Press Releases

“Wales’ seven national museums and the National Collection Centre are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers is our priority and therefore our sites will reopen only when it is safe for us to do so.

“Today (Friday, 10 July 2020), the First Minister announced that cinemas, museums and galleries could reopen from 27 July.

“St Fagans National Museum of History is planning to reopen the Museum’s outdoor grounds four days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) from 4 August. The visitor experience will be different as the historic houses, galleries and play areas will have to remain closed due to social distancing and current restrictions. All visitors will need to pre-book a free ticket for their visit via our website (www.museum.wales) or on the phone.

“Following today’s announcement by the Welsh Government, we are also planning limited reopening of Wales’ other national museums. This will be in two phases and is dependent on the continued easing of restrictions in the coming weeks:

• National Museum Cardiff, National Slate Museum and National Waterfront Museum to reopen during the w/c 24 August.
• National Wool Museum, Big Pit and National Roman Legion Museum to reopen from 1 September.

“Further details will be shared on our website (www.museum.wales) and social media channels over the coming weeks.

“We are working hard to ensure all national museums will be safe spaces for staff, volunteers and visitors when the time comes, with guidance on social distancing adhered to and visitor capacity managed. This includes a new booking system as although our museums will remain free, visitors must book their visit in advance. 

“Over the last few weeks, we have been reviewing how we can best support our communities through these challenging times, remotely and when we are able to re-open our museums. We have launched a new public appeal and a mass digital observation project to collect the experiences of living in Wales during this extraordinary time of COVID-19 www.museum.wales/collecting-covid.

“As a charity, Amgueddfa Cymru’s financial stability is also a priority. We are currently losing around £400k of income per month we are closed to the public and even when we re-open our museums, we will not be able to recover these losses fully on site due to the current guidelines of social distancing. We have therefore actively identified other options to protect the organisation, furloughing over 40% of our staff through the Government’s Job Retention Scheme and working with our funders to identify other sources of income. This work will continue and all support is gratefully appreciated to help us continue to work with the communities of Wales and fulfil our role as Wales’ national museum.”

“This week, the UK Government announced a £1.57 billion support package for the arts, with £59m coming to Wales.

“We warmly welcome this news at a time when the museum sector in Wales is facing the challenges of COVID-19. 

“We believe this is an opportunity for Wales to give priority to those museums and arts organisations that are truly committed to inclusion and putting the needs of people and communities first. 

“Amgueddfa Cymru, local and regional museums are a vital part of the ecology of the arts across Wales, inspiring children and young people to engage with culture.

“Before COVID-19, Amgueddfa Cymru attracted nearly 2 million visitors,, including 200,000 school pupils, every year. As one of Wales’ leading visitor attractions, we will play a key role in the economic and social recovery of Wales and all its communities.

“Let’s ensure this is not a one-off commitment to supporting museums and the arts, and an indication of the priority given to culture in Wales."

Wales’ seven national museums and the National Collection Centre are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wellbeing of our visitors, staff and volunteers is our priority and therefore our sites will reopen only when it is safe for us to do so

In this time of extreme distress to black people across the world, we stand with black communities in Wales, our visitors, partners, staff and volunteers in the fight against racial injustice and inequality, declaring that #BlackLivesMatter.

Museum collections are often rooted in colonialism and racism. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is no different.

We support all efforts to build a museum sector that stands up for human rights and anti-racism. We have a role to play in driving change, working with the communities of Wales to be actively anti-racist in all that we do.  

We have a long way to go, but together with our community partners and Youth Heritage Leaders, we are diversifying our collections, increasing representation, and contributing to conversations that highlight decolonisation, inequality and racism.

Our commitment will continue beyond the current situation, as understanding the challenges faced in the past can empower people to confront today’s issues together.  

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales launches a new public appeal and a mass digital observation project that will collect the experiences of living in Wales during this extraordinary time of Covid-19.

All Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales museums are closed to the public to ensure the wellbeing of staff, volunteers and visitors due to concerns over Coronavirus.