Press Releases
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales gets behind Swansea's bid to be named UK top museum
Date:
2006-04-03Next Wednesday (12 April), the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, will find out whether it's reached the final shortlist in the 2006 Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year. The museum, which opened its doors in October 2005, has attracted over 80,000 visitors and has already reached the top ten in this prestigious prize. Steph Mastoris, Head of the Museum, says:
"This is an extremely exciting time for us at the National Waterfront Museum. The past six months have been unbelievable. It would be fantastic to reach the final shortlist in the competition, as a way of thanking everyone for their help and support over the past few years"
This is the second year running for one of Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales's sites to succeed in the Gulbenkian Prize. Last year, Big Pit was named as the Museum of the Year, and this year, they're putting their support behind the National Waterfront Museum's bid for success. Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales Director General, Michael Houlihan, is very aware of Swansea's success in this year's competition.
"Reaching the shortlist of the Gulbenkian Prize again this year is a real achievement," he says. "It shows that the National Waterfront Museum has captured the imagination of people across the whole of the UK, and the whole organisation is delighted with the museum's success.
"Big Pit had an excellent year on the back of winning the Gulbenkian, and we all hope that the National Waterfront Museum will be able to succeed this year, and follow in the footsteps of another member of the Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales family."
With only a week to go before the final shortlist is revealed, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales is urging people to log on to the museum website – www.museumwales.ac.uk <http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/> and follow the links to the Gulbenkian Prize.
Both the the National Waterfront Museum and Big Pit: National Coal Museum are part of the Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales family, responsible for seven national museums across Wales. The others are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Slate Museum, Llanberis, the National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre and the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon.
Entry to all the museums is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Notes to Editors
For more information, contact Gwenllïan Carr, Head of Press and Public Relations, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, 029 2057 3175.