National Museum Cardiff Could Close for Repairs, Says Wales Culture Minister

Wales's culture minister, Heledd Fychan, has said she cannot rule out closing the National Museum Cardiff for repairs. The museum is one of the most famous buildings in Wales, but it is in very poor condition. Fychan spoke on BBC Radio Wales and said the Welsh government is working with Amgueddfa Cymru, also known as Museum Wales, to find out what repairs are needed. She also said the government needs to understand how safe the national collections stored inside the museum really are.

Fychan said the situation is serious and that she was shocked to find no clear plan when she became minister. She pointed out that the National Slate Museum is already closed while it is being redeveloped. She said closing a large building for repairs is not unusual, and that it would be up to Museum Wales to bring forward any proposals. The final decisions about the museum's future would not be hers alone to make.

The Welsh government has set aside up to £4.8 million to pay for the most urgent repair works. This money is also meant to help protect the important collections kept inside the museum. A BBC report from last month described the building's survival so far as a 'mini miracle.' Ministers are also looking into whether other cultural sites across Wales could be at risk of closing.

Fychan spoke ahead of a new public consultation launching at the National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire. The consultation is the first step in creating a ten-year plan for culture and sport in Wales. The Welsh government hopes this plan will turn Wales into a powerhouse for both culture and sport. She said the people of Wales should have a voice in deciding what the future of culture looks like.

When asked if Plaid Cymru should have arrived with a ready-made plan, Fychan said the arts sector 'is in crisis.' She said her role is not to dictate what the future should look like, but to gather data and listen to people. She also promised to increase spending on culture year after year. Welsh Labour, which ran the Welsh government before Plaid Cymru won the Senedd election in May, was asked for a comment but had not responded at the time of this report.