National museums face near-£3m budget gap

THE planned “business-as-usual” Welsh budget would leave national museums facing a near-£3m shortfall and lead to more cuts, the Senedd’s culture committee has heard.

- CHRIS HAINES

St Fagans National History Museum.

(PETER BOLTER)

Jane Richardson, chief executive of Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales), was quizzed about the impact of Welsh Government plans for a standstill budget rising only in line with inflation.

She said a flat settlement in the draft budget which will be initially unveiled next Tuesday, with the detail to follow on November 3 would leave Amgueddfa Cymru nearly £3m short.

Giving evidence, the chief executive told the culture committee: “We would need to find ways of reducing programming and activities to address that shortfall.”

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan, who worked for Amgueddfa Cymru until her election in 2021, sought assurances that Wales’ seven national museums would be maintained.

Kate Eden, who chairs Amgueddfa Cymru, replied: “They're not currently under review, no. But, as you’re aware, we do always have to keep under consideration the span of activities that we undertake but currently there is no plan to actively review those.”