Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon, a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol| Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Effaith Gostyngiadau Cyllid ar Ddiwylliant a Chwaraeon | Impact of Funding Reductions for Culture and Sport
Ymateb gan: IFRCS19 Kelly Powell, Rheolwr Amgueddfa, Gwasanaeth Amgueddfeydd Merthyr Tudful | Evidence from: Kelly Powell, Museum Manager, Merthyr Tydfil Museums Service
1. What impacts has reduced funding had on your organisation and sector so far?
I have seen significant cuts to the museum service, particularly in the past decade with efficiencies including admission charges which are a barrier to locals in a low income area as well as a move of services to Trust. The Trust has now failed and the museum service has come back to the local authority but as the smallest local authority in Wales I know that difficult decisions will need to be made over the next few years to maintain the service
2. What measures have you taken in light of it, such as changing what you do and how you do it.
The move to Trust occurred in 2015 and lasted 9 years during which the focus was on other services within the Trust such as leisure. This meant cutbacks and loss of staff and expertise in the museum service which we are still dealing with despite he recent return to the local authority
3. To what extent will these impacts be irreversible (e.g. venues closing, or specialist skills being lost rather than a temporary restriction in activities)?
Specialist skills and knowledge have already been lost due to staff leaving and the Trust not allowing recruitment. This impacted the delivery of the service and activities and reduced opening hours in both of the museums within the service. Even though the local authority are now allowing me to recruit I am under no illusion that funding cuts in the future will lead to further reductions.
4. What interventions would you like to see from the Welsh Government, beyond increased funding?
Local authorities need more support for tourism and culture to maintain those services and help them recognise the importance to the wellbeing of its communities and the benefit to its economy of maintaining and promoting these services
5. To what extent do the impacts you describe fall differently on people with protected characteristics and people of a lower socioeconomic status?
The introduction of charging (however small) has impacted visits from the local community as the area is of a lower socioeconomic area. The cost of living has also seen a decline in repeat visits from those living outside the area
6. Do you have any other points you wish to raise within the scope of this inquiry?