CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales

Museums Current Awareness Service 31

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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
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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
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