are taking forward the recommendations of the review’s panel. This will require partnership working and a commitment from the whole sector. It’s also important to note the responsibility local authorities have to protect our heritage. We expect them to set out their intentions for museum services and consider all options when reviewing their funding for these important services.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​