Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, has visited Museum of Cardiff on International Museum Day (18th May 2022) to announce just over £750,000 of Welsh Government funding to help local libraries, museums to develop their facilities and services.
Among the recipients of the funding is Newport Museum and Art Gallery’s decarbonisation project, enabling the museum to install a solar PV system and upgrade its existing halogen lighting to UV. This will reduce the museum’s carbon footprint and its overall energy use and expenditure.
The funding will be delivered as part of the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme, will support Wales’ local libraries, museums, to develop and revitalise their facilities, with a particular focus on widening access, partnership working, decarbonisation, and developing sustainable services.
The fund will also be used to refurbish and modernise six libraries, including the development of a VR Hub at Penygroes Library and a well-being garden at Dyffryn Ogwen Library, Gwynedd.
It will help Rhymney Library in Caerphilly develop an educational reading and support hub for local residents, and allow Pencoed Library in Bridgend to build an energy efficient, flexible space that meets the needs of the community.
Port Talbot Library and Barry Library will benefit from the creation of ‘Makerspace’ areas, dedicated spaces where people can gather to co-create, work on projects, and share resources and knowledge. They will help users to develop their skills and creativity and inspire younger generations to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts (STEAM).
Funding will be provided to enable Monmouthshire County Council to ensure the preservation of, and future access to, their collections through work at the Shire Hall.
Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden said: “I’m delighted to announce £750,000 of funding for these projects. This visit today to the Museum of Cardiff, which has benefitted previously from the fund has been fascinating.
“It is interesting to see first-hand how the museum has used this support to make improvements – to create a more engaging space for exhibitions and local events and enabling the museum to work with communities and reflect the city’s diverse history and culture.
