Press Releases

[This is a Welsh Assembly Government press release.]

Thanks to the National Museums & Galleries of Wales's Visual Arts Partnership, people throughout Wales will now have the opportunity to see pictures and other items from the national collections in their local gallery.

The Minister said: "This is an exciting and historic occasion. Wales has a wealth of national treasures, but until now you would have to go to Cardiff if you wanted to see them.

"By establishing a network of galleries that can exhibit work from the national collections, the Visual Arts Partnership is ensuring that our art treasures are truly national. This is a big step in our ambition to create a 'national gallery without walls' and I look forward to seeing many exciting exhibitions in galleries across Wales."

The Visual Arts Partnership covers five venues, selected for their geographical spread and cultural diversity. These are Ruthin Craft Centre, Oriel Mostyn in Llandudno, Oriel Davies in Newtown, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea and Bodelwyddan Castle near St Asaph.

The cost of the programme is £185,000, with £30,000 from NMGW, £5,000 from the Arts Council of Wales and the partner venues contributing £30,000 between them. The balance of £120,000 is made up by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, which makes grants to organisations that aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities across the UK.

"The National Museums & Galleries of Wales is delighted that the funding from the Esm