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CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales Museums Current Awareness Service 31 CyMAL's Current Awareness service uses the JISC mail list service. For further information please go to: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=museums-info&A=1 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES Record of Proceedings - 25.1.01 The National Museums and Galleries of Wales Q3 Lorraine Barrett: What action is the Welsh Assembly Government taking to encourage more people to visit the National Museums and Galleries of Wales? OAQ0569(CWS) Alun Pugh: Visitor figures at the National Museums and Galleries of Wales have risen significantly since the Welsh Assembly Government introduced free entry to our national museums in April 2001. Figures were up 77 per cent during 2004-05 compared with the last year of charging. Lorraine Barrett: I am delighted that, thanks to Labour's policy of free entry, the number of people from less privileged backgrounds has almost doubled. However, I am sure that you will be aware that there is still work to do regarding ethnic minority communities accessing our museums and galleries. What action are you taking to ensure that the museums get to grips with this issue, and to start thinking about some of the work that they can do to encourage more people from our ethnic minority communities to access the museums and galleries? Alun Pugh: It is fair to say that the free entry scheme has been a storming success, not just in terms of numbers, but also in terms of the composition and the visitor mix, particularly people from socially deprived communities. Your points on ethnic minority communities are well made. I know that the museums and galleries have several projects to tackle this issue. I think that everyone would accept that we need to do more in this area. Alun Ffred Jones: In my constituency, the National Slate Museum in Llanberis is a huge success. However, there are problems on the Segontium fort site in Caernarfon. Caernarfon has a rich history, from Roman days, through to the castle of Edward I, the slate industry and the ships that sailed to the four corners of the globe. There are plans afoot to create a heritage centre in the town. Would you be willing to meet a delegation from the town to discuss this interesting plan? Alun Pugh: I would be happy to meet the delegation, as you suggest. It is fair to say that the slate museum has been an enormous success. In common with the other parts of the national museums, it has established a substantial increase in its visitor numbers since we abolished entry charges. David Melding: Do you agree that we need to redouble our efforts to encourage schools and colleges to have study visits to our galleries, in particular? One way of doing that is to ensure that there are trained guides who can lead people through the collections, and enrich their experience of appreciating the visual arts. Alun Pugh: I agree. Trained guides are employed in all our museums and galleries, and I am constantly surprised by the astonishing range of their knowledge. If you are experiencing any particular problems with any school groups, I would like to know about them. Jenny Randerson: For the benefit of all here, I would like to clarify that, unlike Lorraine Barrett's implication, I have not joined the Labour Party. The policy of free entry to museums has been a resounding success, as you say, Minister. I note that 38 per cent of visitors in 2004-05 came from socially disadvantaged groups, but I also notice that the target is 38 per cent for next year. Can you clarify why you do not have an ambitious target of increasing the percentage of visitors from socially disadvantaged groups, and are you entirely happy therefore with the status quo, given that the target is not increased? In that situation, would you accept that one way of increasing the availability of our culture-in the widest sense of that term-to socially disadvantaged groups would be to open up all of the castles and monuments owned by Cadw free of charge to the public? Alun Pugh: Free entry has been an enormous success. We want to ensure that people from socially disadvantaged areas get full value from the considerable sums of public money that are invested in culture and the arts-not just in museums and galleries, but all aspects of our cultural spending. You are asking me to make an instant spending commitment on behalf of my colleagues in Cadw; I am not going to do that, but I reaffirm to the Assembly that admission to all our properties, from Caernarfon castle in the north to Castell Coch in the south, will be free of charge on our national day, 1 March. http://tinyurl.com/afjtz Support for Small Museums in Wales Q11 Lynne Neagle: Will the Minister make a statement on Assembly Government support for small museums in Wales? OAQ0585(CWS) The Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport (Alun Pugh): Small museums make a valuable contribution to the preservation of Welsh heritage. Through CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, the Assembly Government provides specialist advice, free training and financial support. Registered small museums are eligible to apply to CyMAL's museums grant schemes. In 2005-06 a total allocation of £400,000 is available. http://tinyurl.com/8cays Current Awareness Service If you know anyone who would like to be added to the circulation list, or would like a 'hard copy' of the main mailing, or if you don't have access to the internet and need prints from the sites listed - please contact Carol Whittaker. People who currently receive hard copies will continue to do so. Welsh and English versions of the bulletin will remain separate in response to requests from readers Carol Whittaker AMA Museums Development Adviser Cynghorydd Datblygu Amgueddfeydd CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd Cymru CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru . Welsh Assembly Government 01970 610 238 [log in to unmask] Dylai'r datganiadau neu'r sylwadau uchod gael eu trin fel rhai personol ac nid o reidrwydd fel datganiadau neu sylwadau gan Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, unrhyw ran ohono neu unrhyw gorff sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef. 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