Cardiff's first museum of modern art aims to put Welsh talent firmly in the picture

Cardiff is set to welcome its first modern art museum, a space that aims to provide a platform for contemporary local artists as well as showcase global talent.

- Bethan McKernan

The Artistic Museum of Contemporary Art (Amoca) will feature about 1,000 works mostly drawn from the collection of co-founder Anders Hedlund, a Welsh-Swedish entrepreneur.

Its founders say they are close to finalising an agreement to buy a building to permanently house the artworks in the Welsh capital. It is expected to open next year.

According to its mission statement, the museum aims to "increase public access to contemporary art, broaden the traditional museum scope and foster creative development by disrupting conventional and stereotypical narratives".

It also says it will be dedicated to minorities and subcultures, with a particular focus on platforming the work of Welsh artists and the next generation of Welsh talent.

Amoca, which hopes to house a restaurant, social events space and indoor and outdoor exhibits, also wants to feature permanent and rotating collections as well as talks, seminars, youth workshops and artist residencies.

Preview exhibitions are planned or under way before the opening of the museum, which will be privately owned and not for profit.