28 March 2023

Safeguarding the national collections at Amgueddfa Cymru

Dear Dawn,

I am writing to you following our consideration of correspondence received from Amgueddfa Cymru (dated 22 February 2022) following scrutiny of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget for 2023-24.

Amgueddfa Cymru told us that:

“While we feel that the settlement for Amgueddfa Cymru is reasonable over the next two years, the longer term outlook is more uncertain and certainly poses challenges. Therefore, we cannot provide you with the assurances that you seek. There are significant structural issues within Amgueddfa Cymru’s buildings that means there is an ongoing risk to National Collections.”

Amguedda Cymru highlights that the maintenance backlog across all their sites is at least £65million, with over a quarter of items requiring maintenance (£15million) deemed “as critical that are in need of urgent repair.” In addition, at least £25million is also required for mechanical, electrical and plumbing work at the Cathays Park site. This is total cost of £90million worth of work required over the coming decade.

We note these concerns alongside those raised previously by the National Library who told the Committee that there is a “very serious risk to the collections which we deem to be totally unacceptable without additional funding”.[1]

The Committee has repeatedly raised concerns about this matter with you. As outlined in the draft budget reports for 2022/23 and 2023/24, the Committee is of the view that there is potentially a serious threat to some important collections. Both these institutions are of significant cultural value for our nation and consideration must be given to how these institutions are provided with funding to safeguard our national collections for future generations..

What assurances can you give the Committee that the future of national collections housed at both Amgueddfa Cymru and the National Library of Wales are safe? Further, can you outline what plans you have in place to provide the necessary support to enable both institutions to carry out the capital work required over the coming years to safeguard these treasures?

I look forward to receiving your response in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Delyth Jewell MS
Committee Chair

Croesewir gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English.