Press Releases

Charter Changes Mark Exciting Opportunity for Museum and Library

A Public Open Day at Wales’s newest national museum on Saturday 21 October marks a new development in the way Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales actively encourages people to have their say on the organisation’s work.

This development is the most significant change in the Museum’s and Library’s revised Charters, which are officially published today (10 October 2006).

The revised Charter reflects many of the Museum’s aspirations and includes a number of the key elements of the organization’s Vision, published earlier this year. It is also an exciting opportunity for the Museum to change the way in which it ensures public accountability at the beginning of its second century.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales President, Paul Loveluck, commented:

“Our revised Charter and that of the Library come as we move into our second century. We very much welcome the changes made, and are confident that they enable us to become more accountable and challenging organizations.”

Michael Houlihan, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales Director General, says:

“The purpose of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is to hold treasures in trust for the nation. It is therefore vitally important that we provide an opportunity for people to have their say on how we work and how we make decisions. We are developing a series of Public Open Days, which are a chance for everyone to call in and discuss our work and enjoy a taster of our wonderful national collections.

“This is an important development and the revised Charter allows us to engage with people interested in our work in a much more dynamic and approachable way than ever before. We’re opening out the debate to everyone in Wales interested in our work and the future direction of the Museum.

“As an organization, we are very excited with this development and the challenge it offers to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales at the start of our second century,” he added.

The National Library of Wales has already held its first Public Open Day in September, a month after the successful partnership between the Library and the Museum at this year’s National Eisteddfod. Library President, Brinley Jones, said:

“The signing of this charter is testimony of the will of The National Library of Wales to co-operate with National Museum Wales. This co-operation, we believe, will be good for the Library and our sister organization, the Museum, and more imporantly for Wales. The fruit of our co-operation will be increased recognition of our work and collections in every part of Wales and beyond.”

Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, Alun Pugh, added:

"Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales and the National Library of Wales are much loved national treasures and I'm sure people will be glad of the opportunity to feel a part of shaping the future of our national collections. I'm pleased that the Museum and the Library are rising to the challenge of taking the organizations forward to their second century with confidence and a clear vision".

The first Public Open Day at Swansea’s National Waterfront Museum is a chance for people to take part in all types of activities and informal workshops. There’ll also be a chance to debate ideas and themes with senior staff, and to discuss Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’s Annual Report. Activities start at 10.30 am.

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.

Entry to all national museums is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The National Library of Wales hold almost 5 million books, over a million maps, 800,000 photographs as well as the crown jewels of Welsh literature including the original copy of the National Anthem and the seven hundred year-old Black Book of Carmarthen, which includes some of the earliest Welsh prose and legends.