Press Releases

National Slate Museum Llanberis celebrates National Lottery Day with a day of family fun

The National Slate Museum, Llanberis, threw open its doors to the public on Saturday 23 September 2006 to celebrate National Lottery Day with a fun-filled day of activities for all the family.

National Lottery Day recognises and celebrates the difference Lottery funding has made to people and communities across Wales and the rest of the UK. Since The National Lottery launched in 1994 over £900 million has been awarded to Good Causes in Wales and over 26,000 grants have been made.

Alun Pugh the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport and Big Brother star and local celebrity Glyn Wise were at the event where over 1,000 people enjoyed a special exhibition on water and solar power by the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, arts and crafts with slate, re-enacted scenes showing life in the 19th Century and music performances by Lottery-funded groups.

In a speech to mark National Lottery Day, Alun Pugh AM, said: “Lottery funded projects can be inspirational, educational and emotive. They can and do change people’s lives. Many Lottery projects are also about having fun – and this event today is very much about having fun. The National Slate Museum is an outstanding example of how Lottery funding is continuing to create a new generation of exciting, educational and successful public attractions across the UK.”

Glyn Wise said: “National Lottery Day is a great opportunity to have a celebration and to highlight what a difference Lottery funding has made across Wales. I have had a great day today and enjoyed learning more about Welsh heritage and culture”

The National Slate Museum, administered by Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, received Lottery a grant of £1.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 1998 which allowed the museum to expand upon and develop its existing displays, and to improve visitor facilities. These improvements have helped tell the story of the slate industry in an exciting and memorable way and the museum has gone from strength to strength ever since, attracting over 130,000 visitors every year.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales administers seven national museums across Wales. They are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales celebrates its centenary in 2007. For more details, visit www.museumwales.ac.uk.

Entry to all Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The National Slate Museum was one of 13 Lottery-funded projects across the UK to stage a free public event in celebration of National Lottery Day.