Communities in north Wales to get better access to national collections

More people in north Wales could get the chance to engage with the nation’s collections following an agreement between Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales and Wrexham University.

The two organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that agrees to “work together to create more opportunities for collections to be seen by local communities”.

There are seven museums in the Museum Wales collection, but only one is in north Wales – the National Slate Museum in Llanberris, which is currently undergoing a £25m redevelopment.

Ideas to increase access for people in north Wales include bringing collections into community settings such as schools and other public venues, and creating travelling exhibitions.

Museum Wales chief executive Jane Richardson said: “Amgueddfa Cymru belongs to everyone and it’s important that we are a truly national museum with sites across Wales to share our history and heritage. This memorandum shows our commitment to ensuring the national collection can be enjoyed in communities across north Wales.

“While the transformational redevelopment of the National Slate Museum will secure the future of the slate industry’s global story, this partnership with Wrexham University will further enhance cultural engagement and participation in the region, allowing people to interpret the national collection in new ways, make connections, and create immersive experiences which tell the story of Cymru.”

Nina Ruddle, the head of public policy engagement at Wrexham University, said: “Many communities, schools and families across north-east Wales do not have easy access to Wales’s national collections and cultural experiences.

“The partnership with Museum Wales therefore creates an opportunity to explore how culture, heritage and collections can be brought directly into communities, schools and public spaces, rather than expecting communities to travel to museum sites.

“Wrexham University brings expertise in community engagement, research, evaluation and place-based working, while Museum Wales brings cultural leadership, collections, expertise and national reach.”

As well as the National Slate Museum, Museum Wales runs National Museum Cardiff; St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff; National Waterfront Museum, Swansea; Big Pit National Coal Museum, Torfaen; National Wool Museum, Carmarthenshire; and the National Roman Legion Museum, which is near Newport.

Museum Wales venues attracts more than 1.5 million visitors a year. St Fagans is its most popular site.