The Welsh Government is providing £750,000 in funding to support Libraries and Museums across Wales as part of the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme.
During a visit to the Museum of Cardiff on International Museum Day, Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, announced that the Welsh Government will be providing just over £750,000 of funding to support the development and revitalisation of facilities and services in local libraries and museums. The funding will be delivered as part of the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme and will encourage a focus on widening access, partnership working, decarbonisation and developing sustainable services.
The Museum of Cardiff has previously benefited from the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme. ‘The project has repurposed part of the Museum’s City Lab gallery to create a more responsive and flexible space,’ explained Alison Tallontire, Acting Museum Manager at Museum of Cardiff. ‘Elements of the Museum’s displays that were fixed and inflexible have been removed or repurposed to create a multi-purpose space that can be programmed with temporary exhibitions and events in co-production with Cardiff’s communities. The completed work is enabling us to develop partnerships and support projects and offer space for exhibitions and associated events to an extent that wasn’t previously possible.’
Bowden said: ‘This visit today to the Museum of Cardiff… has been fascinating. It is interesting to see first-hand how the museum has used this support to make improvements; to create a more engaging space for exhibitions and local events, enabling the museum to work with communities and reflect the city’s diverse history and culture.’
Six libraries will benefit from the newly-announced fund, each modernising their sites in unique ways. Penygroes Library is set to develop a VR Hub, whilst Dyffryn Ogwen Library in Gwynedd will create a wellbeing garden. Rhymney Library in Caerphilly will put the money towards an educational reading and support hub for local residents and Pencoed Library in Bridgend will be building an energy efficient, flexible space that meets the needs of their community. Port Talbot Library and Barry Library will both create ‘Makerspace’ areas, where people can gather to co-create, work on projects and share resources and knowledge. They will help users to develop their skills and creativity and inspire younger generations to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Transformation Capital Grant Scheme funding will also be provided to Monmouthshire County Council to ensure the preservation of, and future access to, their collections through work at the Shire Hall. Support will be given to Newport Museum and Art Gallery’s decarbonisation project, which will enable the museum to install a solar PV system and upgrade its existing halogen lighting to UV, reducing the museum’s carbon footprint and its overall energy use and expenditure.
‘I’m delighted to announce £750,000 of funding for these projects,’ said Bowden. ‘The Welsh Government remains committed to supporting these important services that fulfil a valuable role at the heart of community life. This fund will widen access for our communities, promote cultural engagement, provide learning opportunities and support community cohesion, sustainability and prosperity.’