One Wales, the joint statement issued by the Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition, includes several references to museums and galleries, including a commitment to a 'statutory obligation to promote culture'.
A spokeswoman for the assembly government said: 'This proposal would put cultural services on to a similar footing as other services. For example, local authorities currently have a statutory duty in relation to libraries, but not in relation to museum services, which they also deliver.'
Rachael Rogers, the secretary of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, gave a cautious welcome to the proposal. 'The idea has come up in the discussions that we have had about a museum strategy for Wales,' she said. 'Initially, everyone thought it was a great idea, but libraries are not always that much better off than museums.'
The spokeswoman for the assembly government said key stakeholders would have the chance to contribute to the two-stage development of new legislation (the assembly and both houses of parliament have to agree that it is an issue that the assembly can legislate on, and then an assembly measure creating a statutory duty would have to be approved by the assembly).
The One Wales statement also says that the government will continue to back free access to museums, give pensioners and children free access to assembly-funded heritage sites, explore the creation of a national gallery for Wales, and establish an all-Wales collection of people's history.
John Marjoram, the Museums Association's development officer for Wales, welcomed the statement and said: 'If it means there will be more funding and support, it is a good thing. But if it is a token gesture, then it will be meaningless.'
There have already been several studies into the feasibility of a national gallery. Robin Gwyn, the director of communications at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), told Museums Journal that the assembly government is in the process of commissioning a detailed options appraisal that will be ready by March 2008.
He said it would look at 'what we mean by a national gallery for Wales, and alongside that look at the idea of a national centre for contemporary art', although both would be dependent on funding.
The assembly government has also pledged support for the establishment of a Kyffin Williams Gallery. There has long been talk about a dedicated gallery for the Welsh artist, and John Smith, the technical services officer at Anglesey Museums and Culture Service, said plans for a gallery were well underway.
'The builders are on site and we anticipate opening in February,' he said. The new gallery will adjoin the Oriel Ynys Môn in Llangefni.
Meanwhile CyMal, the assembly department responsible for museums, is taking the lead on the development of a museum strategy for Wales.
The Welsh Federation of Museums has held five meetings to discuss a possible strategy and will present its conclusions to CyMal in late autumn.
Marjoram said the key issues to come out so far are the financial sustainability of museums and a lack of resources and capacity in small and independent museums. He said he hoped these issues would be addressed in any new strategy.
The new minister for heritage in Wales is Rhodri Glyn Thomas.
A spokeswoman for the assembly government said: 'This proposal would put cultural services on to a similar footing as other services. For example, local authorities currently have a statutory duty in relation to libraries, but not in relation to museum services, which they also deliver.'
Rachael Rogers, the secretary of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, gave a cautious welcome to the proposal. 'The idea has come up in the discussions that we have had about a museum strategy for Wales,' she said. 'Initially, everyone thought it was a great idea, but libraries are not always that much better off than museums.'
The spokeswoman for the assembly government said key stakeholders would have the chance to contribute to the two-stage development of new legislation (the assembly and both houses of parliament have to agree that it is an issue that the assembly can legislate on, and then an assembly measure creating a statutory duty would have to be approved by the assembly).
The One Wales statement also says that the government will continue to back free access to museums, give pensioners and children free access to assembly-funded heritage sites, explore the creation of a national gallery for Wales, and establish an all-Wales collection of people's history.
John Marjoram, the Museums Association's development officer for Wales, welcomed the statement and said: 'If it means there will be more funding and support, it is a good thing. But if it is a token gesture, then it will be meaningless.'
There have already been several studies into the feasibility of a national gallery. Robin Gwyn, the director of communications at Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), told Museums Journal that the assembly government is in the process of commissioning a detailed options appraisal that will be ready by March 2008.
He said it would look at 'what we mean by a national gallery for Wales, and alongside that look at the idea of a national centre for contemporary art', although both would be dependent on funding.
The assembly government has also pledged support for the establishment of a Kyffin Williams Gallery. There has long been talk about a dedicated gallery for the Welsh artist, and John Smith, the technical services officer at Anglesey Museums and Culture Service, said plans for a gallery were well underway.
'The builders are on site and we anticipate opening in February,' he said. The new gallery will adjoin the Oriel Ynys Môn in Llangefni.
Meanwhile CyMal, the assembly department responsible for museums, is taking the lead on the development of a museum strategy for Wales.
The Welsh Federation of Museums has held five meetings to discuss a possible strategy and will present its conclusions to CyMal in late autumn.
Marjoram said the key issues to come out so far are the financial sustainability of museums and a lack of resources and capacity in small and independent museums. He said he hoped these issues would be addressed in any new strategy.
The new minister for heritage in Wales is Rhodri Glyn Thomas.