Cardiff Council has launched a public consultation that includes a suggestion that Cardiff Story museum, which tells the city’s history, could move to new premises at Cardiff Bay, a regenerated area on the city’s waterfront.
The proposals were highlighted in a consultation in November that asked for the public’s priorities for the city, including Cardiff Bay, which has been earmarked for leisure development by the local authority.
John Marjoram, the development officer for the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, says the organisation is pleased that Cardiff Story is part of the council’s strategic vision.
“However, we are concerned that a move from its present site may have disadvantages,” he says. “Cardiff Story museum has been very resilient in its current location, despite significant decreases in funding and losing significant gallery space. It has built up many successful community-wide links. It would surely be better to build on these successes.
“Any move elsewhere must give it enough capacity to continue to develop similar links and enable audiences to continue to connect,” adds Marjoram. “It could be an opportunity to enhance it, if done well, but the worry is that the proposed location is a shared one, and not in the city centre. Therefore, it may not be as accessible for all communities in Cardiff, and if sharing with other organisations, it must not be an excuse to reduce the offer even further.”
The consultation document says the council is working “with partners to explore options for a new attraction, including the potential for a new art gallery, a science experience venue, and a new venue for Cardiff Story”.
Other proposals for the Cardiff Bay area include an elevated park similar to New York’s High Line.
Any new gallery would join proposals for a new national gallery for contemporary Welsh art. The Welsh government commissioned a feasibility study for the planned new gallery last year.
Cultural strategy
David Anderson, the director general of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales) says the improvement of transport links between Cardiff Bay and the city centre, along with a cluster of cultural attractions in each location, would benefit Cardiff.
“It is really important that Cardiff’s current cultural assets are enabled to thrive and grow, including, for instance, the contemporary art gallery Chapter,” says Anderson. “There’s something about consolidating and developing existing assets and strategically developing the new facilities. Cardiff, like Swansea, has got the ambition to be a city of culture. A long-term strategic overview is needed for culture in the city.”
The cabinet member for investment and development at Cardiff Council, Russell Goodway, says: “These are simply ideas that we would look to explore based on the outcomes of the consultation.”
The proposals were highlighted in a consultation in November that asked for the public’s priorities for the city, including Cardiff Bay, which has been earmarked for leisure development by the local authority.
John Marjoram, the development officer for the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, says the organisation is pleased that Cardiff Story is part of the council’s strategic vision.
“However, we are concerned that a move from its present site may have disadvantages,” he says. “Cardiff Story museum has been very resilient in its current location, despite significant decreases in funding and losing significant gallery space. It has built up many successful community-wide links. It would surely be better to build on these successes.
“Any move elsewhere must give it enough capacity to continue to develop similar links and enable audiences to continue to connect,” adds Marjoram. “It could be an opportunity to enhance it, if done well, but the worry is that the proposed location is a shared one, and not in the city centre. Therefore, it may not be as accessible for all communities in Cardiff, and if sharing with other organisations, it must not be an excuse to reduce the offer even further.”
The consultation document says the council is working “with partners to explore options for a new attraction, including the potential for a new art gallery, a science experience venue, and a new venue for Cardiff Story”.
Other proposals for the Cardiff Bay area include an elevated park similar to New York’s High Line.
Any new gallery would join proposals for a new national gallery for contemporary Welsh art. The Welsh government commissioned a feasibility study for the planned new gallery last year.
Cultural strategy
David Anderson, the director general of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales) says the improvement of transport links between Cardiff Bay and the city centre, along with a cluster of cultural attractions in each location, would benefit Cardiff.
“It is really important that Cardiff’s current cultural assets are enabled to thrive and grow, including, for instance, the contemporary art gallery Chapter,” says Anderson. “There’s something about consolidating and developing existing assets and strategically developing the new facilities. Cardiff, like Swansea, has got the ambition to be a city of culture. A long-term strategic overview is needed for culture in the city.”
The cabinet member for investment and development at Cardiff Council, Russell Goodway, says: “These are simply ideas that we would look to explore based on the outcomes of the consultation.”