Welsh culture minister promises heritage bill
Museums could become statutory service
Huw Lewis, the Welsh minister for housing, regeneration and heritage, has said that he hoped Wales would have its first ever heritage act in place by 2014.
Speaking at the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales conference this week, Lewis said that there would be a heritage conference in July as part of the process of consultation on the bill, and that he hoped a strategy for the historic environment would be in place by autumn.
The minister also reiterated the government’s support for museums in difficult economic times: “We are not going down the road of governments elsewhere by stepping back from the public sector or introducing the Big Society. I want government to be a proactive partner with you.”
He also hinted that museums might become a statutory service and “brought into the fold” as a result of the heritage bill.
Lewis stressed the importance of Communities First, the Welsh government’s programme to improve the living conditions for people in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales.
He added that museums shouldn’t underestimate their role in combatting child poverty: “Don’t be scared of it; it’s not a job solely for politicians to get on with, it’s a job for all of us.”
The event at the Cardiff Story was the federation’s first conference and was on the theme of museums and communities.
Speaking at the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales conference this week, Lewis said that there would be a heritage conference in July as part of the process of consultation on the bill, and that he hoped a strategy for the historic environment would be in place by autumn.
The minister also reiterated the government’s support for museums in difficult economic times: “We are not going down the road of governments elsewhere by stepping back from the public sector or introducing the Big Society. I want government to be a proactive partner with you.”
He also hinted that museums might become a statutory service and “brought into the fold” as a result of the heritage bill.
Lewis stressed the importance of Communities First, the Welsh government’s programme to improve the living conditions for people in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales.
He added that museums shouldn’t underestimate their role in combatting child poverty: “Don’t be scared of it; it’s not a job solely for politicians to get on with, it’s a job for all of us.”
The event at the Cardiff Story was the federation’s first conference and was on the theme of museums and communities.