The Welsh government last week responded to the Expert Review of Local Museum Provision in Wales, saying it would accept the report’s recommendations.
The government will now take on a number of the recommendations, including a feasibility study for the creation of three regional bodies to support museums, the development of the national strategy steering group into a national museums’ council, and a review of entry charges to non-national museums.
Other action points include: developing a museums’ charter, which will inform the next museum strategy for Wales; introducing an obligation for local authorities to set out their intentions for museum services; developing the distributed national collection; and ensuring the Museums Archives and Libraries Division provides a training programme to help the sector to meet the challenges ahead.
The deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Ken Skates, said: “I am pleased that we are taking forward the recommendations of the review’s panel. This will require partnership working and a commitment from the whole sector.
“It’s also important to note the responsibility local authorities have to protect our heritage. We expect them to set out their intentions for museum services and consider all options when reviewing their funding for these important services.”
But with elections in May, the government was unable to commit to a transformation fund to support the transition of services to regional bodies (a local government restructure following the election could see a reduction from 22 local authorities to eight) or to varied business rates for museums.
And at a hustings event on Monday, Skates appeared to row back from the recommendation that a national museums' council be created, saying it may be a duplication of existing bodies.
Sharon Heal, the director of the Museums Association (MA), said: "The MA welcomes the review's recommendations and the government's response.
"The recommendation to create three regional bodies across Wales to support museums is particularly welcome.
"The report highlights a crisis in funding for local museums and there now needs to be urgent implementation of the recommendations if we are to avoid further decline and support museums to become sustainable organisations at the heart of their communities."
David Anderson, the director general of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, said: “The review provides a strong foundation for local and national museums in Wales going forward. What’s important now is that we capitalise on the opportunities, and address the challenges that Haydn Edwards sets out, in order to secure a prosperous future for the museum sector in Wales.
“It gives Wales an opportunity to develop new models for museum delivery, not least to generate further income. The report proposes a significant role for Amgueddfa Cymru and we will do everything we can to achieve this within available resources.”
The expert panel was appointed in October 2014, with the review published in August last year. It found that 10% of the nation’s local authority museums were operating at an unsustainable level.
The government also announced that the next strategy for museums in Wales would be published this year, with a consultation to begin shortly.
Update
06.04.2016
Updated to include information from the Welsh culture hustings.
The government will now take on a number of the recommendations, including a feasibility study for the creation of three regional bodies to support museums, the development of the national strategy steering group into a national museums’ council, and a review of entry charges to non-national museums.
Other action points include: developing a museums’ charter, which will inform the next museum strategy for Wales; introducing an obligation for local authorities to set out their intentions for museum services; developing the distributed national collection; and ensuring the Museums Archives and Libraries Division provides a training programme to help the sector to meet the challenges ahead.
The deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Ken Skates, said: “I am pleased that we are taking forward the recommendations of the review’s panel. This will require partnership working and a commitment from the whole sector.
“It’s also important to note the responsibility local authorities have to protect our heritage. We expect them to set out their intentions for museum services and consider all options when reviewing their funding for these important services.”
But with elections in May, the government was unable to commit to a transformation fund to support the transition of services to regional bodies (a local government restructure following the election could see a reduction from 22 local authorities to eight) or to varied business rates for museums.
And at a hustings event on Monday, Skates appeared to row back from the recommendation that a national museums' council be created, saying it may be a duplication of existing bodies.
Sharon Heal, the director of the Museums Association (MA), said: "The MA welcomes the review's recommendations and the government's response.
"The recommendation to create three regional bodies across Wales to support museums is particularly welcome.
"The report highlights a crisis in funding for local museums and there now needs to be urgent implementation of the recommendations if we are to avoid further decline and support museums to become sustainable organisations at the heart of their communities."
David Anderson, the director general of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, said: “The review provides a strong foundation for local and national museums in Wales going forward. What’s important now is that we capitalise on the opportunities, and address the challenges that Haydn Edwards sets out, in order to secure a prosperous future for the museum sector in Wales.
“It gives Wales an opportunity to develop new models for museum delivery, not least to generate further income. The report proposes a significant role for Amgueddfa Cymru and we will do everything we can to achieve this within available resources.”
The expert panel was appointed in October 2014, with the review published in August last year. It found that 10% of the nation’s local authority museums were operating at an unsustainable level.
The government also announced that the next strategy for museums in Wales would be published this year, with a consultation to begin shortly.
Update
06.04.2016
Updated to include information from the Welsh culture hustings.
